The freeway comes into Shenandoah County and a short distance later, interchanges with US 211 that provides an additional outlet to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park, as well as the town of New Market, Luray Caverns, New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, and the Virginia Museum of the Civil War. I-81 crosses the North Fork of the Shenandoah River before its interchange with SR 730, that also provides access to US 11 and the Shenandoah Caverns. The freeway passes through agricultural areas on the western edge of the town of Mount Jackson prior to crossing the Chesapeake Branch rail line, a tributary of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and SR 263, and reaching an interchange with SR 292/SR 703 also providing access to the unincorporated city of Basye to the west, via SR 614 and SR 263. I-81 soon interchanges with SR 614 without a southbound exit and northbound entrance in the unincorporated village of Bowmans Crossing, SR 185/SR 675 near the town of Edinburg, providing access to Edinburg Mill, before interchanging with SR 42 within the town of Woodstock, the county seat of Shenandoah County, providing access to the Massanutten Military Academy. I-81 continues northeast through wooded surroundings and interchanges with SR 651 northwest of the town of Toms Brook, before it turns more east and passes north of the town of Strasburg. Within the Strasburg area, the freeway interchanges US 48/SR 55, as well as US 11, which provides access to the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park, before crossing over CSX Transportation's Shenandoah Subdivision rail line. I-81 then enters Warren County and turns back towards the northeast to its stack interchange with I-66 which heads east towards the town of Front Royal and Washington, DC, also providing access to the Virginia Inland Port, as well as additional access to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park.