So, you’re planning a trip to see Shenandoah National Park? It’s a wonderful scenic park famous for its waterfalls, beautiful Skyline Drive and the spectacular hiking trails.
The national park lies along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, just 75 miles west of Washington, D.C. There are four entrances, and deciding on what Shenandoah National Park airport you’ll fly into depends on which of them you’ll access.
‼️ This guide gives you a list of nearby airports you can consider, but if you just want to know the nearest airport, read my guide to the Airport Nearest Shenandoah National Park. ‼️
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The Airports Near Shenandoah National Park
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Table of Contents
What Are The Best Airports Near Shenandoah National Park?
The airports near Shenandoah National Park are:
🛫 Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD)
🛫 Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO)
🛫 Washington Dulles International (IAD)
🛫 Reagan National (DCA)
🛫 Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD)
Shenandoah Valley Airport is close to the Bridgewater, Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro areas. There are daily direct flights from Shenandoah Airport, Virginia on United Airlines to Washington Dulles and Chicago O’Hare.
The airport also has three major car rental companies onsite.
The nearest entrance to Shenandoah National Park is Rockfish Gap, roughly 30 minutes away. It’s an additional 15 minutes to the Swift Run Gap entrance.
Location
Shenandoah Valley Airport is located at Weyers Cave, Virginia.
Distance to Shenandoah National Park
🔰 Distance from Shenandoah Valley Airport to Front Royal Entrance Station: 70 miles
🔰 Distance to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 56.7 miles
🔰 Distance to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 41 miles
🔰 Distance to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 24 miles ** nearest **
Travel time to Shenandoah National Park
⌚ Time to Front Royal Entrance Station: 1 hour and 25 minutes
⌚ Time to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 5 minutes
⌚ Time to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 55 minutes
⌚ Time to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 34 minutes ** nearest **
What airlines fly out of Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ United Airlines (SkyWest) with connecting flights to Washington Dulles (IAD) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚗 Onsite: Avis, Budget, and Enterprise
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport to Shenandoah National Park:
🚘 Car rental services
Pros
- Close to the Rockfish Gap Entrance
- Still a short travel to other park entrances with approximately an hour to an hour and a half drive
- Connecting flights to Washington Dulles and Chicago O’Hare airports.
Cons
- Limited flight options
- Few car rental options
- No international flights available
This is the best airport for Shenandoah National Park …
✔️ If you want to keep driving to a minimum
✔️ If you have limited time to travel
✔️ If you’re also visiting the Shenandoah Valley area
Charlottesville – Albemarle Airport (CHO)
The largest regional airport in the area, Charlottesville – Albemarle Airport is located just eight miles north of Charlottesville, near the southern end of the national park. Aside from Shenandoah Valley Regional, it’s the other Shenandoah National Park nearest airport you can fly into.
The airport offers daily non-stop flights to several major US cities.
For car rental services, you can head to the car rental center within the airport and choose from companies like AVIS, National Car Rental, Budget, and Enterprise.
The closest entrances to Shenandoah National Park are Swift Run Gap and Rockfish Gap, both about 30 minutes away.
Location:
The airport is located just eight miles north of Charlottesville, Albemarle County.
Distance Charlottesville to Shenandoah National Park:
🔰 Distance to Front Royal Entrance Station: 66 miles
🔰 Distance to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 49 miles
🔰 Distance to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 23 miles ** nearest **
🔰 Distance to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 30 miles
Travel time to Shenandoah National Park:
⌚ Time to Front Royal Entrance Station: 1 hour and 25 minutes
⌚ Time to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 5 minutes
⌚ Time to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 30 minutes ** nearest **
⌚ Time to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 36 minutes
What airlines fly out of Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ American Airlines: New York-LaGuardia, Charlotte
✈️ Delta: New York-LaGuardia, Atlanta
✈️ United: Washington – Dulles
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
🚗 Onsite (Car Rental Center): AVIS, National Car Rental, Budget, Enterprise
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport to Shenandoah National Park:
🚘 Car rental
🚖 Taxi services: Yellow Cab of Luray, Colonial Taxi Service
Pros
- Quick access to the park via the Swift Run Gap and Rockfish Gap
- Connecting flights to New York-LaGuardia, Charlotte, Atlanta and Washington-Dulle
Cons
- Limited airline options
- Limited connecting flights
- International flights are not offered here
- Limited car rental companies available
This is the best airport for Shenandoah National Park …
✔️ If you want to get to the park on a limited time travel
✔️ If you’re also seeing the Charlottesville area
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Washington Dulles International is a major airport located in Virginia near the nation’s capital. It’s the nearest international airport with to access to the national park. It’s a quick and easy drive from Shenandoah National Park to Washington DC and vice versa.
The nearest park entrance is in Front Royal, which is about an hour’s drive away. Drive west on I-66 going to Front Royal and exit to Route 30 South until you see the signs to the park and Skyline Drive.
