Shenandoah National Park, located in eastern Virginia is another fantastic National Park to add to your list. To the west of the park lies the Shenandoah River surrounded by rolling hills and tons of trees while to the east lays the Virginia Piedmont hills. These provide stunning landscapes across the park. Plan to spend at least one day at Shenandoah National Park exploring what it has to offer as part of your Virginia trip.
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History of Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah became a National Park in May 1925 after Calvin Coolidge authorized the creation. However, unlike many other National Parks, no federal funds were delegated to create the park. Thus, many private funds were raised to help create the park. A lot of families refused to sell their land in the area, thus halting progress on the park for a while.
In 1933, Roosevelt created the Blue Ridge Parkway, sparking interest in the area again. With the addition of Monticello to the area, tourism began to grow thus making people see the benefit of the park. The park officially was established in 1935 once enough land was acquired and opened the following year. Throughout the years, the park has grown and sees about 1.4 million visitors a year.
Best Time to Visit
Shenandoah National Park is gorgeous any time of the year. However, the best time to visit is from fall and early summer. In the fall, the area is covered in gorgeous fall colors. Early summer brings about perfect temperatures for hiking. During the wintertime, a lot of the roads can be cover in snow, while later in summer it can get hot and humid.
How to Get to Shenandoah National Park
The closest major airport to Shenandoah National Park is Dulles International Airport. From there, it is about an hour’s drive to Shenandoah. To get there, travel west on the 66. Then take the 29 South to the 211 West. This will take you to the Thornton Gap Entrance station.
There are also two small airports: one in Charlottesville and another in Shenandoah Valley. However, flights to these are typically more expensive.
Shenandoah National Park has 4 entrances: Front Royal, Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap, and Rockfish Gap. The most commonly used are the Thornton Gap and Swift Run Gap entrances as many of the main sites are between those two entrances.
Transportation Around Shenandoah National Park
To get around during your one day at Shenandoah National Park, you will need a car. There is no shuttle that takes you around the park. The 105-mile Skyline Drive is the main road throughout the park, so it is pretty easy to get around.
Hours and Admission
Shenandoah National Park is always open, 365 days a year but many of the Visitors Centers and Public Buildings are open from 9am to 5pm. Make sure to double-check the times online. Sometimes, Skyline Drive may be closed due to the weather, but you can always enter on foot.
To get into Shenandoah National Park is costs $30 for a car and it is good for 7 days. If you are planning on visiting several parks during the year, opt to buy the America the Beautiful Pass to save some money.
Where to Stay
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best National Park hotels here!
Inside the park are several camping and lodging options. There are cabins and a lodge at Skyland, Big Meadow, and Lewis Mountain. However, those can typically get expensive. If you want to save some money, stay in Harrisonburg, Virginia which is about 20 miles away from the Swift Run Gap Entrance. We stayed at the Tru by Hilton Harrisonburg for $72/night and it saved us a ton of money.
What to See During One Day at Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails throughout the park. You can see a complete list of them here. It can be hard to choose, but I have highlighted the best hikes in the park to complete during one day in Shenandoah National Park.
Day 1
Skyline Drive
Start your one day at Shenandoah National Park with a drive along Skyline Drive. You should plan to enter through the Swift Run Gap entrance and head north along Skyline Drive. This 105-mile road leads throughout the park along the Blue Ridge Mountains. It eventually joins with the Blue Ridge Parkway in the South which leads to Great Smokey Mountains National park. Each mile is numbered to help figure out where you are.
Bearfence Mountain
Distance: 1.4 miles
Trailhead: Bearfence Mountain Parking (mile 56.4)
Bearfence Mountain was easily my favorite hike I took during one day in Shenandoah National Park. Although not a long hike, it does involve some climbing over rocks. It starts out as a pretty easy and flat trail. Eventually, you will get to a section where you will have to climb over rocks and boulders to continue.
There are some sections you will have to pull yourself up and over the rock. There are also a few drops offs so keep that in mind if you are afraid of heights. The end of the trail brings about gorgeous 360 degree views of the area. You can choose to take the rock scramble back, or opt for the forest trail back. This moderate hike should take you 1-2 hours to complete.
Big Meadows Visitor Center
After hiking Bearfence Mountain, stop at the Big Meadows Visitors Center if you want to grab any trail maps, snacks, or stamp your National Parks passport book. There is also a general store here in case you need any other goods as well.
