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Shenandoah National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
Fees and passes
$30 per private vehicle (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Camping and permits differ by area; reservable sites and permits are booked on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Campgrounds on Recreation.gov (4)
| Campground | Sites | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Meadows Campground - Shenandoah (VA) | 224 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Loft Mountain Campground | 213 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Mathews Arm Campground | 166 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Lewis Mountain Campground | 32 | Campground | Book ↗ |
From Recreation.gov's official data (RIDB), November 2026. Campgrounds run by park concessioners and some first-come sites aren't on Recreation.gov, so check the park's camping page too. When can I book?
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor · 21 | 43°F | 23°F | 2.9 in | 6.1 in | 9 h 42 m |
| February | Poor · 39 | 47°F | 26°F | 2.5 in | 2.7 in | 10 h 40 m |
| March | Good · 70 | 55°F | 32°F | 3.6 in | 6.2 in | 11 h 49 m |
| April | Great · 96 | 66°F | 41°F | 3.5 in | 0.1 in | 13 h 08 m |
| May | Great · 90 | 74°F | 50°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 13 m |
| June | Great · 86 | 81°F | 58°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 48 m |
| July | Good · 77 | 85°F | 62°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 34 m |
| August | Great · 88 | 83°F | 61°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 37 m |
| September | Great · 81 | 78°F | 54°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 21 m |
| October | Great · 99 | 67°F | 43°F | 3.2 in | 0.1 in | 11 h 05 m |
| November | Great · 80 | 57°F | 34°F | 3.2 in | 0.4 in | 9 h 58 m |
| December | Fair · 41 | 47°F | 28°F | 3.1 in | 3.0 in | 9 h 26 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Luray 5 E, VA weather station (1,400 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Shenandoah National Park?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
How much does it cost to enter Shenandoah?
$30 per private vehicle (7 days); $15 per person on foot or bike. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Shenandoah?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in April to June, August to October. July is warmest (about 85°F) and January has the coldest nights (about 23°F).
Sources: Shenandoah fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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