Fire pit on the deck with the sun setting over the Shenandoah Valley

Front Royal, Virginia

The top of the mountain.
The whole valley below.

A four-bedroom retreat perched above the Shenandoah River, with a private hot tub facing miles of open ridge line. Twenty-five minutes from the north gate of the national park.

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Sleeps 8
4 bedrooms
3 baths
Hot tub
Step-free entry

The stay

Getting here is half of it

A winding gravel road climbs through the forest to get here, and by the time you reach the top the rest of the week has fallen off behind you. The house sits high above the river with the valley opening out in front of it, so the view starts at the driveway and does not stop.

Inside, the kitchen, dining table, and living room are one open room with a wall of windows at the end and a stone fireplace at the middle of it. Three of the four bedrooms are on the main floor, and the front entry has no steps, so nobody in the group has to plan their day around a staircase.

Private hot tub on the covered deck looking out over the Shenandoah Valley

Outside

The hot tub has the best seat

Two decks wrap the house. The upper one carries the hot tub, a Blackstone griddle, and a hammock; the lower one has a propane fire pit pointed straight down the valley. There is almost no light pollution up here, so once the sun goes the sky takes over.

The house

Have a look around

Vaulted living room with a stone fireplace and a valley view through wide windows — Vaulted great room with a stone hearth

Bright kitchen with an island, stainless appliances, and seating for four — Island seats four, deck doors right there

Open kitchen and dining area with mountain views through wide windows — Kitchen and dining open to the view

Dining table set for eight under an iron orb chandelier — Dining for eight

Living room with a stone wood-burning fireplace under a vaulted ceiling — Wood-burning fireplace and reclaimed mantle

Primary bedroom with a king bed, ceiling fan, and a valley view — Primary bedroom, king, facing the valley

King bedroom with navy paneled walls and warm bedside lighting — King bedroom with navy paneling

Green paneled bedroom with private deck access and a treetop view — Green room, with its own deck door

Primary bathroom with a double vanity and a walk-in shower — Double vanity and walk-in shower

Lower-level game room with a foosball table, dining, and French doors out — Game room downstairs, with a walkout

Lower-level family room with leather sofas and a large smart TV — Second living room, leather and a big TV

Private home gym with an adjustable bench and dumbbells — Home gym, bench and dumbbells

Bright home office with French doors to the deck and a mountain view — Office with French doors to the deck

Blackstone griddle on the covered deck at sunset — Blackstone griddle on the upper deck

Covered porch with rocking chairs, a hammock, and ridge views — Rocking chairs and a hammock

Autumn view from the covered porch with ceiling fans and a fire pit — The porch in autumn

Front of the house at dusk with the covered porch lit — Front porch lit at dusk

Propane fire pit and hammock on the deck at golden hour

The view

It changes all day and never repeats

Morning comes in with mist still sitting on the river. By late afternoon the light runs gold across the ridge lines, and the sunset takes the whole valley with it. Fall is the obvious season to come. Clear winter mornings, when you can see for thirty miles, are the underrated one.

Amenities

What's here

Private hot tub with valley views
Two covered decks
Propane fire pit
Blackstone griddle
Hammock
Wood-burning stone fireplace
Private home gym
Foosball table
Two living rooms
Dedicated home office
Full kitchen with stainless appliances
Coffee and tea bar
Dining for eight
Washer and dryer
Smart TVs
Wireless internet
Air conditioning and heating
Ceiling fans
Linens and towels provided
Step-free front entry
Three main-floor bedrooms
Keypad smart lock
Free parking for four vehicles
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Before you book

Good to know

Check in	4:00 PM, keypad code sent before arrival
Check out	10:00 AM
Sleeps	8 guests, 4 bedrooms, 5 beds, 3 baths
Accessibility	Step-free front entry, three of four bedrooms on the main floor
Getting here	Well-maintained gravel mountain road. Front-wheel drive is fine most of the year; AWD or 4WD November through April.
Parking	Driveway parking for up to four vehicles
Pets	Welcome with prior approval, $150 per pet
Hot tub	Included. A short waiver is sent with your booking and signs on your phone.
Quiet hours	10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. No parties or events.
Smoking	Not permitted indoors
Booking age	21 and over
Security hold	$300 authorization before check-in, released after checkout
Cameras	Exterior only, at the driveway and entry. None inside the home.

The area

Front Royal, and the park behind it

Front Royal is the northern gateway to Shenandoah National Park, which puts Skyline Drive and the first stretch of the Appalachian Trail about twenty-five minutes from the front door. The town calls itself the canoe capital of Virginia and means it: the Shenandoah River runs right through it, with outfitters running float trips all summer.

Downtown is a short drive for groceries, restaurants, coffee, and a growing run of wineries and breweries. Dulles is about an hour and fifteen out, which makes this an easy weekend from DC without feeling anywhere near it.

Aerial view at sunset of the house and the long mountain driveway

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Booking here goes straight to the people who manage the house, with no booking-site service fee on top.

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The top of the mountain.The whole valley below.