Parks / New England and Appalachia
Shenandoah
Stop 48 of 51 on the loop. Stay in Luray VA, give it 2 nights, and plan the day around Skyline Drive.
- State
- VA
- Stay in
- Luray VA
- Nights on this route
- 2
- Month on this route
- July
- Don't miss
- Skyline Drive
- Getting here
- 789 mi from Bar Harbor ME, about 16 h 32 min. Plan 2 overnight stops.
- Next stop
- New River Gorge, 215 mi, about 4 h 17 min.
About the Park
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore...and your journey begins right here!
Description from the National Park Service.
Where to Stay
On this route you sleep in Luray VA. Gateway towns have more lodging, groceries and fuel than the park itself. If you want an in-park lodge instead, the busiest parks book up as early as 13 months out.
Entrance Fees
- $30 Private Vehicle
- $25 Motorcycle
- $15 Per person (walk or bike in)
An $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry at every national park; on a trip like this it pays for itself after three parks. Fees from the NPS, checked 2026-10-18.
Nearby Parks
- New River Gorge about 149 mi as the crow flies
- Cuyahoga Valley about 242 mi as the crow flies
- Congaree about 353 mi as the crow flies
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/shen/. Route data checked 2026-10-19.