How to Shop the Shenandoah Valley Route 11 Yard Crawl

The Shenandoah Valley Yard Crawl in August

The Shenandoah Valley Route 11 Yard Crawl is a 40-mile plus yard sale annually held on the second Saturday in August in Virginia. It is full of flea market-like clusters of peddlers, especially at the fringes of the small towns along the way. Route 11, which is the Old Valley Pike, parallels Interstate 81 around Woodstock, Virginia. Woodstock is 90 miles west of Washington D.C.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Comfortable shoes
• cash
• a sense of adventure

1. Leave as much room in the vehicle as possible in case you find things to buy. Bring a cooler since you can be in the car for a long day. There are plenty of food options along the way, but bring some snacks so you don't have to cut much into your shopping time.

2. Start around 7 a.m. to beat the crowds. Start on either end of the route, but drive slow and watch for pedestrians. The route is filled with people on foot exploring the sales. Be prepared to pull over when you see something that interests you.

3. Bring small bills as most of the sellers will not have a lot of change. It's also hot in Virginia in August, so bring sunscreen and sunglasses.

4. Book a hotel early if you plan to go on Friday night. Some "early-bird" specials may be available on Friday night. The area also has plenty of antique stores and attractions such as the Luray Caverns and several Civil War battlefields.

Tips & Warnings

• You may be able to catch some early birds setting up on Friday afternoon.

• Feel free to bargain

• Check the VisitShenandoah.org website for exact date each year and any details (like if the route's gotten longer, which seems to happen each year)!

• Book accommodations well in advance if you plan to stay over Friday night.

• When you've had enough, just hop on Interstate 81 for a quick exit.

• Skyline Drive and the Shenandoah National Park are nearby if you need to get back to nature after a hectic day of yard sale shopping.

• Be careful of traffic and walkers along the road.

References

• Route 11 Yard Crawl

Resources

• VisitShenandoah.org
• Luray Caverns