Fees & Passes

Plan Your Visit

Key Information

  1. Get an entrance pass

    All visitors must have one of these entrance passes:

    Pass Price
    Standard Pass $15.00–$30.00
    Annual Pass $55.00
    America the Beautiful Pass (includes Senior Passes) FREE–$80.00

    Help me choose an entrance pass

Choosing an Entrance Pass

Do you have or qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful Pass?

If you already have an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, that's the only entrance pass you need. Seniors, military, visitors with a permanent disability, and families with a 4th grader are eligible for a free or discounted America the Beautiful pass.

America the Beautiful Pass

How often do you plan to visit national parks in the next 12 months?

If you don't qualify for a discounted America the Beautiful pass, we recommend choosing an entrance pass based on your trip plans.

I'm visiting... We recommend
This park, once Standard Pass
This park, multiple times Annual Pass
More than one national park or federal recreation site America the Beautiful Pass

Entrance Passes

Annual passes are good for one year and cover your entrance fee for Shenandoah.

Standard Entrance Pass

$15.00–$30.00

You are required to pay an entrance fee in order to access Shenandoah National Park, whether you're driving on Skyline Drive or hiking in from the boundary.

For Vehicles

If you enter the park in a motorized vehicle, your entrance pass covers both you and your passengers. Your passengers do not need a separate pass.

Costs for vehicles with more than 15 passengers are listed below under Organizations and Businesses.

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.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Old Rag Parking and Fee Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Whiteoak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead

    Credit/Debit Only

Entry for one motorcycle and one passenger for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Whiteoak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Old Rag Parking and Fee Station

    Credit/Debit Only

For Individuals without a Vehicle

If you enter the park on a bicycle or on foot and are at least 16 years old, you need your own entrance pass. Children under the age of 16 don't need an entrance pass.

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.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Old Rag Parking and Fee Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Whiteoak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead

    Credit/Debit Only

For Organizations & Businesses

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 intends to use, support those purposes. Request an academic fee waiver through the education section of our website.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

More information

The total cost is calculated: $25 + $10 per passenger.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

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.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

Annual Entrance - Park

Annual Entrance - Park

$55.00

Provides unlimited entry for one year to the pass holder and passengers in the same vehicle, not to exceed 4 total adults. Children under 16 are admitted for free and are not included in this total. Purchase online or at any of our entrance stations.

In-person Purchase Locations

  • Front Royal Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Swift Run Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Thornton Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Rockfish Gap Entrance

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Old Rag Parking and Fee Station

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Whiteoak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead

    Credit/Debit Only

  • Mathews Arm Campground

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Loft Mountain Campground

    Cash or Credit/Debit

  • Big Meadows Campground

    Credit/Debit Only

America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

A stack of all six versions of the America the Beautiful Pass

Covers entrance fees and standard amenity (day-use) fees at lands managed by

  • National Park Service
  • US Fish & Wildlife Service
  • US Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • US Army of Corps of Engineers

Depending on the type of entrance fee charged at a site, covers
One private vehicle fee
or
Four per person fees

Type Available to Price
Annual Pass Everyone $80.00
Senior Annual Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $20.00
Senior Lifetime Pass US citizens and permanent residents 62+ years old $80.00
Military Annual Pass Current US military and dependents Free
Military Lifetime Pass Gold Star Family members and veterans Free
Access Pass US citizens and permanent residents with permanent disability Free
4th Grade Pass US 4th graders Free
Volunteer Pass Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours Free

America the Beautiful Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. Passholders must show valid photo identification (ID) with each pass.

How to Get an America the Beautiful Pass

In Person (Recommended)

Passes can be purchased or picked up at over 1,000 federal recreation sites.

Purchase and pickup locations

Order Online, Receive by Mail

To receive your pass by mail, order online at the USGS Online Store . Online orders are for physical passes, not digital passes, and may take up to three weeks to be processed and delivered. Order receipts may not be used in place of a physical pass. We recommend ordering at least three weeks in advance of your visit, or picking up a pass in person instead.

2024 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

 

Other Fees

Depending on your trip, you may need to pay for more than just your entrance to Shenandoah. 

 
 

80 percent of the money collected from entrance fees is used for projects that directly benefit visitors. The remaining 20 percent goes to parks that do not charge fees to help them with visitor services. Shenandoah has used fees to rehabilitate historic structures, preserve the health of the forest, and to hire temporary staff who improve trails and lead ranger programs. If you look around the Park, you will see your fee dollars hard at work! Thank you for your support.

Last updated: January 17, 2024

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Shenandoah National Park
3655 U.S. Highway 211 East

Luray, VA 22835

Phone:

540 999-3500
Emergency Phone: 1-800-732-0911

Contact Us