Bicycles must stay on the paved roads. When to visit A late-winter ice storm devastated hundreds of thousands of trees and closed the southern half of Skyline Drive until late spring while work crews cut back overhanging branches. Even so, spring is a wonderful time to go. Flowers proliferate, and the surviving trees begin to bear leaves. Weather tends to be mild from May to November, the period of time when most park facilities are open.
Fall colors make the scenery particularly dramatic.
The mountain air imposes a morning and evening chill, so dress in layers. Lodging Eating and sleeping facilities, stores and gas pumps are scattered unobtrusively along Skyline Drive. Three areas provide lodges or cabins. Meal and lodging packages also are available. Camp stores at Elkwallow, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain and Loft Mountain sell camping supplies, souvenirs and take-away food for the numerous picnic areas.