Traffic was very light. In fact, I probably saw more motorcycles, hikers, bicycles, and deer than "cages" and "bagos". The reason for this was the weather (sunny, with temperature range of 45-55°) and the fact that some of the campgrounds and other services do not open until May or June.
The Skyline Drive is 105 miles with a 35 mph speed limit, but most of the traffic was exceeding this limit and I did not see any park rangers. With light traffic, figure about 3 hours (with some stops) on the road. Local residents told me that during the tourist season, you should figure on 5-6 hours to do the complete drive. Traffic is sometimes bumper-to-bumper and moving along at 20-25 mph.
With all its curves, this road is great for the touring, sport-touring, and cruiser crowd. But, because of the 35 mph speed limit, bikers on crotch-rockets will probably end up with boredom or a speeding ticket or both.
If you plan on stopping to enjoy some of the overlooks, it might be best to travel the Skyline Drive from north to south. A majority of the overlooks are on the southbound side and are frequently located on the outside of sharp curves. If you are traveling northbound, it is difficult to see oncoming traffic when making your left turn into the overlook parking area.
One thing to be aware of. The deer like to graze along the shoulder of the road. Be careful!
Marys Rock Tunnel - mile marker 32.4
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