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National Park

Shenandoah National Park

  • Mid-Atlantic
  • 9 hikes
  • 10 places to see
  • 6 current alerts

Plan a Shenandoah trip Where to stay

Current alerts

  • Closure

    Active Closure

    Due to recent wildlife interactions and out of an abundance of caution, the Naked Creek backcountry zone is closed to all recreation until further notice. A camping closure remains in effect for the Appalachian Trail (AT) from Lewis Mountain to Big Meadows, including the Bearfence AT Hut. The AT is…

  • Caution

    Parking at Boundary Access Areas

    Visitors are reminded to park in designated parking areas when accessing the park via boundary trailheads. Parking in unauthorized locations may result in your vehicle being towed at the owner's expense. Park on the right side of the road approaching Thompson Hollow. Parking is authorized up to the…

  • Notice

    Infrastructure Improvements to Old Rag Trailhead

    Effective May 4, Shenandoah National Park will begin infrastructure enhancements at the Old Rag Trailhead main parking lot. We expect to complete work by November 2026. Until then, the main parking lot is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Visitors can access Old Rag Trailhead via existin…

  • Notice

    Shenandoah National Park Moved to Fully Cashless Fee Collection

    On July 1, 2025, the park transitioned to a fully cashless system at our fee entrance stations. Only credit cards, debit cards, or mobile payments will be accepted.

  • Notice

    Get Skyline Drive Status Updates

    Sign up for Shenandoah Alerts by texting SHENALERTS to 888777. Any time there are closures, re-openings, or other important safety-related alerts, subscribers will receive a notification via text. You may unsubscribe at any time.

  • Notice

    Ticket Required to Hike Old Rag

    March 1 - November 30 those wishing to hike Old Rag are required to obtain a day-use ticket before arriving.

From the National Park Service, as of October 29, 2026, 5:15 am. Check nps.gov before you go.

Latest news

About Shenandoah

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!

From the National Park Service.

Region
Mid-Atlantic
State
Virginia
Designation
National Park
Entrance fee
$30, private vehicle
Hikes on this page
9
Places to see
10
Articles
8

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Shenandoah.

Entrance fees

  • $30 Private Vehicle Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Admits the pass holder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle.
  • $25 Motorcycle
  • $15 Per Person

Passes

  • $55 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

Shenandoah National Park is always open. However, portions of Skyline Drive, the only public road through the Park, are periodically closed during inclement weather. Visitors can still enter the Park on foot to hike, even when the Skyline Drive is closed. Campgrounds, services, and facilities have separate hours; please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere on our website.

Weather and when to go

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.

Getting there

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.

Gateway towns
Luray, VA · Front Royal, VA
Nearest airports
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) · Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO)

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
Shenandoah National Park, 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East, Luray, VA 22835
Official site
nps.gov/shen

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Shenandoah

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Where to stay for Shenandoah

The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.

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Things to do in Shenandoah

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Old Rag Circuit

    Hiking · about 7 hours · Reservation required

    PARK BOUNDARY | Visitors must obtain an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance of this hike. Pets are not allowed. Old Rag is a popular, very strenuous hike with sweeping views and sev…

  • Stony Man

    Hiking · about 1.3 hours

    MILE 41.7 | Pets are not allowed on this hike. This enjoyable hike brings you to an outstanding view of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, and beyond.

  • Whiteoak Falls (Lower)

    Hiking · about 1.3 hours

    PARK BOUNDARY | An easier hike to the base of the lower falls in Whiteoak Canyon. Note that a Park entrance fee is still required.

  • Turk Mountain

    Hiking · about 2.3 hours

    MILE 94.1 | A hike to the 2,981’ summit of Turk Mountain, located in the Shenandoah Wilderness, that provides a wonderful view to the west.

  • Riprap - Wildcat Ridge

    Hiking · about 7 hours

    MILE 90 or 92.1 | This loop can be hiked from Riprap Parking or Wildcat Ridge Parking. It takes you through the forests of the Shenandoah Wilderness and over several stream crossi…

  • Nicholson Hollow

    Hiking · about 6.3 hours

    PARK BOUNDARY | An alternate option for visitors with pets who still wish to hike from the Old Rag parking area. This hike takes you through the Shenandoah Wilderness to Corbin Ca…

  • Knob Mountain - Jeremys Run

    Hiking · about 7 hours

    Elkwallow Wayside (mile 24) | This hike goes around a beautiful area of the Park featuring one of the most picturesque streams in Shenandoah. The majority of this hike is in the S…

  • Hazel River Falls

    Hiking · about 5.3 hours

    Meadow Spring Parking Area (mile 33.5) | A trail that leads you into the Shenandoah Wilderness to an exceptional waterfall.

  • Chimney Rock

    Hiking · about 2.3 hours

    Riprap Parking Area (mile 90) | An out-and-back hike into the Shenandoah Wilderness ending at Chimney Rock, an excellent viewpoint with some very interesting geological features.

Trails

Places to see

Viewpoints

Visitor centers & lodging

Campgrounds in Shenandoah

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

  • Mathews Arm Campground

    112 reservable sites · 47 first-come sites

    2026 Closing Date: November 1 Mathews Arm Campground (mile 22.1) is the nearest campground for those entering Shenandoah National Park from Front Royal, in the…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

  • Big Meadows Campground

    220 reservable sites

    2026 Closing Date: November 29 Big Meadows Campground (mile 51.2) is centrally-located in Shenandoah National Park, providing easy access to many of the most p…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

  • Lewis Mountain Campground

    30 first-come sites

    2026 Closing Date: November 22 Lewis Mountain (mile 57.5), the smallest campground in Shenandoah National Park, appeals to those who want a little more privacy…

  • Loft Mountain Campground

    141 reservable sites · 50 first-come sites

    2026 Closing Date: November 1 Loft Mountain (mile 79.5) sits atop Big Flat Mountain in the southern part of Shenandoah National Park, with outstanding views to…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

Reading about Shenandoah

All 8 articles

What to pack for Shenandoah

Gear & Essentials

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The basics

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For this trip

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