Shenandoah National Park stretches 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, just 75 miles from Washington DC. Skyline Drive — the park's spine — runs the entire length at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet, offering overlook after overlook across the Shenandoah Valley to the west and Virginia Piedmont to the east.
Unlike the western parks, Shenandoah rewards slow exploration. The Appalachian Trail runs the entire length of the park, deer and black bear are commonly spotted along roadsides, and the hardwood forests explode with color every October. This 3-day itinerary covers the park's highlights from north to south along Skyline Drive.
Best Day Hike
Old Rag Mountain
Day-use permit required · $1/person
Old Rag is widely considered the finest day hike on the East Coast — a 9-mile circuit that combines a strenuous forest climb with a half-mile rock scramble through granite boulders and crevices to a 3,284-foot summit with 360-degree views. Requires a timed-entry day-use permit from recreation.gov. Go early on weekends — it sells out.
Shenandoah National Park Trip Overview
- Duration: 3 days
- Entry: North Entrance at Front Royal (US-340) or Rockfish Gap in the south
- Entry fee: $35/vehicle (7-day pass)
- Best months: October (foliage), May–June (wildflowers and green-up)
- Drive from DC: ~1.5 hours · Richmond: ~2 hours
Day 1 — North District: Dickey Ridge & Overall Run Falls
Enter at Front Royal (Milepost 0) and stop at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (MP 4.6) for a trail map and bear activity report. The Dickey Ridge Trail runs 9 miles south through classic northern Shenandoah hardwood forest — walk the first 2 miles from the visitor center for wildflower views across the Shenandoah Valley, then turn around.
In the afternoon, hike to Overall Run Falls (6.4 miles round trip, moderate) — the tallest waterfall in Shenandoah at 93 feet, dropping over a cliff face into a wooded gorge. The trail passes through old-growth hemlock stands and offers valley views from the ridge.
Day 2 — Central District: Hawksbill Summit & Big Meadows
The central district holds the park's highest elevation and its most popular overnight area. Drive to Hawksbill Summit (MP 46.7) and hike to the park's highest point at 4,051 feet (2.9 miles round trip, moderate) — sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley and, on clear days, across to the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia.
Continue south to Big Meadows (MP 51), the park's largest open meadow, where white-tailed deer graze at dusk and dawn in full view of the road. The Story of the Forest Trail (1.8 miles, easy) loops through meadow and forest with excellent interpretive exhibits. Stay overnight at Big Meadows Lodge or campground — the most central base in the park.
Day 3 — Old Rag Mountain (Day Permit) or Dark Hollow Falls
If you have a permit, dedicate Day 3 to Old Rag Mountain — the park's crown jewel. The rock scramble section alone is worth the hike: a half-mile boulder maze of granite slabs, chimneys, and tunnels that leads to the open summit. Permits sell out on weekends; book at recreation.gov the moment they open.
Without a permit, hike Dark Hollow Falls (1.4 miles round trip, easy) near Big Meadows — the most visited waterfall in the park, where Hogcamp Branch tumbles 70 feet over columnar basalt. Then stop at every overlook on your drive south to the Rockfish Gap exit.
