Attractions Index

LEAF-LOOKERS Guide

Virginia Interstates
I-66 & I-81
Leaf-Lookers Guide

These are great routes from which to view the autumn colors if you're on your way to points north, or south, or to or from the Washington DC area. If, for example, you are heading south to Florida, instead of taking I-95 (seems like the whole country is on I-95), take I-81 to I-77, then south through North Carolina into South Carolina joining up with I-26. From New York you can conveniently use I-78 to get to I-81. From Washington, use I-66. There are so many convenient connectors.

You can see all the color of Massanutten Mountain and the Blue Ridge Mountains right from the freeway. Of course you can't slow down to grab a longer view or take pictures but you can use one of the exits. Or, take a brief side trip. Most eastbound major highways leading from I-81 connect with Skyline Drive (on Massanutten Mountain) or the Blue Ridge Parkway further south. (Note: Skyline Drive becomes the Blue Ridge Parkway when it crosses I-64.)

Most accommodations are 'booked up' during the fall leaf viewing season. If you haven't made your hotel/motel reservations yet we have included access to an on-line hotel reservation system for your convenience.

Hotel reservations are available, usually at a discount,
  in the following nearby communities:
  • Blacksburg - on US-460 (also a freeway);
     use I-81 exit 118 at Christiansburg

  • Christiansburg - I-81 exits 114 and 118

  • Front Royal - I-66 exit 6; northern terminus of Skyline Drive

  • Harrisonburg - I-81 exits 243, 245, 247 and 251

  • Hillsville - I-77 exit 14

  • Lexington - I-81 exit 188 and I-64 exit 55

  • Luray - on US-211 (14 miles east of I-81 exit 264 -
     9 miles east of Skyline Drive)

  • Pulaski - I-81 exits 89 and 94

  • Radford - I-81 exits 105 and 108

  • Roanoke - from I-81 exit 143 take I-581. Motels are everywhere.

  • Salem - I-81 exit 137 (24-hour Omelet House is at the exit;
     not swanky but the omelets are great!)

  • Staunton - I-81 exits 220, 222, 225 and 227
     (where I-64 east splits from I-81)

  • Waynesboro - on I-64 where the Blue Ridge Pkwy
     and Skyline Drive meet

  • Winchester - the western beltway (VA-37) runs from I-81 exit 310
     to exit 317. Exits from I-81 to downtown are 313 and 315.

  • Wytheville - for motels, use I-77 exit 41

 

Chart of Leaf Colors

The U.S. Forest service has a special, toll-free, number for leaf-lookers.
Phone for peak dates and other information: 1-800-354-4595

Need Help making a Reservation?
call us toll-free at 1-888-254-0637
for discounted rates, use promo code 3309
(International callers use 01-210-507-5997)

NOTE: The above are not advertisements but are descriptions
by contributors and our editorial staff for which we, alone, are
responsible. If any corrections are in order we would appreciate
your input: please e-mail us at
editor@wheatley.lib.nc.us

Index to Attractions in U.S.A.

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