Shenandoah National Park's entrance fee is normally $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle and $15 per individual providing entry for seven consecutive days. The Shenandoah Annual Pass is $55 providing unlimited entry for one year to the pass owner and passengers in the same vehicle.
Shenandoah Entrance Fee – Single Vehicle – $30.00Vehicles must be private, noncommercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less. Click here to view entrance fees for motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and other modes of entry. To request an Educational Fee Waiver, click here.
Scenic Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Virginia's Skyline Drive is a National Scenic Byway that runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains starting in the north of the Shenandoah Valley at Front Royal to Waynesboro, where it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Why Is Shenandoah National Park Worth Visiting? Shenandoah National Park is worth visiting because of its unique backcountry camping experience in such an accessible location. Not many parks have the flexibility that Shenandoah has; you can do both chill and strenuous activities, it's your pick!
Shenandoah National Park Lodging
- Skyland - miles 41.7 and 42.5.
- Big Meadows Lodge - mile 51.
- Lewis Mountain Cabins - mile 57.5.
- Camping inside the park is also an option.
This is simply one of the most dangerous, potentially deadly things you can do in the Park. Don't let safety considerations keep you from hiking some of the Park's 500-plus-miles of trails. Be safe, smart and prepared. Then get out on the trails and have a great summer!
Hiking in the WinterWith all of the leaves off the trees, trails can offer views during the winter that they don't feature the rest of the year. Even if Skyline Drive is closed due to inclement weather, Shenandoah National Park is still open to hiking.
The northern part of the drive is very twisting, less so as you drive south. Critical to keep to the speed limit, even though it seems to be low. Spectacular scenery along the way!
Blue ridge parkway goes through wilder terrain but is a bit more like a normal road than skyline drive (and toll free). It's also much longer at about 450 miles to the 100 or so of Skyline drive. And it skirts closer to civilization at times than skyline.
Top 5 Best Overlooks on the Skyline Drive
- Range View Overlook. This overlook, at mile 17.1, offers a view down the length of the Blue Ridge to Stony Man Mountain.
- Hogback Overlook. I like this overlook because it is the longest in the park.
- Spitler Knoll Overlook.
- Big Run Overlook.
- Crimora Lake Overlook.
Large rock formations jut up and out along the side of the mountain. There's a narrow path down to some rocks you can stand on to take in the view. Yes, it's a little scary to be out there on a rock so high up, but the view is worth it.
Ideally, I would spend at least 3-4 days in the park on every visit but not everyone has that option. 2 days in Shenandoah can be a perfect way to enjoy the area.
Shenandoah National Park alone has more than a dozen named waterfalls and dozens more course through Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Here we list a few of the most accessible. One of the most popular waterfall hikes in the Valley, not only because of its singular beauty but its ease of access.
The highest waterfall in the Shenandoah National Park is Overall Run Falls. It is surrounded by dense forest and rocks and has an extremely impressive drop. It is located at Skyline Drive Mile 21.1 in the North District of the National Park where the visitors will start their hike to the Shenandoah waterfall.
Top 10 National Parks in Virginia
- Shenandoah National Park.
- Assateague and Chincoteague Island.
- Great Falls National Park.
- Appomattox National Court House National Historic Park.
- Historic Jamestowne National Park.
- Yorktown Battlefield.
- Blue Ridge Parkway.
- Claude Moore Colonial Farm Historic Park.
One of the most unique things about Shenandoah National Park is that, unlike many western parks which were established to preserve wilderness and natural features on land already owned by the federal government, Shenandoah National Park was created to enable lands which had been heavily used and were no longer
You are required to pay an entrance fee in order to access Shenandoah National Park, whether you're driving on Skyline Drive or hiking in from the boundary. The remaining 20 percent goes to parks that do not charge fees to help them with visitor services.
The Shenandoah Valley was known as the breadbasket of the Confederacy during the Civil War and was seen as a backdoor for Confederate raids on Maryland, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
Shenandoah National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Although the Park is always open, Skyline Drive may be closed at times due to inclement weather conditions. Call (540) 999-3500 (option 1, then option 1) to check the latest status.
Top Shenandoah National Park Campgrounds
- #1 Rock Tavern River Kamp. 3 Reviews.
- Big Meadows. 82 Reviews.
- Shenandoah/Lewis Mountain. 28 Reviews.
- Downey Meadow. 4 Reviews.
- Loft Mountain Campground. 42 Reviews.
- Shenandoah River State Park. 37 Reviews.
- Mathews Arm Campground. 35 Reviews.
- Misty Mountain Camp Resort. 29 Reviews.
Shenandoah National Park's entrance fee is $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle and $15 per individual that covers entry for seven consecutive days. The Shenandoah Annual Pass is $55 and provides unlimited entry for one year to the pass owner and passengers in the same vehicle.
Shenandoah National Park lies along the Blue Ridge Mountains in north-central Virginia.
Derived from the Algonquian schind-han-do-wi, the literal translation of which has been thought to be "spruce stream," "great plains," or "beautiful daughter of the stars." The name of a river and valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Virginia, Shenandoah was popularized as a given name by the folk song "
Skyland offers better views of the Shenandoah Valley from most of its rooms. Big Meadows is surrounded by a hardwood forest, and while good views are available from several locations, most views from guest rooms are obscured by trees.
Skyland has lodging accommodations ranging from premium rooms to small detached cabins, preferred and traditional rooms, suites, and pet friendly rooms - located in 28 separate buildings along the ridge and in the wooded areas on over 27 acres of Shenandoah National Park.
Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
- Skyline Caverns. 480.
- Front Royal Visitors Center. 217.
- Glen Manor Vineyards. 122.
- Warren Rifles Confederate Museum. Speciality Museums.
- Virginia Beer Museum.
- Buzzard Rock North.
- Chester Gap Cellars.
- Shenandoah National Park.
Cozy log cabin accommodations are a big attraction in Shenandoah National Park. From the deluxe multi-room family-style cabins of Skyland Resort to the cozy little one-room cabins of Lewis Mountain, Shenandoah has a variety of Shenandoah cabin rentals to satisfy any desire and budget.