Dark Hollow Falls
Distance: 1.4 miles
Trailhead: Dark Hollow Falls Parking (mile 50.5)
Dark Hollow Falls is another great moderate hike to take during one day in Shenandoah National Park. This hike takes you down through a forested area to get to a waterfall. It is about a 0.75-mile walk down a slippery dirt path to get there. The hardest part is the return hike back up the steep and rocky path. Plan for at least an hour for this hike.
Stony Man Overlook
Distance: 1.6 miles
Trailhead: Stony Man Parking Area (mile 41.7)
Another hike that gives you amazing views during one day in Shenandoah National Park is the Stony Man Overlook Trail. This is one of the easier trails in the park. It follows a pretty flat and smooth path to get you to the overlook. The overlook provides outstanding views of the Shenandoah Valley. Hiking to Stony Man overlook will take about an hour.
Grab a drink at Skyland
After a day full of hiking, head to Skyland for a drink. At Skyland, there is a visitor’s center, shopping, a full-service restaurant, and a taproom. At the Taproom, they have some Shenendoah themed beers as well as cocktails and light bites to eat. It is the perfect way to end one day at Shenandoah National Park.
More Than One Day at Shenandoah National Park?
If you have more than one day at Shenandoah National Park or want to add in another hike during your day, check out these hikes.
Limberlost
Distance: 1.3 miles
Trailhead: Limberlost Parking Area (mile 43)
The Limberlost Trail is another super easy and flat trail to complete. This trail is popular in the springtime due to the blooming of flowers along the trail. It is fully accessible and great for families. It should take an hour to complete.
Marys Rock
Distance: 3.7 miles
Trailhead: Panorama Parking area (mile 31.6)
If you are up to one more hike during your day in Shenandoah National Park, opt to head to Marys Rock. This moderate hike involves an elevation change of 1,210 feet. It takes you up to a panorama point with beautiful views of the Shenandoah Valley. This hike will take around 3 hours to complete.
Rose River Falls
Distance: 4 miles
Trailhead: Fishers Gap Parking Area (mile 49.4)
Rose River Falls is another popular hike in Shenandoah National Park. This moderate hike takes you to a 67-foot waterfall with an elevation gain of 910 feet. Most of the hike is through a forested area. You can also combine this with the Dark Hallow Falls Trail for a longer hike. Plan to spend at least four hours completing this hike.
Luray Caverns
Cost: $32
Hours: generally 9am-6pm (but changes by season)
Although not technically part of Shenandoah National Park, the Luray Caverns are just west of the park near the Thornton Gap entrance. Discovered in 1878, these caverns are known for their stalactite and stalagmite formations as well as the Great Stalagpipe Oregan. It takes about an hour to walk through the caverns and is a great addition if you have more than one day at Shenandoah National Park.
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
Cost: Free
Hours: Thus-Mon: 9:30am-4pm
This National Park site came to be in 2002 and is located just North of Shenandoah National Park. It protects the area where the Battle of Cedar Creek took place and the Belle Grove Plantation. Visitors can take a self-drive audio tour around the area to learn about the history of the area. You can walk the three 1.7 mile Morning Attack trails which cover the area the Confederates attacked in 1864.
Monticello
Cost: $31
Hours: Generally 9:30am-6pm, but can vary
Monticello is the plantation home of Thomas Jefferson located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Your ticket includes access to the mansion, the gardens and grounds, Jefferson’s grave, and a few exhibits. You choose a time to enter the property, but there is no time limit as to how long you can spend there. Monticello is about 30 minutes east of Shenandoah National Park.
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for several of the National Parks. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them.
Tips for Spending One Day at Shenandoah National Park
- Bring bug spray. There are lots of bugs around.
- Dress in layers as it can get cool in the share.
- Pack snacks but there are plenty of food options in the park.
- Plan which section you would like to spend time in. The park is huge and you do not want to waste time driving back and forth.
- If going on the Bearfence Mountain Hike, make sure to have shoes with good support so you do not slip.
Spending one day in Shenandoah National Park is a great addition to a Virginia trip. Looking for somewhere to eat in Harrisonburg? Check out Jimmy Madison’s for good barbeque and some fun drinks. If you have time, add on a visit to Richmond or Washington, DC with your trip.
