Shenandoah
FOREST · VA

Shenandoah

National Park
RANKED #33 OF 64 · COMPOSITE RANKING

The Details

Skyline Drive winds 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest through Appalachian forest and misty valley views.

STATE
VA
ESTABLISHED
1935
AREA
199k acres
ECOSYSTEM
Forest

When To Visit

Best Time To Visit

MONTH BY MONTH
BEST TIME TO GO

Mid-May for wildflowers and waterfalls; mid-October for peak fall color (also the busiest weekends of the year).

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
WEATHER
CROWDS
Weather: greatokaytough — heat, cold, snow, monsoon or closures
Crowds: quietmoderatebusy
CROWDS

October weekends bring long entrance lines — go on weekdays or early.

WEATHER

Skyline Drive can close temporarily in winter for ice and snow. Summers are humid with fog and thunderstorms.

General patterns — conditions vary by year. Check current NPS alerts and road status before you go.

How Far

Park Entrances

SET YOUR LOCATION
Every entrance is a different drive. Enter your ZIP to compare:
Front Royal Entrance (north)
DIRECTIONS →
Thornton Gap Entrance (Luray)
DIRECTIONS →
Swift Run Gap Entrance
DIRECTIONS →
Rockfish Gap Entrance (south)
DIRECTIONS →

Nearest Airports

ESTIMATED DRIVE TO THE PARK
CHO
Charlottesville-AlbemarleNEAREST
≈ 16 mi · ~20 min drive to Swift Run Gap Entrance
DIRECTIONS →
IAD
Washington Dulles Intl
≈ 50 mi · ~60 min drive to Front Royal Entrance (north)
DIRECTIONS →

Distances are rough estimates to the closest entrance. Check road and ferry conditions before you go.

What To Do

Top Things To Do

◆Drive Skyline Drive
◆Hike Old Rag (day-use ticket required in season)
◆Hike to Dark Hollow Falls
◆Climb Hawksbill, the park’s highest peak
◆Visit Big Meadows at dusk for deer

Where To Stay

Camping

Campgrounds inside the park are booked through Recreation.gov, and many fill months ahead.

FIND CAMPSITES ON RECREATION.GOV ↗

Lodging & Nearby Towns

INSIDE THE PARK
Skyland ResortBig Meadows LodgeLewis Mountain Cabins
GATEWAY TOWNS
Front RoyalLurayWaynesboroHarrisonburg

Cool Facts & Figures

By The Numbers

#33
LARGEST OF 64
#23
OLDEST OF 64
199,045
ACRES
91
YEARS PROTECTED
◆Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest.
◆About 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail pass through the park.

Links

Plan Your Visit

OFFICIAL & TRUSTED SITES
READY TO GO?
Plan a trip to
Shenandoah
PLAN A TRIP HERE →