Thornton Gap is also accessible – it’s just an extra 30 minutes or so. You can drive west on I-66 and take the 43A exit. Head to US-29 South towards Warrenton and take US-211 West to the park.
The airport is serviced by multiple domestic and international airlines, so there are plenty of flight options. The airport also offers several transportation services like bus and taxi services, limousine and sedan services, and car rentals to get you around the area if you’re visiting DC before or after your Shenandoah trip.
Location:
Washington Dulles International is located in Loudoun County and Fairfax County just 26 miles from Washington’s downtown area.
Distance Dulles Airport to Shenandoah National Park:
🔰 Distance to Front Royal Entrance Station: 57 miles ** nearest **
🔰 Distance to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 68 miles
🔰 Distance to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 97 miles
🔰 Distance to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 124 miles
Travel time from Washington DC to Shenandoah National Park:
⌚ Time to Front Royal Entrance Station: 1 hour and 5 minutes ** nearest **
⌚ Time to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 25 minutes
⌚ Time to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 50 minutes
⌚ Time to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 2 hours and 20 minutes
What airlines fly out of Washington Dulles International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Multiple domestic and international airlines fly to and from Washington Dulles International Airport.
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
🚗 Onsite (Car Rental Facility): Enterprise, National, Alamo, Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty (has free shuttle bus services within the airport area), AVIS, SiXT
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Washington Dulles International Airport to Shenandoah National Park:
🚘 Rental car direct to the Front Royal Entrance (the nearest entrance you can access)
🚍 Bus service to Charlottesville (Megabus) or Virginia Breeze (Shenandoah Valley), then rent a car
Pros
- Wide range of flight options both domestic and international
- Connecting flights to major US and international cities
- Plenty of car rental service options
- Budget flights are available at this airport
Cons
- Driving around DC can be a bit much if you’re not used to driving in big cities (if that’s the case, consider connecting to one of the smaller regional airports)
This is the best airport for Shenandoah National Park …
✔️ If you’re looking for more airline options going to the park
✔️ If you’re also seeing other attractions in Washington DC
Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Reagan National Airport is also known by several names like National, National Airport, Washington National, Reagan, or DCA. You’ll find this airport in Arlington, only 5 miles from the Washington DC area.
This national airport offers plenty of nonstop flights to over 96 domestic destinations in the US. It also provides 5 international flight destinations to cities in Canada. DC Metrorail system has a station connected to the airport and provides easy access to areas throughout Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. Other transportation services available here include bus services, taxis, limousines, sedans, and hotel and charter buses.
The airport also has several car rental options for you onsite. They provide shuttle services to the rental car counters.
You can reach Front Royal Entrance Station in an hour and a half drive from the airport. Driving to the Thornton Gap Entrance adds to another 15 minutes.
Location
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located in Arlington, just across the Potomac River, 5 miles from Downtown Washington, DC.
Distance to Shenandoah National Park
🔰 Distance to Front Royal Entrance Station: 72 miles ** nearest **
🔰 Distance to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 83 miles
🔰 Distance to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 98 miles
🔰 Distance to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 124 miles
Travel time to Shenandoah National Park
⌚ Time to Front Royal Entrance Station: 1 hour and 25 minutes ** nearest **
⌚ Time to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 45 minutes
⌚ Time to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 50 minutes
⌚ Time to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 2 hours and 21 minutes
What airlines fly out of Reagan National Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Air Canada – Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal
✈️ Alaska – Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland
✈️ American Airlines – Columbus, Buffalo Niagara, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati
✈️ Delta – Minneapolis, Atlanta, New York, Detroit, Atlanta, Raleigh/Durham
✈️ Frontier – Denver
✈️ JetBlue – Boston, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, West Palm Beach, Nantucket, Fort Myers
✈️ Southwest – Houston, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Tampa, Dallas, Orlando, Kansas, Missouri
✈️ United – Newark, Chicago, Houston, Denver
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚗 Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Reagan National Airport to Shenandoah National Park
🚘 Car rental services
Pros
- Manageable driving hours to the Front Royal and Thornton Gap Entrances
- Plenty of domestic airline flight options to major US cities
- Options for several car rental services
- Plenty of transportation options like the DC Metrorail system
Cons
- International flights are limited to Canadian cities
This is the best airport for Shenandoah National Park …
✔️ If you have a shorter time to travel
✔️ If you’re flying in to see other attractions in Washington
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Richmond International Airport is centrally located in Sandston, Virginia, and offers you access to key cities in the US. With eight major flight services flying to and from the airport, you can have non-stop domestic and connecting flights to international destinations. The airport has daily flights to and from Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach, and other areas on the east and west coasts areas like Orlando, Denver, and Dallas.
