Shenandoah National Park guide · 2 min read
Timing Peak Fall Foliage on Skyline Drive
Fall is when Shenandoah National Park is best known for its color, as the deciduous trees shift from green to reds, oranges, and yellows.
Many people aim for mid to late October, when many expect the color to peak. Even so, a precise peak date cannot be predicted, because the color varies from one area to another and can change with the weather from hour to hour.
Skyline Drive is the main road through the park and the only public road running through it. It runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hundreds of thousands of visitors travel it in mid to late October, so fall weekends bring heavy traffic. Plan on about three hours to drive the full length on a clear day, and allow more time if you plan to stop. You don't have to drive the whole length, and the stretch between Thornton Gap and Swift Run Gap is often recommended for its views.
Stopping at the overlooks lets you take in the color as you drive. The park is more than 100 miles long and spans a wide range of elevations, so the leaves at one overlook may look quite different from those a short drive away.
Before you go, check the park's fall color updates. A fall update video is posted each week on Facebook and YouTube. The View from the Valley webcam shows the color moving up the mountain, and the Big Meadows webcam offers a live view. The Fall Color Report page gathers photos from different points in the park.
Weather shapes the experience as much as the color does. Average daytime temperatures from late September through November generally run from 49 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but days can warm while nights turn cold. Check the forecast before you leave and dress in layers so you can adjust as the day changes.
