General information about the National Park
Shenandoah National Park protects part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. It consists of a narrow range of hills with valleys to the left and right.
Number of visitors
In 2023 Shenandoah NP ranked 20th in the most visited national parks visitor statistics.
Best time to visit: In autumn because of the beautiful foliage color.
Our visits:
So far 1 visit: October 2008
Entrance fees and opening hours
- 30$/car and all passengers valid for 7 days
- Covered by the Anual Pass*
- Open 24h all year round, but parts of the road may be closed in winter.
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
Shenandoah National Park
Description: The main traffic axis through the park is the 106mi long Skyline Drive. This leads in a north-south direction on the chain of hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the park. There are numerous viewpoints and trailheads from which you can explore the park on foot.
Our rating: During our visit in October 2008, we drove the park road once in a north-south direction. In doing so, we stopped at numerous viewpoints to enjoy the magnificent views of the valleys. Again, we didn't have as much time as we would have liked. The park certainly deserves a little more time and that's why we plan to spend a little more time here in the near future and perhaps also walk one of the many hiking trails.