Guide to Shenandoah National Park with kids

Craving a relaxing getaway in the mountains? Check out our guide to Shenandoah National Park with kids, and plan that road trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

Just a few hours from Washington DC, is Shenandoah National Park. This is a great place to escape the busy city life and just be one with nature.

 Shenandoah National Park is home to some of the best hiking trails in Virginia, some of which are kid-friendly, and fun for the whole family!

If hiking is not your thing, then a leisurely drive along Shenandoah’s Skyline drive is enough to experience all the beauty this park has to offer. 

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How to get to Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains in the state of Virginia, and is less than a two hour drive from Washington D.C. There are four entrance stations to Shenandoah National Park:

• Front Royal
• Thornton Gap
• Swift Run Gap
• Rockfish Gap

• Make sure to download offline maps as cell service is pretty spotty in the area. You can also pick up a park map at the entrance, or download the Official Park App.

• Restrooms are located:
• Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4.6)
• Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center (mile 51)
• Skyland Lodge & Big Meadows Lodge
• Panorama Comfort Station (mile 31.6)
• Portable toilets can be found at the Beagle Gap parking area (mile 99.5)
• Elkwallow Wayside (mile 24.1)
• Big Meadows Wayside (mile 51.2)
• Lewis Mountain Campstore (mile 57.5)
• Loft Mountain Campstore (mile 79.5)

Entrance Fee to Shenandoah

• There is an entrance fee of $30 when traveling by car, but there are some fee-free days. Make sure to check out their website before your visit to learn more. 

• Did you know that all kids in the fourth grade have free access to a National park with the Every kid Outdoors iniative? This free pass admits the child, and an accompanying passenger in their private vehicle.

• Additionally, if you are in the military, active duty members and their dependents get a free one year pass to National Parks.

• Those with permanent disabilities also get a free annual pass as well. Visit the National Park Service website for more information!

Check out this post on a visit to Acadia National Park in Maine for another fun East Coast US National Park visit.

Skyline Drive

Skyline drive is the main road and stretches for about 105 miles the whole length of Shenandoah National Park. 

• There are about 75 lookouts throughout Skyline drive, so make sure to stop and admire the beautiful scenery. 

• The speed limit is set at 35mph, and is strictly enforced. You are sharing the road with hikers, bikers and wildlife so please drive safe!

• Also make sure to fill up your tank before you get up here. Gas is available at Big Meadows Wayside (mile 51.2), but is more pricey, and doesn’t operate if there is a power shortage!

What to pack for Shenandoah

On your visit to Shenandoah national park, make sure to dress in layers. Temperatures on the mountain can be 10 to 20 degrees cooler than in the valley. 

• Make sure to pack rain gear just in case. Good trail shoes or hiking boots are a must for safety.

• I also suggest the kiddos wear lightweight hiking pants to prevent scrapes in case of a fall.

• Make sure to pack some insect repellent as well, better to be safe than sorry!

• A first aid Kit should also be in your pack when going on hikes with kids. It’s probably one of the most important thing to pack wherever you go.

• Make sure to bring along some hand wipes, as well as extra clothes. We love these wet/dry bags for packing extra clothes.

• Pack a picnic lunch or bring some snacks and water. There are a few places to purchase food in the park. There are no trash receptacles along the trails so follow the leave no trace principles.

Best time to visit Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah is beautiful in all seasons, but is popular during the fall for its fall foliage, which is usually the parks peak season. 

• Weekdays are the best time to visit, to avoid the crowds. Weekends, especially during the fall, can get pretty busy! I suggest arriving early in the morning to avoid the crowds and traffic.

• Spring is also an amazing time to visit when the trees are still blooming and the wildflowers carpet the forest floor.

READ NEXT: Best places for Fall Foliage in the Washington DC area

Visitors center

• Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is located at Mile 4.6 on Skyline Drive and is open from 9AM-5PM daily, but is closed for the winter December-March 17.

• The Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center is located at Mile 51, and is open daily from 9AM-5PM (March 17-November). Winter hours (December- March 16) are daily from 9AM-4:30PM, (closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays)

• Restrooms are located at both Visitors Centers. There are also gift shops, an information desk, exhibits, and ranger programs in both locations. You can also get backcountry permits, maps and first aid here.

• Make sure to purchase a junior ranger book for the kids, so they can collect national Park stamps. It’s so much fun and they’ll be more excited for their visit!

Where to stay in Shenandoah National Park

There are a few places to stay in Shenandoah National Park. You can either book a cabin at one of the two resorts in the park, or reserve a campground space. 

• Skyland and Big Meadows lodge are the only two resorts located within the park. Make sure to reserve these places ahead of time as they are usually sold out, especially on weekends. 

• The campgrounds run on a first come-first served basis, but can also be reserved in advance. If you’re planning to camp with little ones, check out this post on how to camp with toddlers.

Book your hotel at Shenandoah here:

Booking.com

Popular Activities at Shenandoah National Park

Hiking, camping, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are just some of the fun activities at Shenandoah.

