Getting To Shenandoah National Park

Located approximately 71 miles (114 kilometers) west of Washington, D.C.  The Park stretches 105 miles (169 kilometers) from its northern entrance at Front Royal to its southern entrance near Waynesboro. There are four entrance stations to Shenandoah National Park, but only one has a physical address.

Skyline Drive is the main road that runs the span of Shenandoah. The campgrounds, dining and lodging options, gift shops, and majority of hiking trailheads are directly off of this highway.

Shenandoah is not only near D.C., but also Richmond, Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, providing a choice of large commercial airports and a selection of airlines. In addition to these larger venues are smaller, regional airports. Note, however, these airports will have fewer airline choices and limited arrival/departure schedules.

Upon landing at any of these airports, you’ll be driving into the park, with distances between 27 miles (43.5 kilometers) to 228 miles (367 kilometers).

Entrance Stations

There are four entrance stations to Shenandoah National Park. If you are using a GPS device or other internet-based directional app, make sure that it is directing you to one of the four entrances listed below. Otherwise, you may end up at a gated service road where the public is not permitted entrance.

Front Royal (North Entrance)
Near Front Royal, Virginia, off of Route 340 (also called Stonewall Jackson Highway).
21073 Skyline Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630

Thornton Gap
East of Luray, Virginia and west of Sperryville, Virginia. Off of Highway 211 (also called Lee Highway).
31339 Skyline Drive, Luray, Virginia 22835

Swift Run Gap
East of Elkton, Virginia off of US 33.
22591 Spotswood Trail, Elkton, Virginia 22827

Rockfish Gap (South Entrance)
A few miles east of Waynesboro, Virginia off of Highway 250.
282 Skyline Drive, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980

Flying

Washington Dulles International (IAD)
56 miles east of Front Royal Entrance Station.

Reagan National (DCA)
70 miles east of Front Royal Entrance Station.

Richmond International (RIC)
106 miles east of the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station.

Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD)
27 miles west of Swift Run Gap Entrance Station.

Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO)
31 miles east of Rockfish Gap Entrance Station.

Pittsburgh International (PIT)
228 miles northwest of Front Royal Entrance Station.

Driving Directions

Driving From Washington, D.C. Metro Area

To Front Royal Entrance Station (North Entrance)
Travel west on I-66 to Front Royal, Virginia. Exit to Route 340 South, and follow signs for Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.

To Thornton Gap Entrance Station
Travel west on I-66 to exit 43A. Take US-29 South to Warrenton, Virginia. Take US-211 West to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.

Driving From Richmond, Virginia

To Rockfish Gap Entrance Station (South Entrance)
Travel west on I-64 to exit 99, and follow signs for Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.

To Swift Run Gap Entrance Station
Travel west on I-64 to Charlottesville, Virginia. Take exit to US-29 North. Take left onto US-33 West, and follow 14 miles to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.

Driving From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

To Front Royal Entrance Station (North Entrance)
Travel east on I-76 to exit 161. Take I-70 East to US-522 South. Follow VA-37 south to I-81 South. Follow I-81 South to I-66 East. Take I-66 East to Front Royal, Virginia, and follow signs to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.

Fueling Up

There is only one gas station within the park, at Big Meadows Wayside, mile 5.1. There are, however, places to fuel up your vehicle at the various communities outside of the park.

If you are driving an electric vehicle (EV), there are public EV charging stations available at the Skyland Upper Loop (mile 41.7 and 42.5) and at the Byrd Visitor Center parking lot (mile 51). The Skyland station has one Level 2 (J1772) connector and one Level 2 (Tesla) connector, while the Byrd Visitor Center has one Level 2 (J1772) connector. Communities surrounding the park also provide various charging stations.