National Park · Virginia, United States
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is a national park in Virginia, United States, covering 200,454 acres (81,121 ha), established in 1935; it recorded 1,682,152 visits in 2025.
Photo: Shenandoah National Park from Virginia via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Virginia, United States |
| Area | 200,454 acres (81,121 ha) |
| Established | 1935 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 1,682,152 |
| Coordinates | 38.5300° N, 78.3500° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park (, often ) is a national park of the United States that encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. The park is long and narrow, with the Shenandoah River and its broad valley to the west, and the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont to the east. Skyline Drive is the main park road, generally traversing along the ridgeline of the mountains. Almost 40% of the park's land—79,579 acres (124 sq mi; 322 km2)—has been designated as wilderness areas and is protected as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The highest peak is Hawksbill Mountain at 4,051 feet (1,235 m).
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — mild weather and fall color; winters are cold
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Luray, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|---|
| Lodges | Skyland Resort and Big Meadows Lodge inside the park |
Famous trails
- Old Rag Mountain Trail — 9.0 miles (14.5 km) — Hard
- Dark Hollow Falls Trail — 1.4 miles (2.3 km) — Moderate
Like Shenandoah National Park? Visit Shenandoah National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) · Dulles, United States · 56.1 miles away
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) · Washington, United States · 74.2 miles away
- Richmond International Airport (RIC) · Richmond, United States · 90.3 miles away
Parks nearby
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More parks in Virginia
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
Bear Creek Lake State Park
Breaks Interstate Park
Caledon State Park
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
Chippokes State Park
Frequently asked questions
Where is Shenandoah National Park?
Shenandoah National Park is in Virginia, United States (38.5300° N, 78.3500° W).
When was Shenandoah National Park established?
Shenandoah National Park was established in 1935, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Shenandoah National Park?
Shenandoah National Park covers 200,454 acres (81,121 ha).
How many people visit Shenandoah National Park each year?
It recorded 1,682,152 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Shenandoah National Park?
April to June and September to October — mild weather and fall color; winters are cold.
Does Shenandoah National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Shenandoah National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Shenandoah National Park?
The nearest town is Luray, Virginia. The nearest airport is Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/shen/ — Official park page.