Horseback riding

Skyland Stables

Guided one-hour horseback rides and short pony rides at Skyland, run by the park’s lodging concessioner.

See it on the map Official website Directions
Skyline Drive Banco Etlan Graves Mill Luray Madison Nethers Sperryville Skyland Stables
Skyline Drive in the fall, North District around mile 12.
NPS / N. Lewis · Public domain

Photo of the surrounding area.

Rides go out several times a day and cross Skyline Drive. The 2026 season runs May 1 through October 31, weather permitting. Reservations are recommended and are made online through the concessioner.

Horseback riders must be at least 4 feet 10 inches tall and under 250 pounds. Pony rides are 15 minutes, for children 5 and up whose feet reach the stirrups.

2026 season
May 1 through October 31
Ride length
One hour (pony rides 15 minutes)
Riders
At least 4 ft 10 in tall and under 250 lb
Reservations
Recommended, online
To get there
Skyline Drive needs a park entrance pass

Hours change with the seasons in rural Virginia. Call or check the website before you drive.

Where to stay, by the drive

Rank on the map

Ordered by drive time to the parking area, then by how close the stay is to this area and how complete and current its listing is. How ranking works.

Exterior of the Skyland dining room and taproom.
Unclaimed

Skyland

Lodge rooms and cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 41.7

3min drive

0.6 mi by road · 0.6 mi straight

Late fall panorama from Pinnacles Overlook on Skyline Drive, with Old Rag Mountain in the distance.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Corbin Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 37.8 · sleeps 12

10min drive

4.7 mi by road · 2.2 mi straight

Fog and red blueberry over Big Meadows in fall.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Rock Spring Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 48 · sleeps 8

12min drive

5.6 mi by road · 2.6 mi straight

Exterior of Big Meadows Lodge.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Lodge

Lodge rooms and cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 51

25min drive

9.8 mi by road · 5 mi straight

Sunrise over Big Meadows.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Campground

National park campground (reservation only) · Skyline Drive, mile 51

24min drive

9.6 mi by road · 4.9 mi straight

Evening light on the rocks of Bearfence Mountain.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Pocosin Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 59.8 · sleeps 8

37min drive

17.1 mi by road · 13.4 mi straight

Moss phlox on the rocks at Crescent Rock Overlook in spring.
Unclaimed

Lewis Mountain Cabins

Rustic cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 57.5

33min drive

15 mi by road · 11.4 mi straight

Evening light on the rocks of Bearfence Mountain.
Unclaimed

Lewis Mountain Campground

National park campground (first-come, first-served) · Skyline Drive, mile 57.5

34min drive

15 mi by road · 11.6 mi straight

Main Street in Sperryville, Virginia, in October.
Unclaimed

Hopkins Ordinary

Bed and breakfast with a brewery · Sperryville

39min drive

18.5 mi by road · 9.7 mi straight

Fall color in Mathews Arm Campground.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Range View Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 22 · sleeps 8

45min drive

20.5 mi by road · 11.9 mi straight

Aerial view of Luray, Virginia.
Unclaimed

The Mimslyn Inn

Historic inn · Luray

41min drive

21.4 mi by road · 7.3 mi straight

Fall color in Mathews Arm Campground.
Unclaimed

Mathews Arm Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 22.2

47min drive

21.1 mi by road · 13.2 mi straight

13 more beyond 60 minutes
Fields toward the Blue Ridge from Route 231 near Etlan, Madison County.
Unclaimed Some pet-friendly units

Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges

Lodge rooms, cabins, farmhouses and campground · Syria

1 hr 11 mindrive

38 mi by road · 7.2 mi straight

The Big Run watershed from Big Run Overlook, South District.
Unclaimed

Massanutten Resort

Resort lodging · McGaheysville

1 hr 19 mindrive

38.8 mi by road · 24.2 mi straight

Lower Doyles River Falls.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Doyles River Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 81.1 · sleeps 12

1 hr 23 mindrive

38.3 mi by road · 28.3 mi straight

Loft Mountain Wayside on Skyline Drive.
Unclaimed

Loft Mountain Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 79.5

1 hr 26 mindrive

38.2 mi by road · 28.2 mi straight

Panorama across a field toward Old Rag from Route 231 near Etlan.
Host verified Dogs welcome

Birch's Library

Cabin, 1865 homestead · Syria

  • Fire pit
  • Wi-Fi
  • Kitchen
  • Creek or river
  • A/C
  • +1
  • Book direct
1 hr 28 mindrive

37.6 mi by road · 3.3 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Boar's Head Resort

Resort · Charlottesville

1 hr 38 mindrive

54.8 mi by road · 38 mi straight

Downtown Middleburg, Virginia.
Unclaimed

Salamander Middleburg

Resort and spa · Middleburg

1 hr 48 mindrive

58.7 mi by road · 43.6 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Keswick Hall

Resort hotel · Keswick

1 hr 48 mindrive

59.9 mi by road · 39.2 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Blackburn Inn

Inn and conference center · Staunton

1 hr 50 mindrive

66.3 mi by road · 48.1 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Hotel 24 South

Historic hotel · Staunton

1 hr 50 mindrive

66.2 mi by road · 48 mi straight

Sources

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Checked October 30, 2026.

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