Learn and ExploreThe typical fall season in Shenandoah National Park encompasses September and October, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 49°F to 60°F. Similar to spring, however, temperatures can swing drastically from colder nights to warmer days, so it's important to check the weather forecast before coming to the Park. Fall weekends bring two things: gorgeous fall foliage and large crowds. As the weather begins to cool and the trees exchange their leaves of green for reds, oranges, and yellows, visitors come from all over to experience all that Shenandoah National Park has to offer. If you're planning on visiting during this busy time, however, there are few things that you need to plan for in order to get the most out of your fall trip: Avoid the CrowdsAt the trailhead: fall is typically our busiest time of year. For the best chance of avoiding crowded trails and full parking lots, try to visit Shenandoah during the week. If a parking area is full, it's time to move on to another trail. Use this busy time of year to look for the hidden gems that are less traveled! At entrance stations: the two most northern entrances, Front Royal and Thornton Gap, are the busiest and have the longest waits. Try a nice circuit trip south through the lowlands on Route 29 to the east or on Route 340 to the west to Swift Run (Route 33) or Rockfish (Route 64) entrance stations, and then return via the Skyline Drive. At campgrounds: all of our campgrounds book quickly on fall weekends, although there are some first-come, first-served sites available. You cannot reserve a first-come, first-served site by calling the Park directly; you must be at the campground in person. These sites fill quickly — usually by Thursday evening. Fall ColorWondering what's up with the color in Shenandoah? We've devised several ways to keep you posted, but remember: the Park is over 100 miles long and spans a wide elevation range. Fall color conditions can vary dramatically from area to area, and weather affects the color from hour-to-hour. Because of this, it's impossible to predict a peak time for fall color. Heres what we're doing to keep you up-to-date on current leaf conditions in the Park:
You may also want to check out the Smoky Mountains fall color prediction map, or see fall photos from past years in Shenandoah.
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The leaves are hanging on this year! Stick around for a final peak check. We'll hang around, too! It's time to say goodbye to fall broadcasts, but winter is coming...more broadcasts on the way!
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Last updated: November 30, 2021