Shenandoah Map: Districts, Layout, and the Official Map to Download

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Shenandoah

Shenandoah National Park stretches 105 miles through Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, west of Washington, D.C. One public road runs from end to end: Skyline Drive. The official NPS Unigrid PDF map is free to download, with the direct link in the box below. For a complete overview of the park before getting into its geography, start with our complete Shenandoah guide.

Official NPS “Unigrid” map

The official park map handed out at entrance stations, with roads, areas, visitor centers and services. View it here or download it for offline use.

Download the map (PDF) Public domain · National Park Service

Where Is Shenandoah National Park?

Shenandoah is in Virginia, in the eastern United States. From Washington, D.C., figure on about 75 miles west to reach the park's northern entrance. To the south, Charlottesville is the closest city to the Rockfish Gap entrance.

The park follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains for 105 miles, forming a natural boundary between the Shenandoah Valley to the west and Virginia's Piedmont to the east. Because of the elevation, the mountain is generally 11°F cooler than the surrounding valleys. At Shenandoah, you'll still need a jacket in July. Our Weather page summarizes conditions by season and district.

Download the Official Shenandoah Map (NPS Unigrid)

The NPS publishes a free Unigrid PDF map that is updated regularly. It shows the three districts, the four Skyline Drive entrances, campgrounds, visitor centers, main trailheads, and numbered overlooks. It's also handed out at no extra charge at every entrance station.

Print it on letter-size paper before you leave. Cell service is very uneven inside the park. The map is in English, but the site names are clear enough to help you find your way without a dictionary.

Shenandoah's Districts

The park is divided into three administrative districts, running north to south along Skyline Drive.

North District: Front Royal to Thornton Gap (miles 0 to 32)

This first section starts at the Front Royal entrance (mile 0) and climbs to the Thornton Gap junction (mile 32). It's the least visited of the three districts. Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (mile 4) is the first visitor stop from the north. Views of the valley open up quickly within the first few miles of Skyline Drive.

Central District: Thornton Gap to Swift Run Gap (miles 32 to 66)

This is the heart of the park and by far the busiest district. Big Meadows (mile 51) is home to the Harry F. Byrd Sr. Visitor Center, a campground, a lodge, and access to Dark Hollow Falls. Hawksbill and Stony Man are also in this district. Plan to reach the overlooks early in the morning. Traffic is heaviest here, especially on fall weekends.

South District: Swift Run Gap to Rockfish Gap (miles 66 to 105)

This is the wildest district. The vegetation is dense, and the overlooks are fewer but often deserted. Loft Mountain Visitor Center (mile 81) is the only service point along this section. It's the best option if you'd like to hike away from the crowds.

Park Entrances and Driving Through the Park

Skyline Drive is the only public road through Shenandoah, with a 35 mph speed limit along its entire length. Four entrances mark the route:

• Front Royal (mile 0): the northern entrance and the main gateway from Washington, D.C.
• Thornton Gap (mile 32): on Route 211, between Luray and Sperryville.
• Swift Run Gap (mile 66): on Route 33, between Elkton and Standardsville.
• Rockfish Gap (mile 105): the southern entrance, at the intersection with Interstate 64, near Waynesboro.

The park is open year-round. Skyline Drive can close temporarily because of snow or ice, especially from October through March, so check conditions on the NPS website before setting out. When the road is closed, visitors can still enter on foot.

Current entrance fees are $30 per private vehicle, $25 for a motorcycle, and $15 for pedestrians or bicyclists. The annual park pass costs $55. For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Parks Fees & Passes page.

Points of Interest and Overlooks on the Map

Here are a few landmarks to mark on your map before you leave:

• Stony Man (around mile 42): the park's second-highest peak (4,009 feet), reached by a short marked trail from Skyline Drive, with 180-degree views of the valley.
• Hawksbill (around mile 45): Shenandoah's highest point at 4,049 feet, with a 360-degree panorama from the summit.
• Dark Hollow Falls (mile 50): the park's most accessible falls, about a 20-minute walk from Skyline Drive.
• Big Meadows (mile 51): a broad open meadow, ideal for watching deer and black bears at sunrise.
• Bearfence Mountain (mile 57): a short scramble over volcanic rocks, rewarded with a 360-degree panorama.

Our Things to Do and Hiking pages locate these sites and include walking times and difficulty levels.

Nearest Towns and Airports

North side. Front Royal, Virginia, is a few miles from the northern entrance and the first town at the park's northern end. Washington, D.C., is about 75 miles away, a 1.5- to 2-hour drive depending on traffic. The closest airports from this area are Washington Dulles (IAD, about 68 miles away) and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA, about 81 miles away).

South side. Waynesboro and Charlottesville are the closest towns to the Rockfish Gap entrance. Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO) is about 19 miles from the southern entrance.

West side. Luray, in the Shenandoah Valley, is a convenient base for a two-day stay in the park. Our Where to Stay guide lists accommodations by district.

For precise distances and driving times from major cities, see our Access & Transportation page.

Paper Hiking Maps and Topographic Guides

The NPS Unigrid map covers the needs of the vast majority of visitors, including overlooks and marked trails starting from Skyline Drive. For more demanding hikes, especially Old Rag Mountain or trails just outside the park, a paper topographic map is recommended.

National Geographic Trails Illustrated covers Shenandoah in two waterproof sheets at a scale of 1:60,000: No. 228 for the North District and No. 792 for the South District. They're available from specialty map retailers such as Cartovia and REI, or online. The Avenza Maps app also lets you download georeferenced NPS maps for offline use.

Frequently Asked Questions