When Is Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage 2026?

Over the last few years, my Papa and I have embarked on a day trip to Shenandoah National Park for Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage. We have loved getting to enjoy Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage year-after-year via Skyline Drive. Since I have a few years under my belt of experience with leaf peeping for Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage, I can typically predict when it will be annually!

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Please note that this blog post on answering when is Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage 2026 takes into account the Virginia State Parks’ Fall Foliage Report from years’ past as well as my personal experience in when my Papa and I planned our visits to Shenandoah National Park. I will also note that this post will primarily focus on our visits on Skyline Drive from Front Royal, Virginia to Sperryville, Virginia in the Northern Virginia region alongside Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (see more on that here). For more information on other parts of Shenandoah National Park and the state of Virginia look no further than here.

When Is Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage 2026?

Based on my previous experiences visiting Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage and the Fall Foliage Report, typically Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage Falls in mid-October-mid-November. Personally, I have found the most beautiful Fall Foliage times to be after October 18-20 until November 5-10. While the exact dates may vary year-after-year, Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage usually persists around the same time frame. The Fall Foliage Report for 2026 will come out in early-mid September with the most precise dates, so stay tuned!! Above all else, it’s never too early to start planning your visit to Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage 2026!

Visiting Shenandoah National Park

While I won’t get into too much detail on visiting Shenandoah National Park in this blog post, I will mention that all visitors are to have a pass upon entry and you must have a car to get around (rental car options are available!). Passes vary in fees, and annual passes are accepted (see more information on that here). It is also worth noting that passes are 1 per vehicle not per person. If you plan to book overnight accommodations, there are plenty of great options on Booking.com and Hotels.com! For additional information on visiting Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage, I have a few previous blog posts from 2024 and 2022 for your reference. If you’re interested in going leaf peeping at other parks in Northern Virginia, then look no further than my 11 Parks in Northern Virginia list!

Want to know the best spots to enjoy Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage 2026?! Look no further than this guide from the Virginia Department of Forestry!

Wrap-Up

Year after year, I always wonder when is Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage?! And, I know you do too! Visiting Shenandoah Peak Fall Foliage is truly an experience that you won’t regret.

XOXO – Katie <3