High
Bear activity
$2/person
Old Rag permit
5 areas
Campgrounds
$30
7-day fee
4,051 ft
Highest point
1 live
Camera
Black Bear & Trail SafetyFrequent sightings▾
Park Entrance & Fees4 entrances · $30▾
North Entrance
Usually Open
Front Royal, via US-340/US-522
The northern start of Skyline Drive, closest to Washington, DC — about 90 minutes away, making this the busiest entrance on weekends.
NPS directions ↗
Central Entrances
Usually Open
Thornton Gap & Swift Run Gap, via US-211 & US-33
Cross Skyline Drive near the middle of the park, close to Luray and the Byrd Visitor Center at Big Meadows (Mile 51).
NPS directions ↗
South Entrance
Usually Open
Rockfish Gap, via I-64 near Waynesboro
The southern end of Skyline Drive, connecting directly to the Blue Ridge Parkway toward the Smokies.
NPS directions ↗
Note
No Timed Entry
Standard entry, no reservation
Unlike many western parks, Shenandoah has no park-wide vehicle reservation system — only Old Rag requires a separate day-use ticket (see below).
Old Rag Day-Use Permit$2/person▾
Campground Availability5 areas▾
Big Meadows Reservation Only ▾
Sites200+
LocationMile 51, central — the park's largest & most popular
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Loft Mountain Reservation Only ▾
Sites207
LocationSouth District, on Big Flat Mountain
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Mathews Arm Reservation Only ▾
Sites~166
LocationNorth District, Mile 22 — near Overall Run Falls
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Lewis Mountain First-Come, First-Served ▾
Sites30
NotesSmallest & quietest — no advance reservations, pay via Recreation.gov app QR code on-site
Campground details ↗
Landmarks & Trails6 stops▾
Central District4 stops▾
Hawksbill SummitHighest point in the park · shortest route (Lower Hawksbill) 1.7 mi RT, 690 ft gain, moderate4,051 ft
Dark Hollow Falls1.6 mi round trip · shortest waterfall hike from Skyline Drive~1.5 hrs
Stony Man1.6 mi round trip, easy · second-highest peak, big views~1.5 hrs
Whiteoak Canyon4.6 mi RT to Upper Falls, moderate-strenuous · +2.7 mi RT more for Lower Falls3–5 hrs
North & South Districts2 stops▾
Overall Run Falls93 ft drop, the tallest waterfall in the park · accessible from Mathews Arm CampgroundModerate
Blackrock Summit1 mi circuit, easy · boulder-strewn summit, South District~45 min
River Conditions3 live gauges▾
Rapidan River near Ruckersville
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USGS site 01665500 ↗
Robinson River near Locust Dale
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USGS site 01666500 ↗
Stargazing & Night SkyNot certified▾
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Shenandoah does not hold a formal Dark Sky designation, given its proximity to the DC metro area — but on clear moonless nights NPS notes roughly 2,500 visible stars from spots like Big Meadows. The park has run an annual Night Sky Festival since 2016 with ranger-led programs. NPS night sky info ↗
Park Contact Information