Entrance Fee
$30.00
/ Entrance - Private Vehicle
Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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About the Park
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!
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What to See & Do
Old Rag Circuit
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 several scrambles across large rocks. This route starts from the Old Rag parking area on the boundary of the Park.
Stony Man
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)
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
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
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 crossings, while offering beautiful views of the hollows and valley to the west and north.
Nicholson Hollow
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 Cabin, an old homesite built by a former resident, and features several stream crossings along the way.
Self-Guided Tours
Fox Hollow Trail
The Fox family once called this area home. Remnants of their lives and the impact they had on this land are still evident. This hike is a 1.2-mile circuit. It is classified "easy" but it does have a gentle incline (310' elevation gain). The tour will introduce you to the Fox family as you pass through a former farm, and by the family cemetery and other evidence of a life before Shenandoah. Join us as we gratefully acknowledge the sacrifice of those who once lived here.
Rapidan Camp
Nestled deep in a hollow at the headwaters of the Rapidan River in Shenandoah National Park is a little piece of history. Rapidan Camp was the beautiful, rustic getaway of President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover. Experience this serene spot yourself and explore its history through this self-guided tour. The camp is not accessible by private vehicle. Hike in from Milam Gap or join a Ranger Tour.
Pinnacles Picnic Grounds
Use this tour to locate accessible parking spaces and picnic tables.
Visitor Centers
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center
Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4.6) is located near Front Royal, Virginia, in the northern part of the Park. It's the ideal place for visitors entering through the Front Royal Entrance Station to find restrooms, information, a bookstore, publications, and maps. Right across Skyline Drive from the visitor center you will find the popular Fox Hollow Trail trailhead.
Harry F. Byrd Sr. Visitor Center
Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51) is located across from Big Meadows in the center of Shenandoah National Park. Available facilities include: restrooms, information desk, ranger programs, bookstore, publications, maps, and first aid. Within close proximity to countless activities and hikes, it's a great place to start your next trip!
Where to Stay
Mathews Arm Campground
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 northern section of the Park. All sites include a place for a tent or RV, a fire ring, and picnic table. Elkwallow Wayside, with camping supplies and food service, is two miles away. Mathews Arm has a combination of reservable and first-come, first-served sites. Reservable sites are released in sections.
Big Meadows Campground
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 popular destinations in the Park, including Big Meadows, Dark Hollow Falls, and Byrd Visitor Center. All sites include a place for a tent or RV, a fire ring, and a picnic table. All sites at Big Meadows Campground are by reservation only.
Lewis Mountain Campground
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 while still staying within a close distance to many of the most popular destinations in the Park, including Big Meadows (7 miles away). Lewis Mountain Campground operates on a self-registration, first-come, first-serve basis. There are no reservable sites. Please follow the posted directions to register once arriving at the campground.
Loft Mountain Campground
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 east and west. Two waterfalls and the trails into the Big Run Wilderness area are nearby. Loft Mountain has a combination of reservable and first-come, first-served sites. Reservable sites are released in sections.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
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.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Shenandoah National Park — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Entrance Fees & Passes
Standard Fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$30.00Unlimited 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.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$25.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Entry for walk-up or bicycling visitors, when 16 years of age or older (children under 16 are admitted for free). Includes entering the Park by all means other than a private, non-commercial vehicle. A family traveling together shall pay no more than the vehicle fee.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00The total cost is calculated: $25 + $10 per passenger.
Commercial Entrance - Per Person
$10.00This fee is for commercial use between 1-6 passengers (sedan). The total cost is calculated: $25 for the vehicle + $10 per passenger.
Commercial Entrance - Van
$75.00Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$100.00Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$200.00Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
$0.00National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other approved national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver of Park entrance fees, provided that visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities that the group intends to use, support those purposes. Request an academic fee waiver through the education section of our website.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
$15.00Fee is calculated per person for anyone 16 years of age or older (children under 16 are admitted for free). Groups will not be charged more than the equivalent commercial group fee.
Annual & Lifetime Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$55.00Provides unlimited entry for one year to the pass holder and passengers in the same vehicle, not to exceed 4 total adults. Children under 16 are admitted for free and are not included in this total. Purchase online or at any of our entrance stations.
Operating Hours
Shenandoah National Park
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.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Big Meadows
Big Meadows webcam image (updated every 15 min)
The Shenandoah Valley Webcam
A spectacular, streaming view looking east across a rural landscape to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park.
Big Meadows Live
Enjoy a live view of the spectacular high altitude and ever-changing Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park.
Mountain View Cam
A view from the Pinnacles area (near mile 36.7) into the valley toward the town of Luray. Use this to check the weather in the park or to track the fall color! Watch as the seasons change from Skyline Drive into the Shenandoah Valley.
Photos
Visitors stand on a rocky outcrop overlooking the receding mountains.
American Black Bear crossing Skyline Drive
Looking up at a poplar stand canopy, which is turning yellow in fall.
A road surrounded by fall foliage turns a curve around a small waterfall.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
May-September
Trip Length
2-4 days
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Planning Shenandoah
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.