If you’re spending any time in Richmond, the airport has airport taxis and services via Galaxy Cab, public bus services by Greater Richmond Transit Company to and from the airport and around Richmond, and Sedan services.
To get to Shenandoah National Park, take the route to the Rockfish Gap Entrance via I-64 and exit 99, then follow the signs to the park and Skyline Drive. Travel time from the airport to this entrance is around an hour and a half.
The second entrance you can easily reach is the Swift Run Gap Entrance. Take I-64 going to Charlottesville then take the exit to US-29 North. Go left on US-33 West and drive the remaining 14 miles to the park.
Location
The airport is located at Sandston about 7 miles southeast of Richmond’s downtown area.
Distance to Shenandoah National Park
🔰 Distance to Front Royal Entrance Station: 134 miles
🔰 Distance to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 122 miles
🔰 Distance to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 102 miles
🔰 Distance to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 101 miles ** nearest **
Travel time to Shenandoah National Park
⌚ Time to Front Royal Entrance Station: 2 hours and 26 minutes
⌚ Time to Thornton Gap Entrance Station: 2 hours and 20 minutes
⌚ Time to Swift Run Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 52 minutes
⌚ Time to Rockfish Gap Entrance Station: 1 hour and 34 minutes ** nearest **
What airlines fly out of Richmond International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ American Airlines – Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York (JFK), Dallas, Chicago, New York (FGA)
✈️ Breeze Airways – Tampa
✈️ Delta – Boston, New York, Atlanta, Detroit
✈️ JetBlue Airways – Boston, Orlando
✈️ Southwest Airlines – Chicago, Atlanta
✈️ Allegiant – Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando
✈️ United – Chicago, Washington, Newark, Denver
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚗 Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Richmond International Airport to Shenandoah National Park
🚘 Car rental services
Pros
- You can get to the Rockfish Gap in one and a half hours
- Has several non-stop domestic flights to key cities
- Plenty of car rental services available
- Budget flights are available here
Cons
- Limited international flights
- There are more flight options from the DC airports
This is the best airport for Shenandoah National Park …
✔️ If you want to save time on travel
✔️ If you’re also visiting Richmond and nearby areas
How to Decide the Best Airport Near Shenandoah National Park
You have several options for the nearest airport to Shenandoah National Park. Here are some things to consider when choosing which airport to fly into/ out of:
❓ Which entrance will use to access the park? The Front Royal Entrance or the North Entrance is located near Front Royal just off Route 340, also known as Stonewall Jackson Highway. The Thornton Gap Entrance, which you’ll find east of Luray and west of Sperryville is accessible at Highway 211 or what’s called Lee Highway. The Swift Run Gap Entrance is found east of Elkon, off of US 33. And lastly, the Rockfish Gap Entrance or South Entrance can be reached a few miles east of Waynesboro at Highway 250.
❓ Where else are you planning to go on your trip? Are you visiting other towns in Virginia like Luray, Sperryville, or Washington? Some airports can easily be accessed in these areas.
❓ When are you going? Some airports might offer limited flights during the winter season.
❓ Where are you staying? It’s ideal to choose an airport that’s near your accommodation especially if you have limited time to travel.
❓ How much time do you have? Are you traveling on a short trip or longer? Travel time from and to the airport is crucial if you want to save time.
❓ What’s your budget? Are you opting for budget flights and cheaper car rental rates? Flights and services vary with different airports.
❓ Do you have a frequent flyer program with a specific airline? Larger airports offer more options for flights and services.
❓ Where are you flying from? Are you flying a domestic airline? Or taking international flights? Some airports have more connecting flights and airline choices than others.
❓ What type of car do you want to rent when you arrive? Do you prefer a specific car rental company? Some airports have a wide range of car rental services while others have more limited options.
Map of Airports Near Shenandoah National Park
Travel Insurance for Shenandoah National Park
When you’ve booked your flights to Shenandoah National Park, consider getting travel insurance too. Make sure it includes trip cancellation, in case you need to cancel your flight before your travel, so that you can get a refund.
➡️ A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Have a great trip to Shenandoah! I hope this guide has helped you decide what airport to fly to Shenandoah National Park.
More Planning Resources for Shenandoah National Park
⭐ Shenandoah National Park Guide
⭐ Planning A Trip to Shenandoah National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ 25 Best Overlooks On Skyline Drive
⭐ Skyline Drive Mile Markers
⭐ Best Things To Do in Shenandoah National Park
⭐ The Best Waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park
⭐ Best Hikes in Shenandoah National Park
⭐ How To Get to Shenandoah National Park
⭐ 10 Tips For Visiting Shenandoah National Park
⭐ The Closest Airport to Shenandoah National Park
⭐ Best Time to Visit Shenandoah National Park
⭐ Visiting Shenandoah National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ 10 Fun Facts About Shenandoah National Park
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The Airports Near Shenandoah National Park
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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