Shenandoah National Park: the best time to visit, by the numbers
Month-by-month crowds (official NPS counts) and weather (NOAA 1991–2020 normals)
Shenandoah National Park draws about 1.5 million recreation visits in a typical year (2016–2025 median). October is the peak month (about 297,000 visits); January is the quietest (about 22,000) — a 13-to-1 spread between busiest and quietest.
Pick a month
| Month | Typical visits | Crowds | High / Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22,021 | quietest stretch | 43°F / 23°F | 2.9 in |
| February | 27,535 | quietest stretch | 47°F / 26°F | 2.5 in |
| March | 56,506 | quiet | 55°F / 32°F | 3.6 in |
| April | 116,856 | moderate | 66°F / 41°F | 3.5 in |
| May | 144,056 | moderate | 74°F / 50°F | 4.2 in |
| June | 164,317 | moderate | 81°F / 58°F | 4.8 in |
| July | 190,762 | busy | 85°F / 62°F | 4.1 in |
| August | 181,146 | busy | 83°F / 61°F | 3.8 in |
| September | 154,634 | moderate | 78°F / 54°F | 5.4 in |
| October | 296,999 | busiest stretch | 67°F / 43°F | 3.2 in |
| November | 140,505 | moderate | 57°F / 34°F | 3.2 in |
| December | 30,149 | quietest stretch | 47°F / 28°F | 3.1 in |