National park · Virginia

Shenandoah National Park

Stretches 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains with Skyline Drive running its spine — the East's answer to the western national parks, carved out of farmland in 1935.

Entrance
$30 private vehicle
Hours
Open 24 hours daily Shenandoah National Park
Established
May 1926
Region
Appalachia & the Mid-Atlantic
Shenandoah National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Shenandoah National Park patch

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History

Shenandoah National Park was established to preserve the natural beauty and cultural resources of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. It represents a significant effort in the early 20th century to create national parks in the eastern United States, following the model of western parks.

Key events

  1. December 26, 1935Shenandoah National Park officially established by Congress.
  2. 1936Skyline Drive completed across the park's spine, providing 105 miles of scenic mountain road.
  3. July 3, 1936Shenandoah formally dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Big Meadows.

Trails

  • Old Rag Mountain 9 mi · Hard
  • Hawksbill Summit 2.1 mi · Moderate
  • Stony Man Trail 1.6 mi · Easy
  • Mary's Rock 3.6 mi · Moderate
  • Bearfence Mountain 1.2 mi · Moderate

Plan your visit

Hours · Shenandoah National Park

Open 24 hours, 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.

Entrance fees

  • Private Vehicle $30
  • Motorcycle $25
  • Per Person $15
  • Education/Academic Groups Free
  • Non-commercial Groups $15

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Fall. Peak foliage October, stunning Skyline Drive colors
  • Spring. Waterfalls at peak, wildflowers, bird migration
  • Summer. All facilities open, lush greenery, but crowded
  • Winter. Solitude, occasional snow, Skyline Drive may close

Wildlife

Black bearsWhite-tailed deerWild turkeysRed foxesBarred owlsPileated woodpeckersTimber rattlesnakesSalamanders

Nearby patches

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