Front Royal - town in Warren County, Virginia, United States

Front Royal is a town of 15,000 people (2019) in the US state of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. It is the county seat of Warren County.

Get in

• The town is at the intersection of Interstate 66, US-340 and US-522 near US-55. It is just miles from the intersection of Interstate 66 and Interstate 81
• The closest airport is Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) 📍, a small airport with scheduled commercial service only to Chicago–O'Hare and Washington–Dulles.
• About an hour drive from Front Royal is Washington Dulles International Airport 📍 major airport with numerous domestic and international flights.
• For passenger train service, Manassas Amtrak Station 📍 is about an hour drive from Front Royal.
• Passenger bus service is available from Washington Greyhound Bus Station 📍, about a 90-minute drive from Front Royal.

Get around

Front Royal's downtown area along Main Street is walkable.

There is a bus, the called Front Royal Trolley, which travels around the town of Front Royal but not the surrounding areas. ($0.50 fare; free for ages 0-12). (Route map)

Otherwise, you will definitely need a car to get around.

See

• Skyline Caverns, 10344 Stonewall Jackson Hwy (Route 340), 38.899200°, -78.216031°, +1 540 635-4545. M-F 9AM-5PM; Sa Su 9AM-6PM;. A series of caverns turned tourist attraction, one of only a few places in the world where you will find Anthodite formations, minerals shaped like orchids. There are also a series of underground streams and a waterfall to see here, as well as a miniature train. Adults $28, children age 6-12 $14, children age 0-5 Free.

• Christendom College, 134 Christendom Drive (off Shenandoah Shores Rd), 38.950696°, -78.147234°. Catholic college, opened in 1977.

Do

• Appalachian Trail, 38.878141°, -78.150748°. The 2,100-mile (3,400-km) Appalachian Trail passes near Front Royal. You can find it on Route 522 (Remount Road), about 4 miles southeast of the center of town. From here, you can walk 969 miles (1,560 km) south to Georgia or 1,134 miles (1,825 km) north to Maine. There is a Front Royal Trolley stop here, but pickup is only twice per day.
• Skyline Drive, 38.906268°, -78.199717°. A 105-mile (169-km) windy road, along the Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with dozens of beautiful views. Particularly stunning when the leaves change color in late September and early October. $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass, or $55 for a 12-month pass 2020-11-07

• Warren Riffles Confederate Museum, 95 Chester St, 38.919651°, -78.191371°, +1 540 636-6982. Relics and records of the US Civil War. Also books and gifts. Weekdays 9AM-4PM; Su noon to 4PM April 15-Nov 1; by appointment rest of year.

• Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloons, 552 Milldale Hollow Rd, 38.995339°, -78.093096°, +1 540 622-6325. Hot air balloon rides over the Shenandoah Valley, to see the area from above. From $180 per-person

• {{do | name=Breaktime Billiards | alt= | url=http://www.breaktimebillardsusa.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=460A S Commerce Ave | lat= 38.995223 | long= -78.092766 | directions= | phone = +1 540 636-8424 | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | content= }}

• Front Royal Canoe Company, 8567 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, 38.889315°, -78.243058°, +1 540 635-5440, frcanoe@lynxconnect.com. Offers canoe, kayak, and rafting trips down the Shenandoah River. Trips from 3 to 40 miles (5 km to 65 km). From $40
• Highlander Horses, 5197 Reliance Rd, 38.981717°, -78.195631°, +1 540 636-4523. Offers horse riding lessons, and short guided riding tours on trails through the Shenandoah Valley, ranging between 1 and 2 hours. From $30

• Royal Family Bowling Center, 430 Remount Rd, 38.906990°, -78.182884°, +1 540 636-3113.

• Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club, 456 Shadows Drive (on US522/340: 2 miles north of I-66), 38.988725°, -78.186248°, +1 540-631-9661. Featuring views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this award-winning golf course offers five sets of tee boxes ranging from 4,994 to 7,301 yards. The front nine plays as a traditional mountain course with vast elevation changes, tight fairways and numerous bunkers on most holes. The back nine, on the other hand, plays as a lakes course with wider fairways and water on almost all 9 holes, including the Signature Waterfall at the 18th green.

Buy

• Inklings, 205 E Main St, 38.917772°, -78.191426°, +1 540 252-2564. M-Sa 11AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM. Stationery, books, and gifts 2023-01-11
• Main Street Geek, 301 E Main St, 38.917623°, -78.19065°, +1 540 692-6005. M-Th noon-6PM, F Sa noon-8PM, Su noon-5PM. Toys, collectibles, comics, Lego sets, gifts, handcrafted jewelry, and art 2023-01-11
• Mountain Trails Front Royal, 120 E Main St, 38.917886°, -78.192068°, +1 540 749-2470. M-Th 10AM-6PM, F 10AM-7PM, Sa noon-7PM, Su noon-5PM. Outdoor clothing and equipment 2023-01-11
• Royal Oak Bookshop, 207 S Royal Ave, 38.915533°, -78.193590°, +1 540 635-7070. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. New and used books 2023-01-11

