Shenandoah National Park — Interstate Access, 2026 Fees & Truck Notes

01 Park overview

Shenandoah was carved out of the Blue Ridge crest in 1935 from family farms reclaimed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the legacy of that effort is the 105-mile Skyline Drive — a single ridge-top road that defines the park. The park stretches roughly 100 miles north-to-south and is rarely more than a couple of miles wide, making it the most accessible major national park in the eastern US: Front Royal sits at the north end one mile from I-66, and the southern terminus joins the Blue Ridge Parkway at Rockfish Gap. Twelve drive-in entrances, more than 75 overlooks, and 500 miles of trails (101 of them on the Appalachian Trail) make Shenandoah a half-day trip from D.C., Baltimore, or Richmond.

Skyline Drive is 105 miles long with 75 named overlooks and a 35 mph speed limit
Established 1935 from land bought (and in some cases condemned) by the state of Virginia and donated to the federal government
101 miles of the Appalachian Trail run through the park
~1.6 million visitors per year
Highest point is Hawksbill Mountain (4,051 ft)

02 Photos

Skyline Drive in autumn, Shenandoah National Park Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA

03 Don't miss

Skyline Drive overlooks (especially Hogback, Stony Man, and Big Meadows)
Old Rag Mountain summit
Dark Hollow Falls
Big Meadows historic CCC area
Hawksbill Mountain

04 Getting there & truck/RV access

Route from interstate

From I-66

Exit 6 (Front Royal) — direct entry onto Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive begins at the Front Royal Entrance Station, 1 mile from I-66 Exit 6

Big rigs & RVs

Truck access

I-66 to the Front Royal Entrance is straightforward for any vehicle size, and Skyline Drive itself is paved with no length restrictions, but the 35 mph posted limit, frequent tight turns, and a few low bridges make it slow going for tractor-trailers.

Parking: All overlooks accommodate cars and most RVs; large rigs typically choose between the larger Big Meadows lot and the Loft Mountain Wayside lot at the south end. Truck-friendly fuel and food are at Front Royal (north) and Waynesboro (south, near Rockfish Gap).

Restrictions: The Mary's Rock Tunnel near Mile 32.4 has a 12′8″ vertical clearance — taller vehicles must detour off the drive at Thornton Gap (US-211).

05 Seasonality & road closures

Best months: Mid-October for fall color; April–May for wildflowers; September for clear long-distance views.

Closures: Skyline Drive sections close during winter snow events but the road is plowed and reopened as conditions allow — there is no scheduled winter closure. Some campgrounds and waysides close December through March.

Notes: Fog and low cloud are common; visibility can drop to 50 ft on Skyline Drive in any season.

06 Entrance fees (2026)

Pass	Price
Private vehicle (7-day)	$30
Motorcycle (7-day)	$25
Individual / walk-in (7-day, age 16+)	$15
Park-specific annual pass	$55 (Shenandoah Annual Pass)
America the Beautiful (annual, all NPS sites)	$80 U.S. residents · $250 non-residents

2026 nonresident fee — does not apply here

The $100 NPS nonresident surcharge applies at 11 specifically named parks. Shenandoah National Park is not on that list, so non-U.S. residents pay the same standard entrance fees as U.S. residents.

Fee-free days available for U.S. residents only beginning January 1, 2026.

Note: Shenandoah is not on the 2026 nonresident-surcharge list. Standard fees apply to all visitors.

Official NPS fee page →

07 Current alerts

No active NWS weather alerts or FEMA disaster declarations in Shenandoah National Park's state(s) right now.

08 FAQ

How do I get to Shenandoah from the interstate?

The simplest entry is I-66 Exit 6 in Front Royal, where Skyline Drive begins one mile south of the exit. From I-81, the Thornton Gap (US-211, mile 31.5), Swift Run Gap (US-33, mile 65.7), and Rockfish Gap (US-250, mile 105) entrances all sit within 30 miles of the interstate.

Does the $100 nonresident fee apply at Shenandoah?

No. The 2026 NPS nonresident surcharge applies only at 11 named parks. Shenandoah is not on that list, so non-U.S. residents pay the same $30 vehicle fee as U.S. residents.

Is Skyline Drive open in winter?

Yes, in principle. Sections close during snow and ice events but are reopened as quickly as plowing crews can clear them. There is no scheduled winter closure of the road.

Can I drive a tall RV on Skyline Drive?

Vertical clearance at Mary's Rock Tunnel (Mile 32.4) is 12′8″. Anything taller has to exit at Thornton Gap (US-211) and rejoin the drive on the other side.

From I-66

Truck access

2026 nonresident fee — does not apply here

Shenandoah National Park on the live map