Get the app
Best time to visit · Virginia, United States
On the climate data, the best time to visit Shenandoah is May – October, scoring up to 85/100 with highs around 81°F (27°C) and 3.7 in (94 mm) of rain in August. April is a good shoulder-season month. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cool days.
Highs run from 34°F to 82°F across the year, and the yearly total is about 41.4 in (1051 mm) of rain and snow.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high | 34°F1°C | 38°F3°C | 47°F9°C | 60°F15°C | 68°F20°C | 77°F25°C | 82°F28°C | 81°F27°C | 74°F23°C | 61°F16°C | 49°F9°C | 38°F3°C |
| Avg low | 17°F-8°C | 19°F-7°C | 26°F-3°C | 37°F3°C | 48°F9°C | 56°F13°C | 60°F16°C | 59°F15°C | 52°F11°C | 40°F4°C | 29°F-2°C | 22°F-6°C |
| Rain/snow | 2.4 in60 mm | 2.5 in63 mm | 2.9 in74 mm | 3.7 in93 mm | 4.5 in114 mm | 4.3 in110 mm | 4.0 in101 mm | 3.7 in94 mm | 4.1 in104 mm | 3.4 in87 mm | 2.9 in74 mm | 3.0 in77 mm |
| Humidity | 82% | 81% | 79% | 76% | 78% | 74% | 69% | 69% | 70% | 75% | 78% | 84% |
| Cloud | 61% | 62% | 61% | 60% | 64% | 58% | 58% | 56% | 52% | 53% | 54% | 62% |
| Comfort | 47 | 47 | 57 | 76 | 80 | 79 | 81 | 85 | 85 | 81 | 62 | 45 |
Source: NASA POWER (public domain), 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km satellite and reanalysis grid, so coasts and valleys can differ from what's shown. Temperatures were adjusted from the grid cell's ~485 m (1,591 ft) to Shenandoah's ~787 m (2,582 ft) elevation using the standard lapse rate of 6.5°C per 1,000 m. Precipitation includes snow as melted water; daylight is calculated from latitude. Check a forecast before you go.
The cold peaks here: highs of 34–38°F (1–3°C), and nights reach 17°F (-8°C). It's the driest season, with only about 7.9 in (200 mm) of rain or snow, 19% of the year's total. December – February are cold enough for snow. Comfort scores bottom out in December – February; the season averages 46/100.
Temperatures climb through the season, from 47°F highs in March to 68°F by May. About 11.1 in (281 mm) of rain or snow falls across these months, 27% of the year's total. March is cold enough for snow. May is among the best-scoring months (season average 71/100).
The warmest stretch of the year, with highs of 77–82°F (25–28°C). It's the wettest season, with about 12.0 in (305 mm) of rain, 29% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 56°F (13°C). Comfort peaks here: June – August rank with the year's best, and the season averages 82/100.
Temperatures slide from 74°F highs in September to 49°F by November. About 10.4 in (265 mm) of rain falls across these months, 25% of the year's total. Nights dip below freezing in November. September & October are among the best-scoring months (season average 76/100).
By comfort score: 7 Great, 1 Good and 4 Fair. Great months: April – October. Tap a month for its own guide.
On the climate data, the best time to visit Shenandoah is May – October, scoring up to 85/100 with highs around 81°F (27°C) and 3.7 in (94 mm) of rain in August. April is a good shoulder-season month. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cool days.
May is the wettest month, averaging about 4.5 in (114 mm) of rain. January is the driest, with about 2.4 in (60 mm). The yearly total is around 41.4 in (1051 mm).
January is the coldest, with average lows of 17°F (-8°C) and highs of 34°F (1°C). The warmest is July, with average highs of 82°F (28°C).
Not very: summer (June – August) humidity averages 71%, and highs peak around 82°F (28°C), so heat matters more than mugginess.
On average, yes: lows fall below 32°F (0°C) in November – March, bottoming out around 17°F (-8°C) in January.
Poll the group on May – October dates, then plan the days, packing and costs together.
