Shenandoah National Park
Visitor Services
Park visitors will find conveniently located service facilities along the Skyline Drive and at park waysides and other visitor areas. Services include merchandise, food, lodging, service stations, and a variety of books and maps about Shenandoah National Park.
For information about attractions, restaurants, accommodations and services outside the park, contact: Shenandoah Valley Travel Association, P.O. Box 1040, New Market, VA 22844, (540) 740-3132; Warrenton-Fauquier County Visitor Center, 183A Keith Street, Warrenton, VA 20186, (540) 347-4414; Virginia Tourism Corporation, (804) 786-2051; or the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, 901 East Byrd Street, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 371-8100.
ATMs and Banks
Automated teller machines are available in the Dining Room Building at Skyland (Mile 41.7) and at Big Meadows Wayside (Mile 51.2). Banks are located outside of the park in Luray and other nearby communities.
Gas Stations
Only unleaded gas and oil are available at waysides. There are no auto repairs or towing services. The gas stations listed below are open spring through fall only, so make sure your tank is full before entering the park during winter. Hours of operation at waysides may vary, so check the visitor guide, Shenandoah Overlook, for current schedules.
Elkwallow Wayside (Mile 24.1) is open daily late March through early November.
Big Meadows Wayside (Mile 51.2) is open daily from late March through late November.
Loft Mountain Wayside (Mile 79.5) is open daily early May through late October.
Film
Cameras, film and supplies are available at both lodging facilities and waysides throughout the park. One-hour film processing is available in Luray and other nearby communities. Overnight film processing is available in Harrisonburg and surrounding communities.
Gift Shops
Various gift and craft shops are located throughout the park. They offer such items as handcrafted jewelry, wood carvings, pottery, quilts and woven items. Many of these items are produced by the skilled artisans of the Appalachian area. You will also find ecological and environmentally friendly products, including apparel, recycled paper products, cards and home décor. Included in the selection are Shenandoah National Park souvenirs and collectable items along with apparel, games, stationary and publications specific to Shenandoah—stop in and browse.
Lost and Found
For lost items, or to turn in found articles, go to any park ranger station, entrance station or visitor center. Property left in guest rooms will be held by the concessioner for return to the owner. After departing the park, send inquiries to Shenandoah National Park, Communications Center, 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East, Luray, VA 22835; or call (540) 999-3422.
Medical
The nearest hospitals are located in Front Royal, three miles north of the Front Royal Entrance Station; in Luray, 10 miles west of the Thornton Gap Entrance Station on U.S. 211; in Fisherville, five miles west of Rockfish Gap; and in Harrisonburg, 20 miles west of Swift Run Gap. For emergency ambulance service, call (800) 732-0911.
Post Office
Mail drops are located at the gift shops at Elkwallow, Skyland, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain and Loft Mountain.
Religious Services
Services are sometimes sponsored by private organizations and offered to the public. Check at information desks for times and locations. Nearby communities offer a variety of religious services.
Showers and Laundry
ARAMARK, the park concessioner, provides wheelchair-accessible, coin-operated showers and laundry near campgrounds at Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain and Loft Mountain.
Special Services -
Wheelchair access is available at Skyland and Big Meadows lodging and dining facilities, the Lewis Mountain Campstore and Cabins, at many comfort stations, and at the concessioner-operated showers at Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain and Loft Mountain campgrounds. For visitors with hearing impairments, scripts of orientation films are available at visitor center information desks. The film The Gift shown at the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center is captioned upon request.
The accessible Limberlost Trail (located at Milepost 43) is open for all. The trail had been closed in the fall of 2003 due to damage from Hurricane Isabel. Dead or dying large, old hemlock trees posed a threat to visitor safety. These hemlocks and other storm-damaged trees have been felled. These felled trees were left along the trail to naturally decompose and replenish the nutrients of the soil.
The trail's hard-packed, crushed greenstone surface is wheelchair- accessible so people with mobility limitations, families with baby strollers and novice hikers can enjoy it. -
Information or assistance may be obtained by calling the Virginia Relay Center at (800) 828-1120 (TDD) from within the state or (800) 828-1140 (voice). Or write to: Shenandoah National Park, 3655 U.S. Highway 211 East, Luray, VA 22835.
Stores and Supplies
Souvenirs, crafts, snacks and food service are provided at lodges and waysides. Camping supplies, groceries and gasoline may be purchased at waysides.
Elkwallow Wayside (Mile 24.1) offers limited groceries, camping supplies, gas, snacks, souvenirs and crafts.
Big Meadows Wayside (Mile 51.2) is the place for groceries, camping supplies, gas, snacks, souvenirs and crafts. Showers and laundry facilities are located at the campground.
Loft Mountain Wayside (Mile 79.5) offers souvenirs, crafts, gas and snacks, and is located along the Skyline Drive.
Lewis Mountain Campstore (Mile 57.5) offers souvenirs, crafts, camping supplies, groceries, showers, and laundry facilities.
The Loft Mountain Campstore (Mile 79.5) features souvenirs, groceries, camping supplies, showers and laundry and is located near the campground.
Shenandoah In Depth
News from the Parks
Gettysburg Address to Return for Visitor Center Grand Opening
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
Anglers Wary of North Cascades Plan to Limit Fishing
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
Bison Advocates Go for Space
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
Rapid Climate Change Threatens to Thaw Icy Wonderland of Alaska
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
Park Seeks Construction Comment
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
