Shenandoah River State Park is a 1,619-acre state park along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in Warren County, south of Front Royal. With miles of trails, riverside picnic areas and boat access, it offers a different kind of day out from a caverns visit or a Shenandoah National Park outing.
- Location: Off Route 340 in Bentonville, 8 miles south of Front Royal.
- Trails: 25 miles are open to hiking and biking.
- Usual hours: Daily from 8 a.m. until dusk.
- Standard vehicle fee: $10.
Where is Shenandoah River State Park?
Shenandoah River State Park sits off Route 340 in Bentonville, 8 miles south of Front Royal and 15 miles north of Luray. Its address is 350 Daughter of Stars Drive, Bentonville, VA 22610.
If you're planning time in town before or after the park, this guide to getting around Front Royal covers local transportation.
The park extends along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, with 5.2 miles of shoreline. It opened in June 1999; its first component, the 922-acre Jeni Tract, was acquired in 1994 as part of a 1992 state bond referendum.
For a different kind of regional outing, compare the park day with planning a Shenandoah National Park visit from Front Royal.
Choose a trail or river-side outing
The park has 25 miles of trails for hiking and biking, with more than 14 miles also open to horses. The routes offer a way to spend time on the wooded parkland before heading to the river or picnic area.
For a water-based outing, the day-use area has a car-top boat launch. The park does not rent boats, so plan to bring your own if you want to use this access. The launch is 3.2 miles downstream from the Bentonville access area.
Near Shelter 3, a fish-trap access area is suitable for wade fishing. You need a Virginia freshwater fishing license to fish. There are no designated swimming areas, although wading and floating are permitted.
The riverside picnic area and picnic shelters make it easy to combine a walk or river visit with a meal. The park also has camping and lodging options if you want to look beyond a day trip. For a broader schedule in town, this one-day Front Royal itinerary can help you plan what to combine.
What are the park’s fees, hours and access?
The park is normally open daily from 8 a.m. until dusk, and the visitor center is normally open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The visitor center may close when staff are unavailable.
The posted passenger-vehicle parking and admission fee is $10, including weekends from April through October. The official fee table also lists a $4 equestrian fee.
Four picnic shelters are available to rent for the day, from 8 a.m. to dusk. They have adjacent parking, and shelter guests still pay the daily parking fee. Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, shelters cannot be reserved on Saturdays or Sundays; when a shelter is not reserved, it is first come, first served.
Day-use restrooms and picnic shelters are accessible. Shelters have accessible picnic tables and paved sidewalk access, and electric wheelchairs and scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed on trails. You can request the park’s all-terrain wheelchair by reservation.
What should you check before leaving?
Check the official site before you go for current hours, fees, access notices and shelter availability. The park’s events calendar is updated monthly and includes educational programs throughout the year, such as guided hikes and boat trips.
If you plan to fish, arrange a Virginia freshwater fishing license before using the wade-fishing access. For a boat outing, remember that rentals are not available at the park; the launch is for car-top boats.
From a two-star inn in Front Royal, the park is about 8.3 miles away. Verify your driving route and timing before setting out.
FAQs
Can you swim at Shenandoah River State Park?
The park has no designated swimming areas, but wading and floating are permitted.
Can you rent a boat at the park?
No. The day-use area has a car-top boat launch, but the park does not rent boats.
Are the trails open to horseback riding?
More than 14 miles of the park’s trails are open to horses; all 25 miles are open to hiking and biking.
Can you reserve a picnic shelter on a weekend?
Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, shelters cannot be reserved on Saturdays or Sundays. Unreserved shelters are first come, first served.