All parks › Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle, 7 days
- $30[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- October[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 1,682,152[3]
- Campgrounds
- 5[4]
Shenandoah National Park is a national park in Virginia run by the National Park Service[5]. NPS lists an entrance fee of $30 for a private vehicle, good for seven days[1], and entrance fees are cashless, by card or mobile payment[6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $30 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $25 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Non-commercial Groups[9] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[10] | $55 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[11].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[6].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[12] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[12] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[12] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[12] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[12] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[12] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS says the park is open around the clock, but bad weather can close parts of Skyline Drive, the one public road through it[13]. When the road is shut, you can still come in on foot to hike[13]. Campgrounds and other facilities keep their own hours[13]. In 2025 the busiest month was October with 329,565 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 11,989[2]. NPS describes four distinct seasons, with mild and rainy springs, hot and humid summers, cooler falls with colorful leaves, and winters that can bring snow and ice[14]. NPS adds that the higher ground tends to run about 10°F colder than the valley, so pack layers and check the forecast[14].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 11,989 |
| February | 14,614 |
| March | 92,625 |
| April | 139,737 |
| May | 173,115 |
| June | 167,090 |
| July | 188,144 |
| August | 215,114 |
| September | 153,478 |
| October | 329,565 |
| November | 166,566 |
| December | 30,115 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 5 campgrounds in the park[4]. The largest is Big Meadows Campground with 224 sites, followed by Loft Mountain Campground with 213 sites[4]. Nightly fees for individual sites listed by NPS are $30[4].
- Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah, 224 sites[4]
- Loft Mountain Campground, 213 sites
- Mathews Arm Campground, 166 sites
- Lewis Mountain Campground, 32 sites
- Lewis Mountain Campground, 30 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS rule, pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet, or crated or caged, wherever they are allowed[15]. Pets cannot go into public buildings, onto public transportation or onto designated swimming beaches, though service animals are exempt[15]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 39 of the 49 things to do in the park, such as Turk Mountain and Nicholson Hollow[16].
Before you go
- Entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or a phone for mobile payment[6].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[11]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[12].
- The Shenandoah Annual Entrance pass costs $55 and covers one year of entry for the holder and fellow riders in one vehicle, with no more than 4 adults[10].
- Walk-up and bicycling visitors pay $15 per person aged 16 or older, and children under 16 enter free[8].
- Fees and hours can change, so confirm them on the official NPS park page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee for Shenandoah National Park?
- NPS lists $30 for a private vehicle, valid for seven days[1]. A motorcycle pays $25[7], and a person 16 or older on foot or bike pays $15, and children under 16 enter free[8].
- Does Shenandoah National Park accept cash?
- Not for entrance fees. NPS says entrance fees here are cashless, so pay with a card or mobile payment[6].
- When is Shenandoah National Park busiest?
- In 2025 October had the most recreation visits at 329,565, and January had the fewest at 11,989[2].
- Are dogs allowed in Shenandoah National Park?
- NPS lists pets as permitted on 39 of the 49 things to do in the park[16]. Where pets are allowed, they must be on a leash no longer than six feet or crated[15].
- How many campgrounds are in Shenandoah National Park?
- NPS and Recreation.gov list 5 campgrounds, with Big Meadows Campground the largest at 224 sites[4].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $30. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 1,592,312, 2022: 1,449,300, 2023: 1,576,008, 2024: 1,720,211, 2025: 1,682,152. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Shenandoah National Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park) in Virginia. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Shenandoah National Park are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $25. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Non-commercial Groups: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $55. National Park Service
- Shenandoah National Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- Operating hours, Shenandoah National Park: Shenandoah National Park is always open. However, portions of Skyline Drive, the only public road through the Park, are periodically closed during inclement weather. Visitors can still enter the Park on foot to... National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Shenandoah National Park. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 49 things to do at Shenandoah National Park: Old Rag Circuit, Stony Man, Whiteoak Falls (Lower), Turk Mountain, Riprap - Wildcat Ridge, Nicholson Hollow, Knob Mountain - Jeremys Run, Hazel River Falls, Chimney Rock, Cedar Run - Whiteoak Circuit... National Park Service