Best Time to Visit Shenandoah National Park
Crowds and weather by month · Virginia · NPS visitor counts through 2025
The short answer
Mild weather, fewer people: April — 42% as busy as October, about 4,548 visitors a day, average high 66°F (19°C).
Also mild and quieter: May (49%), June (54%), August (55%), September (47%), November (48%).
Quietest month: January — about 645 visitors a day, average high 43°F (cool).
Busiest month: October — about 10,880 visitors a day.
Shenandoah month by month
| Month | Crowds · visitors/day | High / low · precip. |
|---|---|---|
| JanuaryQuietest× Cool | Very quiet6% of peak · 645/day | 43° / 23°F6° / -5°C · 2.9 in · 5 wet days · snow 6 in |
| February× Cool | Very quiet13% of peak · 1,404/day | 47° / 26°F9° / -4°C · 2.5 in · 5 wet days · snow 3 in |
| March× Cool | Quiet23% of peak · 2,525/day | 55° / 32°F13° / 0°C · 3.6 in · 6 wet days · snow 6 in |
| AprilBest◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate42% of peak · 4,548/day | 66° / 41°F19° / 5°C · 3.5 in · 7 wet days |
| May◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate49% of peak · 5,342/day | 74° / 50°F23° / 10°C · 4.2 in · 8 wet days |
| June◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate54% of peak · 5,928/day | 81° / 58°F27° / 14°C · 4.8 in · 7 wet days |
| July× Hot | Moderate58% of peak · 6,348/day | 85° / 62°F30° / 17°C · 4.1 in · 7 wet days |
| August◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate55% of peak · 5,998/day | 83° / 61°F29° / 16°C · 3.8 in · 7 wet days |
| September◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate47% of peak · 5,157/day | 78° / 54°F26° / 12°C · 5.4 in · 6 wet days |
| October○ Mild weather, busy | Peak100% of peak · 10,880/day | 67° / 43°F20° / 6°C · 3.2 in · 5 wet days |
| November◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate48% of peak · 5,226/day | 57° / 34°F14° / 1°C · 3.2 in · 6 wet days |
| December× Cool | Very quiet10% of peak · 1,059/day | 47° / 28°F8° / -2°C · 3.1 in · 6 wet days · snow 3 in |
Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.
Visitors per year
| Year | Recreation visits | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,321,873 | |
| 2016 | 1,437,341 | |
| 2017 | 1,458,874 | |
| 2018 | 1,264,880 | |
| 2019 | 1,425,507 | |
| 2020pandemic | 1,666,265 | |
| 2021pandemic | 1,592,312 | |
| 2022 | 1,449,300 | |
| 2023 | 1,576,008 | |
| 2024 | 1,720,211 | |
| 2025 | 1,682,152 |
Where the weather numbers come from
Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station LURAY 5 E — Luray (valley town below Skyline Drive; the ridge is cooler), at 1,401 ft (427 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.
Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Shenandoah National Park website before you go.
Other parks at their best in April
- Cuyahoga Valley
62% of peak · high 62°F
How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.
Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station LURAY 5 E, USC00445096, 1,401 ft / 427 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.
Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.