Virginia · National Park
Shenandoah: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Shenandoah charges $30 per private vehicle, good for 7 days, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). The $80 America the Beautiful pass beats paying at the gate after 3 visits. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $7.50 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $30 vehicle fee is paid once for everyone in the car. A tour only beats driving yourself if it saves you real money or time on fuel, parking, shuttles and planning.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
| Party | Entrance total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $30 | $30 |
| 2 people | $30 | $15 |
| 4 people | $30 | $7.50 |
| 6 people | $30 | $5 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $30. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30 | Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Admits the pass holder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15 | Entry for walk-up or bicycling visitors, when 16 years of age or older (children under 16 are admitted for free). Includes entering the Park by all means other than a private, non-commercial vehicle. A family traveling together shall pay no more than the vehicle fee. |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25 | The total cost is calculated: $25 + $10 per passenger. |
| Commercial Entrance - Per Person | $10 | This fee is for commercial use between 1-6 passengers (sedan). The total cost is calculated: $25 for the vehicle + $10 per passenger. |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $75 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $100 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $200 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. |
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $0 | National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other approved national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver of Park entrance fees, provided that visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities that the group… |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $15 | Fee is calculated per person for anyone 16 years of age or older (children under 16 are admitted for free). Groups will not be charged more than the equivalent commercial group fee. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Shenandoah via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 3 visits at $30 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Shenandoah also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $55.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. October had 20% of the year; January was the quietest month, with about 4% of the busiest month’s visits.
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 11,989 |
| February | 14,614 |
| March | 92,625 |
| April | 139,737 |
| May | 173,115 |
| June | 167,090 |
| July | 188,144 |
| August | 215,114 |
| September | 153,478 |
| October | 329,565 |
| November | 166,566 |
| December | 30,115 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
7 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026, including 1 closure. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Active Closure
Due to recent wildlife interactions and out of an abundance of caution, the Naked Creek backcountry zone is closed to all recreation until further notice. A camping closure remains in effect for the Appalachian Trail (AT) from Lewis Mountain to Big Meadows, including the Bearfence AT Hut. Details on nps.gov
Caution Emergency Phone Line Unavailable
Shenandoah National Park Emergency Phone number (1-800-732-0911) is currently unavailable. For all emergencies, Park visitors can dial 911. Details on nps.gov
Caution Parking at Boundary Access Areas
Visitors are reminded to park in designated parking areas when accessing the park via boundary trailheads. Parking in unauthorized locations may result in your vehicle being towed at the owner's expense. Park on the right side of the road approaching Thompson Hollow. Details on nps.gov
Information Infrastructure Improvements to Old Rag Trailhead
Effective May 4, Shenandoah National Park will begin infrastructure enhancements at the Old Rag Trailhead main parking lot. We expect to complete work by November 2026. Until then, the main parking lot is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Details on nps.gov
Information Shenandoah National Park Moved to Fully Cashless Fee Collection
On July 1, 2025, the park transitioned to a fully cashless system at our fee entrance stations. Only credit cards, debit cards, or mobile payments will be accepted. Details on nps.gov
Information Get Skyline Drive Status Updates
Sign up for Shenandoah Alerts by texting SHENALERTS to 888777. Any time there are closures, re-openings, or other important safety-related alerts, subscribers will receive a notification via text. You may unsubscribe at any time. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
Shenandoah National Park is always open. However, portions of Skyline Drive, the only public road through the Park, are periodically closed during inclement weather. Visitors can still enter the Park on foot to hike, even when the Skyline Drive is closed. Campgrounds, services, and facilities have separate hours; please see descriptions of those facilities elsewhere on our website.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Astronomy
- Auto and ATV
- Backcountry Camping
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Citizen Science
- Climbing
- Compass and GPS
- Dining
- Fishing
- Food
- Gathering and Foraging
- Geocaching
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
- Group Camping
- Hands-On
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting and Gathering
- Junior Ranger Program
- +10 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Shenandoah?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for ShenandoahQuestions
How much does it cost to enter Shenandoah by car?
The NPS lists $30 per private vehicle for 7 days (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
When is Shenandoah busiest?
October had the most recreation visits in 2025 (20% of the year). January had the fewest, so October drew about 27.5 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.