Is Shenandoah National Park Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons Why

Is Shenandoah National Park worth visiting?

Shenandoah National Park is probably one of the lesser-known of the 63 national parks in the United States, but there are so many reasons why you need to add it to your list. There’s something to be said for opting to visit one of the less popular national parks.

You still get to experience the beauty of the United States, but at the same time, you don’t have to deal with as many crowds and the accommodations are much more affordable. Unlike if you were to visit famous national parks like Yosemite or Yellowstone which are busy (and more expensive) almost any time of the year.

In this post, I’ll give you ten reasons why Shenandoah National Park is absolutely worth visiting! From the majestic vistas along Skyline Drive to the beautiful and adventurous trails.

We’ll delve into what you can expect from this underrated natural wonder and get you prepped for your visit to Shenandoah National Park!

1. Scenic Views

I don’t know about you, but one of the reasons why I love to visit national parks is for the views. Shenandoah National Park is situated among the Blue Ridge Mountains and does not disappoint when it comes to amazing panoramic vistas. When you enter the park, they give you a map that outlines all of the scenic overlooks within the park.

Some popular overlooks include Hazeltop Ridge (mile 54.5), The Point (55.5), The Oaks (59.0), Brown Mountain (77.0), and Rockytop (78).

You don’t need to stop at all of them, but we particularly loved the overlooks in the Central and Southern Districts. I would highly recommend that you gas the car up and bring plenty of water, snacks, breakfast, and lunch. Check out our recommended Shenandoah National Park itinerary.

2. Appalachian Trail Connection

A unique thing about Shenandoah National Park is its accessibility to The Appalachian Trail. It includes a 101-mile portion of the Appalachian Trail which is an iconic trail spanning over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine.

So if you are an avid hiker (or even amateurs like us) you’ll have the opportunity to experience a section of this renowned long-distance trail! We liked the Frazier Discovery Trail which is labeled “easiest” and we were able to hike the Appalachian Trail for a bit. Other more experienced hikers may like Mary’s Rock or Black Rock.

3. Abundant Outdoor Activities

What we enjoyed about Shenandoah National Park was how it caters to outdoor enthusiasts of all different levels. It doesn’t matter whether you just want to drive up and down Skyline Drive stopping at a few overlooks along the way or camp out on The Appalachian Trail.

Shenandoah National Park has over 200 miles of trails and each one is different and unique. But there are also many other outdoor activities that you can experience as well.

If you love water, the park has a network of streams and rivers where you can go fishing. There are plenty of picnic areas, camping (even backcountry!), rock climbing, bike trails, waterfalls and wildlife viewing!

4. Wildlife Sightings

If you enjoy observing wildlife then Shenandoah National Park is definitely worth the visit. There are over 500 mammal species like bats, skunks, black bears, and even bobcats. Although unless you’re in the deep forest, you probably won’t encounter any black bears or bobcats. My favorite is deer. They are so cute! We saw some on our hikes.

The park also has over 190 species of birds, perfect if you love birdwatching. I would recommend hanging out at the Big Meadows area to see some birds that you won’t find anywhere else within the park. It’s also a nice open area and ideal for a picnic or taking a break.

Of course, you’ll also find many different amphibians, insects, reptiles and fish!

5. Iconic Hiking Trails

Another thing that makes Shenandoah National Park unique is how it can cater to hikers of all experience levels. We are amateur hikers but we felt that there were plenty of options for us.

We enjoyed the Frazier Discovery Trail. It’s labeled as “easiest” on their level of difficulty which I think is deliberate because I wouldn’t consider it “easy”. There is a bit of climbing but the hike is mostly under shade so we enjoyed that!

It took us about 2 hours to hike up and back. We did take a little break at the summit to take in the views and have a snack. We also considered Stony Man or Limberlost which are both in the Central District of the park.

6. Waterfalls

We love waterfalls, they are so majestic and relaxing! Shenandoah National Park has many waterfalls some of which will not take you long to get to. For example, the Dark Hollow Falls trail is about 1.4 miles out and back, but it is described as quite rocky and a bit challenging on the way back.

Other waterfall hikes to consider could be Whiteoak Falls (lower) or Lands Run Falls, but there are several waterfalls in the park.

7. History and Culture

I am a huge fan of history and it is one of my favorite things to learn when I travel to new places. Shenandoah National Park is no exception. As you explore the park you may notice stone foundations, old chimneys, and traces of old agricultural practices.

In the Central District, Rapidan Camp was President Herbert Hoover’s summer retreat during his term in the late 1920s. The camp is now a historic site and it’s a neat glimpse into the lifestyle of the time.

As we visited the scenic overlooks some had signs posted giving us the history of the area and the cultural significance it has. I loved how they added that touch.

8. Well-Equipped Visitor Centers

If you’ve visited a few national parks you know that it can be hit or miss when it comes to the visitor centers. Fortunately, we found the visitor centers at Shenandoah National Park to be welcoming with plenty of resources, and information.

We spent some time at Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center at Big Meadows which had a video presentation and showcased the cultural history and conservation efforts of the park. There was also a nice rest area with a souvenir shop and canteen next door.

9. Camping Adventures

If you are a fan of camping then Shenandoah National Park has plenty of opportunities for you! Popular campgrounds include Mathews Arm, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, Loft Mountain, and Dundo Group Campground.

We didn’t camp while we were there, but we did drive around some campgrounds and we were impressed by the accommodation options. If you do plan to camp out at Shenandoah National Park make sure to reserve your spot (if applicable) and if you want to do overnight backcountry camping a permit is required.

10. Great Photo Ops

There are so many amazing photo opportunities at Shenandoah National Park. From the overlooks on Skyline Drive to wildflowers at Big Meadows, it’s the perfect way to document your adventure!

Some great spots for photos are Big Meadows, Stony Man Trail, Limberlost Trail, Hawksbill Summit, Dark Hollow Falls, and Whiteoak Canyon Falls. You also can’t go wrong with the overlooks in the Central and Southern districts.

How to get to Shenandoah National Park

What’s great about Shenandoah National Park is its proximity to many towns and airports. Washington Dulles International Airport is 65 miles from the Front Royal Entrance in the Northern District where Skyline Drive begins.

Ronal Reagan Washington National Airport is 80 miles from the Thornton Gap Entrance in the Central District. Thornton Gap is the closest to the town of Luray where you’ll find plenty of things to do like the Luray Caverns. We visited the Luray Caverns which are the largest in the eastern United States, it was so cool!

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport is 65 miles from the Swift Run Gap Entrance in the Southern District. In Charlottesville, you can visit Monticello the home of Thomas Jefferson. Shenandoah National Park is very accessible and easy to get to!

What is the best time to visit Shenandoah National Park?

Shenandoah National Park is great pretty much year-round. We visited the first week in July and it was in the mid-70s and absolutely beautiful. It was also less crowded which was surprising since it was the week of July 4th. We started our days by arriving at the park by 9am and didn’t experience long lines at the Thornton Gap or Swift Run Gap entrances. 

How long should you spend at Shenandoah National Park?

The length of time you should spend at Shenandoah National Park will depend on how much you want to do, but I would recommend at least 2 full days for exploration. Even if you mostly wanted to drive up and down Skyline Drive and experience some overlooks one day is probably not enough. 

If you’re outdoorsy and love hiking then you could easily spend 3-5 days in the area. There are plenty of nearby towns and other attractions that you wouldn’t need to only spend your time at Shenandoah National Park. We spent 5 days in the area and had a great time experiencing the local attractions, wineries, and breweries.