South from D.C. to the Mid-Atlantik '02 Fest (April 29 at Shenandoah River State Park, which is on U.S. 340 between Front Royal and Luray)
Your tour guide: David Roach of Silver Spring, Maryland
If you're going to the Mid-Atlantik '02 Fest, getting there should be at least part of the fun. As I often travel out of D.C. toward Interstate 81, I've developed several back-road alternatives to Interstate 66. Here's one of them:
1. From the Washington beltway (I-495), take Virginia route 267 West (the Dulles Toll Road). It costs 85 cents, but if you're leaving town at any time when I-66 is congested, it's worth it.
2. Exit at Virginia route 28 (just before you get to Dulles Airport), and turn right onto 28 North.
3. In about a mile, turn left onto Virginia route 606, which winds around behind the airport and eventually arrives at U.S. 50 (in about 8 miles).
4. Turn right onto U.S. 50 (you're heading west). At this point, 50 is a divided highway, but after a few miles, it narrows down to a two-lane road just before it crosses U.S. 15.
5. After crossing 15, U.S. 50 passes through Aldie and then Middleburg as it travels through Virginia horse country. Middleburg is a very quaint and trendy small town with lots of antique shops, a good place for a break if you're in need of one.
6. About 18 miles after the intersection with U.S. 15 (and just past Upperville), 50 intersects with U.S. 17. Turn left onto U.S. 17 South.
7. Within 2 miles, turn right onto Virginia route 688. This road twists and turns through some lovely countryside, past Naked Mountain Vineyards, for about 10 miles and comes out at I-66. Immediately after going under 66, turn right on to Virginia route 55 West.
8. Follow 55 into Front Royal, a distance of 9 or 10 miles. In the middle of Front Royal, you'll come to a "T" intersection where 55 joins U.S. 340 North (to the right). Turn left at this point onto U.S. 340 South. From this point, it's about 11 or 12 miles to Bentonville. (Within a mile after you turn onto 340, you'll come to the entrance to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive on the left. Don't go there; this is not the park you're looking for.) The whole trip is on paved roads and should take about two hours from the Washington beltway. U.S. 50 is patrolled (frequently) by the Virginia State Police, who like to congregate in the vicinity of the U.S. 50/U.S. 15 intersection.
From Luray to Interstate 81 If you're leaving Mid-Atlantik '02 Fest and heading out to I-81 (to go north or south), you should check out Virginia Route 675. (If you're coming to the fest from 81, just reverse these directions.)
1. From Shenandoah River State Park, go south on U.S. 340 toward Luray (and away from Front Royal). It's about 15 miles to Luray.
2. As you come in to Luray, you'll go under the U.S. 211 bypass. Within a few hundred yards, turn right off of 340 to cross a low-water bridge. I'm sorry, I don't remember the road number, though it may very well be 675. If you get to a traffic light and the intersection with U.S. 211 Business, you've gone too far.
3. The road you're now on becomes 675 (if it isn't already 675). Follow this road out of Luray. About a mile out of town, 675 curves almost 90 degrees to the right and then almost 90 degrees to the left, with roads going straight ahead at both places. Follow the black-on-yellow curve arrows to stay on 675.
4. In a little more than a mile, you'll cross a river (the Shenandoah) and come to a "T" intersection. Turn left to stay on 675; then, within half a mile, turn right to stay on 675.
5. Now the fun begins. 675 climbs up the side of Massanutten Mountain for about 3 or 4 miles. At the top of this climb, there's a parking area where you can pull off and enjoy a great view of the Page Valley (from whence you've come) and Luray.
6. Next, you'll go down the other side of the mountain, past Camp Roosevelt and into Fort Valley. At one point, you'll come to a crossroad of sorts where 675 goes right, but again, it's marked as the main road by curve arrows (the other two roads are -- or become -- gravel, and they're both great roads but that's another trip). A couple of miles after that point, you'll come to a fork in the road where 675 bears to the right; it doesn't make any difference which fork you take, as they come back together at Kings Crossing, which is 5 or 6 miles from the top of the mountain.
7. At King's Crossing (little more than a crossroads), turn left to stay on 675 (unless you want to go back to Front Royal and points north; then just go straight ahead on route 678, which goes up Fort Valley for about 25 miles and brings you to Virginia route 55 between Front Royal and Strasburg).
8. 675 goes up and down the other half of Massanutten Mountain and brings you to a "T" intersection with U.S. 11 in Edinburg (in about 6 or 7 miles). Turn left there, and then follow the signs that direct you to turn right (back onto 675) toward I-81 within one mile. You'll come to 81 within another half mile or so. The trip from Bentonville to I-81 should take 45 minutes to an hour. All the roads above are paved. U.S. 340 is fairly heavily patrolled by the state police, and the town and environs of Luray are patrolled by the Luray police, but once you get out of Luray, route 675 is lightly patrolled.
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