Shenandoah National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the north west part of Virginia.  The highlight of the park is the 105-mile Skyline Drive which runs down the center of the park along the crest of the mountains.  Visitors can enjoy the scenery by stopping at the many scenic overlooks along Skyline Drive.  Most of the trailheads for the hiking trails have parking lots along Skyline Drive.  

Model Itinerary

Day 1:

The closest major airports to the park are Washington Dulles International and Reagan National Airport.  The park is 70 miles west of Washington D.C.  From Washington, take Interstate 66 west to Skyline Drive and the park's north entrance.  Skyline Drive connects Interstate 66 to Interstate 64 at the park's south entrance.  Book 2 nights at the Skyland Resort which is centrally located on Skyline Drive.  We drove around at dusk and saw over 100 deer near the road and stopped at an overlook to watch the sunset.   
Day 2:

From Skyland Resort head south to the Dark Hallow Falls parking lot.  This moderate 1.4 mile hike takes you down a hill past of series of waterfalls.  Next, head across the street to the Byrd Visitor Center to learn more about the park's history and geology and to get some lunch.  Drive north to the Stony Man Summit parking lot.  The Stony Man Trail (1.6 mile easy hike) leads to an overlook of the Shenandoah River Valley and is the park's second highest point.     
Day 3:

Heading south on Skyline Drive, stop at the Bearfence Mountian parking lot.  On the Bearfence Mountain Trial (.8 mile moderate hike) hikers must climb up a series of large rocks to reach the summit.  At the top, you are rewarded by the broad panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the valley below. Pack a picnic lunch and stop at one of the picnic areas as you work your way south along Skyline Drive.  After lunch, there are several other hiking trails to enjoy so find one that suits your energy and skill level.  You can either stay another night in the park or drive on to Interstate 64 and the south entrance to the park.  
Day 4:

Black Bears are common in the park.  We saw a mother and 2 baby bears near one of the hiking trails so be aware when you are on the trails.  Avid hikers could easily spend more than a few days in the park because there are 511 miles of trails here to explore.  ​We spent 2 days in the park as part of a week long spring break trip that included 2 nights at the Greenbrier Resort and 2 nights at the Omni Homestead Resort.  Your trip to the park could also be extended to inlcude a trip to the Washington D.C area.