Shenandoah National Park Fees & Reservations
Shenandoah National Park is just a terrific place to spend a little quality time, with the emphasis definitely on the word “quality”. You do have to pay an entrance fee to enjoy this wonderful park, but around 80% of the fees stay at the park to pay for maintenance and improvements, making sure that future generations can enjoy the park just as you can today. You might think that I’m buttering you up here before I sting you with a hefty entrance fee . . . it’s nothing of the sort.
- Private Vehicles – including cars, RV’s, vans, pickup trucks etc plus all passengers and is valid for a full seven days from the date of purchase. From December through to February the admission fee is $10, and $15 for the months of March through to November.
- Motorcycles – you pay the same amount irrespective of whether there is just the rider or a pillion passenger also. The entrance fee is $10 all year round, again valid for seven days.
- Individuals – this fee is payable by anyone entering Shenandoah National Park by any other method – bicycle, walking, taxi, limousine etc. The individual price is $5 per person for up to seven days from December through to February, and $8 per person for the months of March through to November.
- Annual Pass – of you’re one of the fortunate people who have the opportunity to visit the spectacular Shenandoah National Park numerous times throughout the year, then you really ought to purchase an annual pass. It costs only $30 and is valid for a full 12 months from the month of purchase.
Fee Free Days at Shenandoah National Park
There are some days of the year when you can visit Shenandoah National Park at no cost whatsoever. These are the dates of the fee free days in 2012, but the days are generally the same, it’s the dates that change a little.
- Martin Luther King Jr Weekend – 14 – 16 January
- National Park Week – 21 – 29 April
- Get Outdoors Day – 9 June
- Public Lands Day – 29 September
- Veterans Day Weekend – 10 – 12 November
Camping at Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is a terrific place to take a camping trip, and there are a number of campgrounds available, plus the opportunity for a spot of back country camping for those who really like to get away from it all. Some of the campgrounds are available only on a first come, first served basis, whereas some have around 20% of the sites open for reservations, with the rest being first come, first served.
Mathews Arm Campground – at 22.1 miles is the closest campground for visitors who enter the park from the north entrance. It is one of the campgrounds which can accommodate RV’s with pull-through sites and some deep “back-in” type sites. There are no hook-ups available, but there is a dump station and potable water.
- Open from the middle of May through to October
- $15 per night
- Reservations accepted – also first come, first served
- Picnic table
- Fire grate (all firewood must be either purchased or gathered from inside the park)
- Maximum of 2 tents, 6 people and 2 vehicles per site
- Generators permitted from 8am – 10am, and 4pm – 7pm
- Generator free sites available
- Quiet hours 10pm – 6am
- Three group sites available
- Keep all food, preparation equipment and scented items locked inside vehicles when not in use
Big Meadows Campground – at mile 51.2 along Skyline Drive, close to lots of the best facilities and most popular hiking trails. This campground can also accommodate large RV’s, although again there are no hook-ups, but there is a dump station and potable water.
- Open from late in March through to November
- $20 per night peak season
- $17 per night during early spring and late fall
- Reservations accepted – also first come, first served
- picnic table
- Fire grate
- Maximum of 2 tents, 6 people and 2 vehicles per site
- Generators permitted from 8am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
- Extended generator hours from mid October and mid April
- Generator free sites available
- Quiet hours 10pm – 6am
- Two group sites available
- Keep all food, preparation equipment and scented items locked inside vehicles when not in use
Lewis Mountain Campground – is the smallest campground in Shenandoah National Park, at mile 57.5.
- Open from the middle of April through to October
- 31 sites
- $15 per night
- Only available on first come, first served basis
- picnic table
- fire grate
- maximum of 2 tents, 6 people and 2 vehicles per site
- Generators permitted from 8am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
- Quiet hours 10pm – 6am
- Generator free sites available
- Keep all food, preparation equipment and scented items locked inside vehicles when not in use
Loft Mountain Campground – at mile 79.5, this is the largest of Shenandoah National Parks campgrounds with spectacular views to the east and to the west. This popular campground is close to not one but two breathtaking waterfalls and popular hiking trails running into the Big Run Wilderness area. This campground can accommodate large RV’s, although there are no hook-ups available there is a dump station and potable water.
- Open from the middle of May through to October
- $15 per night
- Three group sites available
- Reservations accepted, as well as first come, first served
- picnic table
- fire grate
- maximum of 2 tents, 6 people and 2 vehicles per site
- Generators permitted from 8am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
- Quiet hours 10pm – 6am
- Generator free sites available
- Keep all food, preparation equipment and scented items locked inside vehicles when not in use