Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is one of those places that could be revisited every single year. There are over 500 miles of trails, the majority of which are dog-friendly, and dozens of scenic overlooks. Skyline Drive offers 3 ½ hours of beauty from the comfort of your car. The fall colors are out of this world, if you time your trip right, and even after the peak of fall the views are still stunning. I would highly recommend Shenandoah National Park to all my friends and family on the east coast. Add it to your 2024 calendar!
We visited Shenandoah in mid-November and had just missed the peak of the fall colors. It was still an incredible trip, but I would recommend planning your visit in October for prime fall foliage views. If your planning style is a bit more flexible, keep an eye on Shenandoah’s social media! During the fall season, they post weekly updates so you can see how the colors are looking from different points in the park. When you see what you like, hop in the car and head to Virginia!
Obviously, fall is a popular time to visit Shenandoah National Park so you’ll probably experience some crowds. Generally speaking, the less popular the trail the less crowded it will be. If you’re up for a challenge, check out some of the more difficult trails! This will weed out a good bit of visitors. We met a couple making a whole day of a more difficult trail. They brought their lunches and hammock with them and when they reached the summit, they set up camp for the day. By starting early they avoided the crowds and snagged the perfect spot for day-long viewing. We will definitely be trying this out on our next hiking adventure.
Take the Scenic Route through Shenandoah
If the vigorous hiking trails aren’t for you, no worries! There is so much to explore and appreciate at Shenandoah regardless of your activity level and capabilities. Truly, I would love to bring my grandmother to this park and just stop at each overlook on Skyline Drive. With a little bit of planning, you can time your day just right and get the coziest sunset seat at Skyland’s Pollock Dining Room. This restaurant, located at mile 41.7, opens at 5 pm but the line starts forming around 4:30 pm and no, they don’t take reservations. Trust me though, it is worth the wait to be one of the first tables seated. The wall of windows looks out into the mountains and is perfectly placed to watch the sunset with a nice glass of wine. The food and service were just as good as the view!
We only experienced the northern half of the park on our trip, ending the weekend at Skyland and turning back. Depending on the pace you set and what you prioritize on your trip, you could easily experience the whole park in a weekend. There is lodging available at Skyland as well, which would be great for a halfway point on your trip! We chose to stay in the town of Front Royal and used Harvest Host to find a place to sleep. The park, the people, and the trip as a whole were absolutely incredible and I cannot wait to hear what you think of it!
If anyone is interested in a customized itinerary for visiting Shenandoah National Park this fall, feel free to reach out! I would love to share my skills and knowledge with you. Happy travels!