Shenandoah National Park lies along the ridge of a northern section of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The most famous feature in the park is the scenic Skyline Drive, which runs the entire length of the park.
However, there are also dozens of incredible hiking trails leading to stunning views, beautiful waterfalls and other points of interest. The national park also has the largest concentration of black bears on the east coast!
25% of the national park’s annual visitors go there in the month of October to see the incredible fall color. However, Shenandoah is always open, weather permitting, and is beautiful any time of the year.
Table of Contents
Shenandoah National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Virginia
⭐ Main attractions: Scenic views, hikes, waterfalls, the scenic Skyline Drive
10 FUN FACTS ABOUT SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
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Shenandoah National Park Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Shenandoah National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Shenandoah National Park guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Shenandoah National Park
Some helpful Shenandoah National Park trip planning information:
Because the park is so big, planning a trip can be tricky.
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Shenandoah National Park.
All the major points of interest in the iconic Skyline Drive.
Read More: SKYLINE DRIVE MILE MARKERS
A permit is needed to hike Old Rag Mountain.
Read More: DETAILS ON THE RESERVATION SYSTEMS
Entrance Fee for Shenandoah National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Shenandoah National Park this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes standard entrance at all sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Army Corps of Engineers. The pass covers the entrance fee for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Shenandoah National Park Entrances
The park lies across the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The 105-mile Skyline Drive traverses the entire length of the park. There are four entrance stations along the route:
🎟️ Front Royal Entrance Station at Mile 0.6 is the northern end of the park.
🎟️ Thorton Gap Entrance Station at Mile 31.3.
🎟️ Swift Run Gap Entrance Station at Mile 65.5.
🎟️ Rockfish Gap Entrance Station at Mile 105.5 is the southern end of the park.
There are two Visitor Centers:
ℹ️ Byrd Visitor Center at Big Meadows Mile 51.2.
ℹ️ Dickey Ridge Visitor Center at Mile 4.6.
Best Tours of Shenandoah National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Shenandoah National Park
Things to Do in Shenandoah National Park
There are plenty of things to do in and near Shenandoah.
There are 75 overlooks on the iconic Skyline Drive.
Read More: BEST SKYLINE DRIVE OVERLOOKS
There are plenty of beautiful waterfalls to chase.
Read More: BEST WATERFALLS IN SHENANDOAH
Hikes in Shenandoah National Park
There are a LOT of amazing hikes in Shenandoah National Park.
A summary of my favorite hikes in Shenandoah National Park.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
Where to Stay In and Near Shenandoah National Park
There are several lodges and campgrounds in the national park.
Lodges inside Shenandoah National Park
🛏️ Skyland Resort (Mile 41.7 and 42.5)
🛏️ Big Meadows Lodge (Mile 51.2)
Campgrounds inside Shenandoah National Park
⛺ Mathews Arm Campground (Mile 22.1)
⛺ Big Meadows Campground (Mile 51.2)
⛺ Lewis Mountain Campground (Mile 57.5)
⛺ Loft Mountain Campground (Mile 79.5)
⛺ Dundo Group Campground (Mile 83.7)
Places to Stay Near Shenandoah National Park
There are plenty of accommodation options nearby:
➡️ Find a hotel near Shenandoah National Park on Expedia.
➡️ Find a vacation rental near Shenandoah National Park on VRBO.
How to Get To Shenandoah National Park
The most common ways to get to Shenandoah National Park are to drive or fly into one of the nearby airports and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Airports for Shenandoah National Park
The airports near Shenandoah National Park with the pros and cons of using each of them.
Read More: THE AIRPORTS NEAR SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
This is the closest airport to Shenandoah National Park’s entrances.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Shenandoah National Park
There are no shuttles so you need to have your own vehicle or take a tour. Most of the park can be visited from the Skyline Drive, but there are some sections like Old Rag Mountain that are accessed directly from outside the park.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
When to Visit Shenandoah National Park
The park is open all year.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Read More: BEST TO VISIT SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Shenandoah National Park.
Read More: VISITING SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Shenandoah National Park
How many days you should go to Shenandoah National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. I recommend at least two days to drive the Skyline Drive and do some of the many hikes in the park.
Travel Insurance for Shenandoah National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Shenandoah National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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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.