# Front Royal

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.

## Understand

* Front Royal Tourism website

## 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 38.262488-78.9002251 Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), a small airport with scheduled commercial service only from Chicago–O'Hare and Washington–Dulles.
* About an hour drive from Front Royal is 38.956813-77.4464862 Washington Dulles International Airport major airport with numerous domestic and international flights.
* For passenger train service, 38.750069-77.472793 Manassas Amtrak Station is about an hour drive from Front Royal.
* Passenger bus service is available from 38.897157-77.0063194 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

* 38.8992-78.2160311 Skyline Caverns, 10344 Stonewall Jackson Hwy (Route 340), ☏ +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..
* 38.950696-78.1472342 Christendom College, 134 Christendom Drive (off Shenandoah Shores Rd), toll-free: +1-800-877-5456. Catholic college, opened in 1977.

## Do

* 38.878141-78.1507481 Appalachian Trail. 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.
* 38.906268-78.1997172 Skyline Drive (begins at Stonewall Jackson Hwy). 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. (updated Nov 2020)
* 38.919651-78.1913713 Warren Riffles Confederate Museum, 95 Chester St, ☏ +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.
* 38.995339-78.0930964 Blue Ridge Hot Air Balloons, 552 Milldale Hollow Rd, ☏ +1 540 622-6325. Hot air balloon rides over the Shenandoah Valley, to see the area from above. From $180 per-person.
* 38.889315-78.2430585 Front Royal Canoe Company, 8567 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, ☏ +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.
* 38.90699-78.1828846 Royal Family Bowling Center, 430 Remount Rd, ☏ +1 540 636-3113.
* 38.988725-78.1862487 Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club, 456 Shadows Drive (on US522/340: 2 miles north of I-66), ☏ +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

* 38.917623-78.190651 Main Street Geek, 301 E Main St, ☏ +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 (updated Jan 2023)
* 38.917886-78.1920682 Mountain Trails Front Royal, 120 E Main St, ☏ +1 540 749-2470. M-Th 10AM-6PM, F 10AM-7PM, Sa noon-7PM, Su noon-5PM. Outdoor clothing and equipment (updated Jan 2023)
* 38.915533-78.193593 Royal Oak Bookshop, 207 S Royal Ave, ☏ +1 540 635-7070. M-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. New and used books (updated Jan 2023)

## Eat

* 38.916779-78.1867371 PaveMint Spokin' Taphouse, 9 S Commerce Ave, Front Royal (Route 522), ☏ +1 540 252 4707. F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su-Th 11AM-9PM. Located in a former gas station, it serves comfort food with an international twist. Plenty of great beers available. Has both indoor and outdoor seating. (updated Jun 2021)
* 38.917364-78.1882 L Dee's Pancake House, 522 E Main St, ☏ +1 540 635-3791. Pancakes and other breakfast food. Cash only.
* 38.911983-78.1930233 Spelunker's Frozen Custard & Cavern Burgers, 116 South St, ☏ +1 540 631-0300. Burgers and frozen custard.
* 38.911209-78.1906574 Front Royal Fox's Pizza Den, 239 South St, ☏ +1 540 635-2800. Pizza, sandwiches, and salads.
* 38.987234-78.1814815 Houlihan's Restaurant + Bar, 101 Hospitality Drive (on US522/340: 2 miles north of I-66), ☏ +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.
* 38.962454-78.1916836 Khukuri Nepali Cuisine, 40 Riverton Commons Dr, ☏ +1 540-749-2440, nigel_742048@yahoo.com. W-M 11:30AM-3PM & 4-9PM, Tu closed. Traditional Nepalese and north Indian cuisine including dal-bhat-takari, momos, tandori, etc. (updated Jan 2024)

## Drink

* 38.863754-78.129531 Chester Gap Cellars, 4615 Remount Rd (near Route 522), ☏ +1 540 636 8086. F-Su 11AM-6PM, M-Th closed. Scenic winery that grows its grapes on-site. Lovely view of the surrounding area. Well-behaved dogs are welcome outside. (updated Jun 2021)
* 38.839825-78.2304452 Glen Manor Vienyards, 2244 Browntown Rd, ☏ +1 540 635 6324. W-Su 11AM-5PM, M Tu closed. Taste many different varietals of wine that have been produced on their 17-acre vineyard. Beautiful view of the vines, pasture, and mountains. The farm has been owned and farmed by five generations of their family for over 100 years. (updated Jun 2021)
* 38.918278-78.1919733 Front Royal Brewing Company, 122 E Main St, ☏ +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. (updated Nov 2020)
* 38.91829-78.1917324 Vibrissa Beer, 122 E Main St, ☏ +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. (updated Jan 2023)
* 38.917705-78.1910575 Main Street Daily Grind Café, 215 E Main St, ☏ +1 540 635-3556. Daily 8AM-6PM. Coffee and espresso drinks. Also serves breakfast and lunch. (updated Jan 2023)
* 38.91784-78.190996 Honey & Hops Brew Works, 212 East Main St (east from Main and Royal), ☏ +1 540 692 6032, info@honeyandhopsbrewworks.com. M Tu Th 3-9PM, W closed, F-Su noon-10PM. 3 brothers from Alaska, making mead in the Shenandoah Valley. Small batch, hand crafted, honey wine. (updated Oct 2023)

## Sleep
### Bed & Breakfast

* 38.912833-78.1972971 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.
* Relax Inn, 1525 N Shenandoah Ave, ☏ +1 540-635-4101.
* Motel 6, 141 W 15th St, ☏ +1 540 635-2191.
* Hampton Inn, 9800 Winchester Rd, ☏ +1 540 635-1882.
* 38.98824-78.181842 DoubleTree by Hilton Front Royal Blue Ridge Shadows (formerly Holiday Inn Express), 111 Hospitality Drive (on US522/340: 2 miles north of I-66), ☏ +1 540-631-3050. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. 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.
* Parkside Motel, 541 S Royal Ave, ☏ +1 540-631-1153.
* Super 8 Motel, 111 South St, ☏ +1 540 636-4888.

### Campground

* 88.8691-78.24963 Gooney Creek Campground, 7122 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, ☏ +1 540-635-4066. Check-out: noon. Beautiful tent/RV campground immediately alongside the Gooney Creek. 20A hookups. No wifi. Swimming possible in river. $36.