How to Get there
Shenandoah is within close driving distance from the Washington DC metro area. The park is stretches north-to-south for several miles but the easiest and fastest way is to access the northern end of the park using Interstate 66. The town of Front Royal, VA is a good reference when finding driving directions. Front Royal is also a good place to spend the night at one of the local hotels or find some nice restaurants.
Things to do
Driving the 105 miles of Skyline Drive is probably the best way to get a glimpse of the park and can be counted as the most popular activity. Entrances to Skyline drive are limited and it is best to plan the itinerary well to avoid ending your trip at an undesirable location with limited attractions. The wikipedia page about Skyline drive can be consulted here and offers good information.
Hiking
The park offers more than 500 miles of hiking trails. The Interior Service website mentions that “choosing your next hike in Shenandoah can be a little daunting”. It is better to see of the maps and plan any hiking ahead of time. Check the park’s website for links to hiking maps.
Caves
There are several caverns that are open to visitors and offer great tours for all ages. The Luray caverns are very large.
I have visited the Skyline Caverns and I was very impressed with the tour, it is highly recommended. They have a very rare Crystal called Anthrodytes that is very difficult to find in nature. The Anthrodyte formations are stunning.
Where to Stay
Camping is probably the best way to experience the park and all the natural resources that are unique to this area. There are several campgrounds inside the national park itself and they offer a variety of camping spots that can be reserved ahead of time as well as spots that are only available on a first come first served basis.
Don’t plan on finding a last-minute spot during the summer months or when the fall colors start to change. Information about camping availability is available at every gate. If you are able to plan the trip ahead of time, the national park service offers an online reservation system that is very simple to and easy to use.
Gooney Creek Campground
There are many campgrounds close to the park but this is the only one that I have experienced first-hand. The campground is located less than 6 miles from the Northern entrance of the park. There are several signs announcing the campground. The entire place is managed by a very nice lady who is very energetic and runs the place very smoothly. The only drawback is that noise from the road can be loud and very disruptive at night. See their website here.
More information:
More information about the park can be found online here.
