I am not a fall person. I mean, I like plaid. Coats and boots are cute. Pumpkin is delicious. But I don’t like being cold, and I had never really seen leaves change before moving to Maryland when I was 16, so that isn’t something I look forward to every year. But since we spent the last four years living in places where fall is non-existent, and the only travel we’re comfortable with at the moment is a road trip, I thought it might be nice to get away from Northern Virginia for the weekend and see the fall colors in Shenandoah National Park.
Shenandoah is a perfect weekend road trip from DC or Northern Virginia, and fall in Shenandoah is incredibly beautiful — even if you’re a summer person. I’m sure it also would be a great destination at other times of year, but seeing those fall colors along Skyline Drive is epic.
Before you go
Check the leaf status and the weather! The Shenandoah National Park its Instagram account updated with photos so you can make sure the leaves have started to turn and/or that they haven’t all fallen off the trees. You’ll also want to check the weather. The park is open 24/7, but Skyline Drive closes for severe weather, and you won’t want to be driving in torrential rain or intense fog anyway — it obscures the view! And keep in mind that it is likely to be a bit colder up on Skyline Drive than at a lower elevation.
Where to stay
Shenandoah National Park is close enough to DC and Northern Virginia that you don’t have to go for an entire weekend — you can just make it a day trip. However, I would recommend spending at least one night, if possible, so you’ll have more flexibility and be able to do more. We have heard that the lines to get into the park from the northern entrance — the closest one to DC — get really, really long after 9 a.m. on weekend days, and it will definitely take you longer than you think to drive even part of Skyline Drive. We also wanted to have the ability to go back to a room to let Arabella nap, and to change our clothes, so spending two nights made sense.
There are several options for staying overnight in or near Shenandoah National Park, including lots of camping and some cool lodging actually inside the park. However, we decided to stay at the Fairfield Inn in Harrisonburg, which was perfect. Harrisonburg is about 30 minutes from the Swift Run Gap entrance station, and it has plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations for when you’re not in the park. Please note: I called ahead of time to get details on what the hotel is doing to keep people safe (e.g. enhanced cleaning measures), and I was OK with that. But if you are hoping to prepare all of your own food, this may not be the best choice. Our room had a microwave and mini fridge, not a full kitchenette.
Other great options for lodging are Front Royal, Sperryville, Luray, or Staunton. Or, if you’re extremely fancy (and very rich), check out the Inn at Little Washington.
Two-day itinerary for fall in Shenandoah
Day 1: Get bagels from Mr. J’s, then drive to Shenandoah National Park and go south. Stop at Big Run Overlook (mile marker 81.2) and other overlooks that looked good, then go to Blackrock Summit Trail (mile 84.4) to hike.
Stop at Loft Mountain Wayside on the way home (mile 79.5). Nap/change and then head to Blue Stone Vineyard for 4:30 p.m. reservation. End the day with ice cream at Kline’s Dairy Bar.
Day 2*: Get bagels from Mr. J’s, check out of hotel, then drive to the park and go north. Stop at Big Meadows Wayside (mile 51) for food/souvenirs. Stop at Spitler Knoll Overlook (mile 48), Elkwallow Wayside, Hogback Overlook (mile 20.7), and Range View Overlook (mile 17.0), as well as any other overlooks that look promising. Exit through northern entrance station in Front Royal.
*It ended up being too foggy on Day 2 for us to see much, so we chose to check out Skyland (mile 41) and grab some coffee, then exit the park from the Thornton Gap Entrance Station and drive back from there, instead of following our itinerary. This worked out well for us because of the weather, but I think it would be nice on a clear day as well.*
Hiking in Shenandoah National Park
There are TONS of hiking opportunities in Shenandoah, for all experience levels. I researched hikes that would be safe to do while carrying a toddler, and we had planned to do Blackrock Summit Trail, Stony Man Trail (recommended by a local) and Fox Hollow Trail, but ended up only doing Blackrock Summit (it was perfect).
If you’re looking for other options, Shenandoah National Park’s site has fantastic information about the various hikes you can do, including hikes for kids, hikes with waterfalls, and hikes to avoid crowds.
Wine with a view
One of the main reasons I recommend staying in or near the park, instead of just driving up for the day? It makes it much easier to visit one of the fabulous Virginia wineries nearby. We made a reservation at Bluestone Vineyard, which is gorgeous and not too far from Harrisonburg. I also considered Brix and Columns, which looks beautiful as well, but went with Bluestone since it was open later on the day we went. And if you’re going on a Saturday, Bluestone may have a food truck there. Check their Facebook page for updates. Either way, be sure to make a reservation ahead of time!
What to pack for fall in Shenandoah
Obviously you should consult the weather forecast before you pack, but I recommend bringing some snacks and drinks (or and/or an empty refillable water bottle), comfy clothes you can hike in, hiking boots or trail running shoes, and lots of layers. And, if you are traveling with a baby or toddler, bring an extra outfit — or two — for everyone, as well as a carrier of some kind.
COVID considerations and other info
Masks are required for the restrooms and all the waysides and stores, and you should bring one on hikes in case it gets crowded. You’ll also need one for the wineries and any stores, hotels, or restaurants you visit in town. Additionally, many of the park facilities and things that had closed initially have reopened. However, some of the NPS restaurants and snack bars are still closed, and the waysides and other stores have a limit to how many people can go in at once.
And, while entrance to the park is free for U.S. active-duty military, veterans, Gold Star families and fifth-graders, others will have to pay a fee. You can save time by buying your pass ahead of time here.
I hope this post was helpful in planning your own road trip to Shenandoah! Please let me know if you have any questions.
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