There are more than 500 miles of hiking trails that branch off into the Appalachian trail. These trails lead to some of the most amazing views, waterfalls and vistas.

Kid friendly hikes

During our weekend trip to Shenandoah National Park, we have found a few trails that were kid friendly. 

Most of the trails can easily be found, as there are road signs pointing to its location, usually alongside the road.

Make sure to grab a Park map at the Visitors center, or at one of the entrances to the park.

Cell service is pretty spotty up here, so make sure to download google offline maps of the area, so you know where you are going!

Pay attenton to Trail Markers and Blazes, especially when going for longer hikes.

• Trail markers are concrete posts located at trailheads and intersections. The posts have metal bands around stamped with directional and mileage information. 

• Trail blazes are painted stripes located on trees and rocks. Blue blazes signify hiking trails. White blazes signify the Appalachian Trail, and Yellow blazes signify horse trails. 

•  Stony Man summit (mile 41.7) is one of the more popular hikes. This 1.6 mile trail, takes you through the forest at a steady uphill grade, and is totally doable with kids. Just take your time and allow the kids to go at their own pace.

• Once you make it up, you are greeted with the most amazing views of the Shenandoah Valley. Just keep your kids close by as there is a rocky outcrop with a pretty steep drop off with no barriers around. 

Difficulty rating: Easy
Distance: 1.6 mi
Elevation gain: 340 ft.
Accessibility: Not stroller or wheelchair accessible

• Dark Hollow Falls (mile 50.7) is a more moderate trail, but is doable with kids! This 1.4 mile trail follows a stream downhill, and has some rocky spots and can get slippery.

• Make sure you are wearing sturdy footwear to prevent injury! Once you make it down, you are greeted with an amazing waterfall. Be careful with the kids here as it is slippery, and there are no barriers for protection. 

• We spent a good amount of time here, because the ascent is much more difficult with kids. Allow them to take a break and recharge before you make your way up! This trail is not stroller friendly, so make sure to bring a carrier for the little ones.

Difficulty rating: Moderate
Distance: 1.4 mi
Elevation gain: 440 ft
Accessibilty: Not stroller or wheelchair accessible

• Limberlost Trail (mile 43) is a much more kid friendly hike, and is the only ADA accessible trail.

• This 1.3 mile hike passes through the forest and is one of the more easier trails. This is a great place to let the kids enjoy nature and go at their own pace. 

• Upper Hawksbill Trail (mile 46.5) is another kid friendly trail at Shenandoah. This 2.1 mile (round trip) hike is an easy one with kids. 

• Hawksbill is Shenandoah’s highest peak at 4,051 ft. You can easily take a jogger stroller on this trail as it is fairly flat, except for a few places where there is a slight incline. 

• Hawksbill summit is definitely a place to keep your kiddos close as there is a pretty steep drop off with no barriers for protection. There is an observation platform, which is the perfect viewing point with the kiddos. 

Difficulty rating: Easy
Distance: 2.1 miles
Elevation gain: 520 ft.
Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible

• Blackrock Summit (mile 84.4)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 1-mile circuit hike
• Elevation Gain: 175 feet
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible 

• Fox Hollow Trail (mile 4.6)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 1.2-mile circuit hike
• Elevation Gain: 310 feet
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible 

• Millers Head (mile 42.5)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 1.6-mile round trip hike
• Elevation Gain: 450 feet
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible 

• Story of the Forest (mile 51)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 1.8-mile round trip hike
• Elevation Gain: 290 feet
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible 

Where to eat

There are a few places to grab a bite in the park:

• Skyland Resort has a restaurant, a gift shop, and a small coffee shop selling light snacks, such as sandwiches and pastries.

• Big Meadows lodge also has a restaurant and a gift shop as well.

• The Visitors center also sells some light snacks and water, and they have a small gift shop.

• Groceries, wood, ice, and camping supplies are available at the following locations (most services close during winter):

• Elkwallow Wayside (mile 24.1)
• Big Meadows Wayside (mile 51.2)
• Lewis Mountain Campstore (mile 57.5)
• Loft Mountain Campstore (mile 79.5)

Safety tips 

• Check the weather before you leave. It can get pretty foggy up there, so drive slowly, keep your headlights on, and watch out for bicyclers, hikers and wildlife on the road!

• Check current closures and alerts before heading out.

• Brush up on bear safety before your visit. This is bear country after all!

• Make sure you have plenty of water, especially when doing longer hikes.

• Know your limitations and be sure you are physically able to complete the hike you’ve chosen.

• Check for ticks when you return from your hike.

• Be sure someone knows where you are and when to expect your return. Cell service is spotty at best! 

• Wear proper hiking gear, and sturdy shoes… safety first!

• Follow Leave No Trace principles, stay on trails, carry out all trash, and leave what you find.

• Do not stop in the middle of the road to take pictures. Pull over if there is a safe place to do so. 

• Drive the speed limit on Skyline drive, which is 35mph.

• Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6’ at all times. Visit the website for more info on pet friendly trails.

Check out this post on visiting some of the Northern States National parks, and make use of your National Parks annual passes.

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