Eat

• PaveMint Smokin' Taphouse, 9 S Commerce Ave (Route 522), 38.916712°, -78.186750°, +1 540 252-4707. F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su M W Th 11AM-9PM, Tu 4-9PM. Gatropub serving craft beers and alcoholic milkshakes, in a gas station that was converted into a restaurant. Some outdoor seating available. 2020-11-07

• Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, 510 S Royal Ave, 38.934533°, -78.194460°, +1 540 635-7348.
• Jimbo's Restaurant, 1411 N Shenandoah Ave, 38.804286°, -77.603279°, +1 540 635-3466. Burgers, chicken wings, and similar American food.
• L Dee's Pancake House, 522 E Main St, 38.917364°, -78.188000°, +1 540 635-3791. Pancakes and other breakfast food. Cash only.
• Spelunker's Frozen Custard & Cavern Burgers, 116 South St, 38.911983°, -78.193023°, +1 540 631-0300. Burgers and frozen custard.
• Front Royal Fox's Pizza Den, 239 South St, 38.911209°, -78.190657°, +1 540 635-2800. Pizza, sandwiches, and salads.

• Houlihan's Restaurant + Bar, 101 Hospitality Drive (on US522/340: 2 miles north of I-66), 38.987234°, -78.181481°, +1 540-631-3045. Houlihan’s offers relaxed, casual dining and bar seating for 196 guests, featuring quality American fare freshly prepared with contemporary flavors and creativity. Houlihan's features a 98% made-from-scratch kitchen. From fresh-baked artisan breads to mini martini flights, you’ll find a variety of popular dishes along with interesting new tastes delivered to the table with smart presentations.

Drink

• Chester Gap Cellars, 4615 Remount Rd, 38.863173°, -78.130015°, +1 540 636-8086. F-Su 11AM-6PM, closed M-Th. Winery with peaceful porch and a great view. Try some of the wines, buy a few bottles of your favorites. Bringing in outside food to eat is allowed. 2020-11-07
• Glen Manor Vineyards, 2244 Browntown Rd, 38.840038°, -78.228921°, +1 540 635-6324. F Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, M 11AM-5PM, closed Tu-Th. Winery producing excellent Virginia wine. Wine-tastings available. 2020-11-07
• Front Royal Brewing Company, 122 E Main St, 38.918278°, -78.191973°, +1 540 631-0773. F noon-10PM, Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-8PM, M W Th noon-8PM, closed Tu. Local brewery in a large space. 2020-11-07
• Vibrissa Beer, 122 E Main St, 38.918290°, -78.191732°, +1 540 631-0773. Su-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Brewery and restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Live music some Friday and Saturday evenings. They also have a location in Winchester. 2023-01-11
• Main Street Daily Grind Café, 215 E Main St, 38.917705°, -78.191057°, +1 540 635-3556. Daily 8AM-6PM. Coffee and espresso drinks. Also serves breakfast and lunch. 2023-01-11

Sleep

Bed & Breakfast

• Killahevlin Bed & Breakfast Inn, 1401 N Royal Ave, +1 540 636-7335.
• Lackawanna Bed & Breakfast, 236 Riverside Dr, +1 540 636-7945.
• Woodward House on Manor Grade, 413 S Royal Ave, +1 540 635-7010.

Hotels and motels

• Blue Ridge Motel, 1370 N Shenandoah Ave, +1 540 636-7200.
• Bluemont Inn, 1525 N Shenandoah Ave, +1 540 635-9447.
• Cool Harbor Motel, 141 W 15th St, +1 540 635-2191.
• Hampton Inn, 9800 Winchester Rd, +1 540 635-1882.

• {{sleep | name=Holiday Inn & Suites Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows | url=http://www.HIFrontRoyalVA.com (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=111 Hospitality Drive | lat=38.98824 | long=-78.18184 | directions=on US522/340: 2 miles north of I-66 | phone = +1 540-631-3050 | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | checkin=3PM | checkout=noon | content=2012 IHG Torchbearer Award Winner (Holiday Inn's Highest Honor) and 2011 IHG Newcomer Award Winner (Best New Holiday Inn). A conference hotel with 124 Guest Rooms, 26 one bedroom suites and conference facilities seating up to 300 people for banquets. The hotel offers free wireless internet, coin-op guest laundry, 24 hour fitness center and business centers and a heated indoor pool/whirlpool. Guest rooms come with 32-inch LCD TVs with HBO, Refrigerators and oversized desks with ergonomic chairs. }}

• Pioneer Motel, 541 S Royal Ave, +1 540 635-4784.
• {{sleep | name=Quality Inn | alt= | url=http://www.qualityinnfrontroyal.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=10 Commerce Ave | lat= | long= | directions= | phone = +1 540 635-3161 | tollfree= | fax= | price= | checkin= | checkout= | content= }}
• Relax Inn, 1810 N Shenandoah Ave, +1 540 635-4101.
• Super 8 Motel, 111 South St, +1 540 636-4888.

Campground

• Gooney Creek Campground, 7122 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, 88.8691°, -78.2496°, +1 540-635-4066. Beautiful tent/RV campground immediately alongside the Gooney Creek. 20A hookups. No wifi. Swimming possible in river. $36

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