Harrisonburg is pleasant year-round, but the best time to visit is May–June or September–October. Spring brings the valley into flower; autumn foliage in the Blue Ridge — visible from downtown on clear days — is among the best in the eastern United States. The October colour in Shenandoah National Park is exceptional and draws large crowds to Skyline Drive.
Summer is fine: warm but not oppressive by mid-Atlantic standards, and the Valley is green. Winters are cold with occasional snow but rarely severe. The university calendar shapes the city's energy — it is most lively when school is in session (September through early May) and quieter through the summer.