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Virginia · Est. 1935

Shenandoah National Park

Last verified $30 / vehicle

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore...and your journey begins right here! — nps.gov

SHENANDOAHVIRGINIA38.49°N · 78.47°W
White-tailed bucks sparring in Big Meadows
Photo: NPS Photo / Neal Lewis

Shenandoah National Park at a glance

State
Virginia
Established
December 26, 1935
Size
200,454 acres
2025 visits
1,682,152
Busiest-park rank
#19 of 63
Entrance
$30 / vehicle

Best time to visit

When is Shenandoah quiet?

Shenandoah is busiest in October and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, November is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.

In 2025 the park logged 1,682,152 recreation visits, the #19 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.

Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Shenandoah open right now? →

Average visits by month

2021–2025 · NPS IRMA
JFMAMJJASOND
Monthly recreation visits: Jan 24,259, Feb 27,667, Mar 74,558, Apr 126,576, May 158,253, Jun 169,075, Jul 186,931, Aug 179,435, Sep 152,559, Oct 318,584, Nov 151,769, Dec 34,330.

Quietest: JanuaryBusiest: October

Fees & passes

What it costs to visit Shenandoah

Private vehicle$30
Motorcycle$25
Per person (on foot / bike)$15
Shenandoah annual pass$55

From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov

Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.

Reservations · 2026

No park-wide reservation

The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Shenandoah National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.

Every park that needs a reservation in 2026 →

Things to do

Things to do in Shenandoah

The National Park Service lists 49 things to do in Shenandoah National Park, from quick stops to full-day outings. The shortest come first.
All activities →
  • Appalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road1-2 Hours · All year

    MILE 52.8 | A fairly level hike that takes you through a former homestead on the famous Appalachian Trail.

    Pets OK
  • Bearfence Rock Scramble1-2 Hours · All year

    MILE 56.4 | Pets are not allowed on this hike. An exhilarating rock scramble leads to a magnificent 360-degree view of the Virginia Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley.

  • Bearfence Viewpoint1 Hour · All year

    MILE 56.4 | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This route takes you to a 180-degree view of the Shenandoah Valley without a rock scramble.

  • Blackrock Summit1 Hour · All year

    Blackrock Parking Area (mile 84.4) | A short hike to a viewpoint on top of a rocky talus slope with incredible views of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, and beyond. This hike is also a designated TRACK…

    Pets OK
  • Compton Peak1-2 Hours · All year

    Compton Gap Parking Area (mile 10.4) | A hike through the forest along the Appalachian Trail to a western view and a great look at columnar jointing, an exciting geologic feature.

    Pets OK
  • Dark Hollow Falls1-2 Hours · All year

    Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (mile 50.7) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This hike follows a stream to a beautiful waterfall, and is one of the Park’s most traveled trails. The trail is short, but very steep and…

  • Fort Windham Rocks1 Hour · All year

    Compton Gap Parking Area (mile 10.4) | A short hike along the Appalachian Trail that leads to an interesting geologic feature.

    Pets OK
  • Fox Hollow Trail1 Hour · All year

    Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (Mile 4.6) | Pets are not allowed on this hike. Discover the cultural history of Shenandoah National Park as you pass by historic rock walls, a cemetery, and periwinkles planted by former…

Show all 49 things to do

From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.

By activity

The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.

Weather

Weather at Shenandoah

Shenandoah National Park has four very distinct seasons. Spring typically brings mild temperatures, rain, and wildflowers. Summer brings lush green forests, but can be hot and very humid. Fall follows with cooler temperatures and spectacular fall foliage. Winter can bring snow and ice.

The park spans roughly 100 miles, which means that weather can vary greatly depending on your location. The mountain is usually 10°F cooler than the valley below. Always check the forecast, dress in layers, and be prepared.

From the National Park Service.

Getting there

Getting to Shenandoah

Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, west of Washington, D.C. It stretches 105 miles and has four entrances: Front Royal (northern entrance), Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap, and Rockfish Gap (southern entrance to Shenandoah and the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway).

The physical address listed is to the administrative offices, not the Park itself. GPS can be unreliable for navigating to the Park, so we encourage you to check out our website for more info.

Shenandoah National Park, Luray, VA, 22835 · Directions on nps.gov

Nearby

National parks near Shenandoah

  1. New River Gorge National Park & Preserve144 mi~3 h drive (est.)
  2. Cuyahoga Valley National Park252 mi~6 h drive (est.)
  3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park342 mi~8 h drive (est.)
  4. Congaree National Park349 mi~8 h drive (est.)
  5. Mammoth Cave National Park427 mi~10 h drive (est.)
  6. Indiana Dunes National Park505 mi~12 h drive (est.)

Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.

Closest big cities: Washington, DC (83 mi) · Richmond (86 mi) · Baltimore (115 mi) · Pittsburgh (157 mi)

Road trip

Cuyahoga Valley, New River Gorge & Shenandoah

3 parks, about 380 miles between them (~9 h of driving, estimated).

Shenandoah is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.

Photos of Shenandoah National Park

Visitors stand on a rocky outcrop overlooking the receding mountains.
Photo: NPS Photo / Neal Lewis
American Black Bear crossing Skyline Drive
Photo: NPS Photo | B. Raeburn

FAQ

Shenandoah, quickly

When is the best time to visit Shenandoah National Park?
If you want fewer people, go in November, the quietest shoulder-season month. October is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
How much does it cost to visit Shenandoah National Park?
$30 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
Do you need a reservation for Shenandoah National Park in 2026?
The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Shenandoah National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
What are some things to do in Shenandoah National Park?
The National Park Service lists 49 things to do in Shenandoah National Park, including Appalachian Trail - Tanners Ridge Road, Bearfence Rock Scramble, Bearfence Viewpoint, Blackrock Summit, Compton Peak. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
When did Shenandoah National Park become a national park?
Shenandoah National Park was established as a national park on December 26, 1935.
What is the closest national park to Shenandoah?
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, about 144 miles away in a straight line (roughly 3 hours' drive, estimated).

Sources · 3

  1. 1.Shenandoah National Park — official site · National Park Service
  2. 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
  3. 3.Shenandoah National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

About this page

Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/shen.

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