Shenandoah National Park
Trailie
Build your Shenandoah itinerary
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Shenandoah National Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Shenandoah at a glance
- Best time
- March–September, November
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Old Rag Circuit
- Nearby city
- Luray, VA
Explore this park
Alerts(5)
Infrastructure Improvements to Old Rag Trailhead
Effective May 4, Shenandoah National Park will begin infrastructure enhancements at the Old Rag Trailhead main parking lot. We expect to complete work by November 2026. Until then, the main parking lot is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Visitors can access Old Rag Trailhead via existing overflow parking lots. Day-use tickets are still required from March 1 through November 30 in addition to a park entrance fee.
Shenandoah National Park Moved to Fully Cashless Fee Collection
On July 1, 2025, the park transitioned to a fully cashless system at our fee entrance stations. Only credit cards, debit cards, or mobile payments will be accepted.
Parking at Boundary Access Areas
Visitors are reminded to park in designated parking areas when accessing the park via boundary trailheads. Parking in unauthorized locations may result in your vehicle being towed at the owner's expense. Park on the right side of the road approaching Thompson Hollow. Parking is authorized up to the "No Parking" sign before a private driveway.
Get Skyline Drive Status Updates
NPS detailsSign up for Shenandoah Alerts by texting SHENALERTS to 888777. Any time there are closures, re-openings, or other important safety-related alerts, subscribers will receive a notification via text. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Ticket Required to Hike Old Rag
NPS detailsMarch 1 - November 30 those wishing to hike Old Rag are required to obtain a day-use ticket before arriving.
Common questions
Planning Shenandoah
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
TrailVerse lists 3 reservation types on the Permits tab, including Shenandoah National Park Backcountry Permits and Old Rag Mountain Tickets. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
