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North AmericaUnited StatesVirginia

Harrisonburg

Virginia, United States · North America

About Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Belmont Estates, 24km from Shenandoah National Park.

Harrisonburg is a town located in Virginia, United States. With a population of 52,538, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, Harrisonburg sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/New York time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Harrisonburg to your route.

About Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It is also the county seat of the surrounding Rockingham County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. At the 2020 census, the population was 51,814. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the

Read more city of Harrisonburg with Rockingham County for statistical purposes into the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 126,562 in 2011. Harrisonburg is home to James Madison University (JMU), a public research university with an enrollment of over 20,000 students, and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), a private, Mennonite-affiliated liberal arts university, with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students. Although the city has no historical association with President James Madison, JMU was nonetheless named in his honor as Madison College in 1938 and renamed as James Madison University in 1977. EMU largely owes its existence to the sizable Mennonite population in the Shenandoah Valley, to which many Pennsylvania Dutch settlers arrived beginning in the mid-18th century in search of rich, unsettled farmland. The city has become a bastion of ethnic and linguistic diversity in recent years. Over 1,900 refugees have been settled in Harrisonburg since 2002. As of 2014, Hispanics or Latinos of any race make up 19% of the city's population. Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) students speak 55 languages in addition to English, with Spanish, Arabic, and Kurdish being the most common languages spoken. Over one-third of HCPS students are English as a second language (ESL) learners. Language learning software company Rosetta Stone was founded in Harrisonburg in 1992, and the multilingual "Welcome Your Neighbors" yard sign originated in Harrisonburg in 2016.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Harrisonburg

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Harrisonburg?

Harrisonburg offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Harrisonburg?

Plan your road trip to Harrisonburg with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Harrisonburg as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Harrisonburg located?

Harrisonburg is located in Virginia, United States, North America. The coordinates are 38.4496 latitude, -78.8689 longitude.

What is the population of Harrisonburg?

Harrisonburg has a population of approximately 52,538 people, making it a town in United States.

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Quick Information

Population
52,538
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
Virginia
Timezone
America/New_York
Coordinates
38.4496, -78.8689

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesVirginiaTown

Worth the detour from Harrisonburg

5 notable places within an hour's drive.

national park

Shenandoah National Park

Blue Ridge Mountain beauty along the scenic Skyline Drive with cascading waterfalls and lush forests.

24 km · about 30 min drive

famous road

Skyline Drive

A 169-kilometer ridgetop road through Shenandoah National Park offering 75 scenic overlooks across the Blue Ridge Mountains.

24 km · about 25 min drive

natural wonder

Luray Caverns

The largest and most popular caverns in the eastern US, featuring the Great Stalacpipe Organ and cathedral-sized chambers of formations.

41 km · about 45 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Thorofare Mountain Overlook (Skyline Drive)

One of 75 overlooks along Shenandoah's Skyline Drive, offering views of the Blue Ridge Mountains rolling in misty waves to the horizon.

45 km · about 50 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Stony Man Overlook (Skyline Drive)

The highest viewpoint accessible by car on Skyline Drive, with a short trail to a 4,011-foot summit overlooking the Shenandoah Valley.

46 km · about 55 min drive

Driving roads near Harrisonburg

  • 24 kmSkyline DriveA 169-kilometer ridgetop road through Shenandoah National Park offering 75 scenic overlooks across the Blue Ridge Mountains.
  • 45 kmThorofare Mountain Overlook (Skyline Drive)One of 75 overlooks along Shenandoah's Skyline Drive, offering views of the Blue Ridge Mountains rolling in misty waves to the horizon.
  • 46 kmStony Man Overlook (Skyline Drive)The highest viewpoint accessible by car on Skyline Drive, with a short trail to a 4,011-foot summit overlooking the Shenandoah Valley.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Harrisonburg.

Belmont Estates

🇺🇸 United States

4 km awayPop. 1,263

Massanetta Springs

🇺🇸 United States

6 km awayPop. 4,833

Dayton

🇺🇸 United States

7 km awayPop. 1,588

Bridgewater

🇺🇸 United States

12 km awayPop. 5,889

Massanutten

🇺🇸 United States

12 km awayPop. 2,291

Weyers Cave

🇺🇸 United States

18 km awayPop. 2,473

Broadway

🇺🇸 United States

19 km awayPop. 3,807

Grottoes

🇺🇸 United States

21 km awayPop. 2,758

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence