Getting There
The northern entrance to the park and to Skyline Drive is one-mile south of Front Royal, Va., near the junction of US route 340 and I-81. Washington, D.C., 75 miles from Front Royal, is a good choice as a gateway big city for the park.
From the Front Royal park entrance, Skyline Drive runs for 105 miles to Rockfish Gap, the southern entrance to Skyline Drive. Intermediate access points for Skyline Drive are Thornton Gap, 33, miles south of Front Royal, and Swift Run Gap, 68 miles south of Front Royal.
Charlottesville, 21 miles from Rockfish Gap is a good choice for a southern gateway city.
Getting Around
A vehicle is a necessity for getting around the park. Skyline Drive closes during ice or snowstorms so call ahead.
The Art of Smart Timing
Fall and summer are prime times in the park so expect crowds, especially during leaf-peeping season. Spring, the next most popular season, brings flowers and greenery back into the park, and winter, low season, also has its charms. We've visited in every season. Because of fewer crowds in winter, it's easier to commune with nature and if snow is on the ground, it's easier to track animals.
Most of the park's eateries and other facilities remain open April through November, but call ahead to check.
Vistors Centers
The Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, mile 4.6 near the Front Royal Entrance Station, has park maps as well as the newsletter Shenandoah Overlook, which lists activities.
Open daily April through the end of November and closed end of November through The Byrd Visitor Center (mile 51), open daily from April through the end of November.
Loft Mountain Information Center (mile 79.5), open intermittently. Call ahead.
Visitors Bureaus
ARAMARK Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park Services
Shenandoah National Park Planning & Tips
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Shenandoah National Park Planning and Tips
Shenandoah National Park Planning & Tips
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