Learn and Explore
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. There are many options for entrance passes:
- Entrance passes are for single vehicles and individuals entering on foot and are good for seven consecutive days. This is the minimum option.
- Annual passes are good for one year and include options for Shenandoah, all national parks, seniors, active duty military and their dependents, vounteers, and 4th graders.
- Lifetime passes are good for the holder's lifetime and include options for seniors, those with permanent disabilities, and veterans and Gold Star Families.
Senior passes are available for all U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. This pass covers entrance fees at all national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services, such as camping.
There are two military pass options. One is for active military members and their family, the other is for Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans.
- America the Beautiful - Military Pass - Free
Available for current U.S. military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. Covers entrance fees at over 2,000 federal recreation sites. Must be obtained in person at one of our entrance stations by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173). Learn more about the annual Military Pass
- Military Veterans and Gold Star Family Access Pass - Free
Available to Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans. Covers entrance fees at all national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation. Find out more information about the Military Veterans and Gold Star Family Free Access Program.
- Annual Fourth Grade Pass - Free
Available for all U.S. 4th graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age) with a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper pass, and valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year though the following summer (September-August). Paper passes can be obtained by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website.
- Academic Fee Waivers
School groups and other approved academic institutions can obtain a waiver of entrance fees, provided the group is visiting for educational purposes and the resources the group intends to use support those purposes. Learn more about academic fee waivers.
An entrance pass is required in order to enter Shenandoah National Park, whether you're driving on Skyline Drive or hiking in from the boundary. All entrance passes are valid for unlimited entry for seven consecutive days, beginning on the date of purchase. Entrance passes may be purchased online at Recreation.gov or at any of our entrance stations. The following passes are available:
- Shenandoah Entrance Pass - Single Vehicle - $30.00
Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Vehicles must be private, noncommercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.
- Shenandoah Entrance Pass - Individual Person - $15.00
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.
For all annual passes, the pass holder must be present with identification for entry into Shenandoah National Park. We cannot look up information if your pass is lost or stolen and cannot accept receipts or pictures of the pass in lieu of the actual pass. The following annual passes are available:
- America the Beautiful - Annual Pass - $80.00
Covers entrance fees at all national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle. Children age 15 or under are admitted free. Purchase online or at any of our entrance stations.
- America the Beautiful - Annual Senior Pass - $20.00
Available for all U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. An America the Beautiful - Lifetime Senior Pass is also available. Covers entrance fees at all national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services, such as camping. Purchase online or at any of our entrance stations.
- America the Beautiful - Military Pass - Free
Available for current U.S. military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Force, as well as Reserve and National Guard members. Covers entrance fees at over 2,000 federal recreation sites. Must be obtained in person at one of our entrance stations by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).Learn more about the annual Military Pass
- Annual Fourth Grade Pass - Free
Available for all U.S. 4th graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age) with a valid Every Kid Outdoors paper pass, and valid for the duration of the 4th grade school year though the following summer (September-August). Paper passes can be obtained by visiting the Every Kid Outdoors website.
For all lifetime passes, the pass holder must be present with identification for entry into Shenandoah National Park. We cannot look up information if your pass is lost or stolen and cannot accept receipts or pictures of the pass in lieu of the actual pass. The following lifetime passes are available:
- America the Beautiful - Lifetime Senior Pass - $80.00
Available for all U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. An America the Beautiful - Annual Senior Pass is also available. Covers entrance fees at all national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Senior Pass may provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees charged for facilities and services, such as camping. Purchase online or at any of our entrance stations.
- America the Beautiful - Access Pass - $10
Available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability). Provides entrance or access to pass owner and accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle at federally-operated recreation sites across the country. You must provide additional documentation to obtain this pass. Purchase online or at any of our entrance stations.
- Military Veterans and Gold Star Family Access Pass - Free
Available to Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans. Covers entrance fees at all national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees (day use fees) at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation. Find out more information about the Military Veterans and Gold Star Family Free Access Program.
An entrance pass is required in order to enter Shenandoah National Park, whether you're driving on Skyline Drive or hiking in from the boundary. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Must be purchased in person at one of our entrance stations. The following commercial entrance passes are available:
Shenadoah entrance and anual passes can be purchased online at Recreation.gov. Most America the Beautiful passes can be purchased from USGS.
Passes can be purchased at Shenandoah's entrance stations including Old Rag and Whiteoak Boundary when staff are present. Times and days of operation for entrance stations vary widely, especially in the "off seasons." It's a good idea to check hours with the station you want to get the pass from before you come to buy. If no one is present, you may still enter the Park.
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Front Royal: 540-635-5258
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Old Rag: 540-987-3109
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Rockfish (Afton Mountain): 540-943-8764
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Swift Run (Route 33): 540-298-9625
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Thornton Gap (Route 211): 540-999-3122
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Whiteoak: 540-923-4150
Camping fees are separate from your entrance pass to Shenandoah National Park. Holders of Interagency Senior and Access passess are eligible for a 50% discount on their camping fee, but please be prepared to present your pass along with a photo ID. If reserving a site through Recreation.gov, your pass information must be provided at the time the reservation is made to receive the discount. Learn more about camping in Shenandoah.
From March 1 to November 30, 2022, visitors who wish to use trails in the Old Rag Area (Saddle, Ridge, and Ridge Access trails) will need to purchase an Old Rag day-use ticket in advance, in addition to an entrance pass. This is a pilot project intended to help evaluate and adapt to a permanent system in the future. Find out more information on our Old Rag day-use ticket FAQ page.
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.
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