Rolling Blue Ridge Mountain scenery along the 105-mile Skyline Drive, with waterfalls, wildlife, and fall foliage a short drive from Washington D.C.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

1 to 2 days covers the main scenic drive and overlooks, while 3 lets you add real hiking time to the park's waterfalls.

No special permit is required for general park entry.

Front Royal and Luray are the closest gateway towns, near the park's northern entrances.

The entrance fee is $30/vehicle (7-day), or purchase a National Parks Yearly Pass.

Why Visit?:

Shenandoah offers rolling Blue Ridge Mountain scenery along the 105-mile Skyline Drive, with waterfalls, wildlife, and some of the best fall foliage on the East Coast — all just a short drive from Washington D.C. It's one of the most accessible national parks for anyone in the Mid-Atlantic, making it a natural weekend trip rather than a major vacation.

Black bears are a real, common sighting here, more so than in many larger Western parks, adding a genuine wildlife element to the drive-heavy visit.

Things to Do:

Driving Skyline Drive, with stops at overlooks like Hogback and Big Meadows, is the essential, easy way to see the park's mountain views. Old Rag is the park's most famous (and most strenuous) hike, involving a rock scramble near the summit — not for casual hikers, but hugely rewarding for those prepared for it.

For waterfalls, Dark Hollow Falls is a shorter, more accessible hike, while South River Falls offers a quieter, less-visited alternative with a similarly rewarding payoff.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about 1.5 hours from the park's northern entrance, making this one of the more convenient parks for East Coast visitors.

Nearby Attractions:

The Blue Ridge Parkway continues south from Shenandoah's southern end, and the historic towns of the Shenandoah Valley — Luray and Front Royal among them — offer caverns, wineries, and dining just outside the park.