The Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Our home is in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, a region known for the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, the Shenandoah River, rolling farmland and breathtaking views. Only two hours from Washington, D.C., JMU's 675-acre campus is situated in the city of Harrisonburg, a safe, friendly community with a diverse population of approximately 42,000. Getting here is a cinch, with several major airports within a short driving distance and plenty of transportation options to get you to and from school.

We have four distinct seasons with average daytime temperatures ranging from 33 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) in January to 82 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) in July. Snow in the winter and sunshine in the summer mean we have a little of everything. There are ski slopes, trails for biking, rivers for fishing and forests for camping. And on any given evening, you can choose between home-cooked southern-fried chicken, an edgy coffee shop, live music in a bar or ethnic cuisine.

JMU students explore downtown Harrisonburg
Explore Harrisonburg

What's cool in and around the 'Burg?

The great outdoors, sports and recreation, a piece of history, high art and plenty of fun destinations downtown and around Harrisonburg — it's all here.

While you're arranging your schedule, be sure to save plenty of time for your visit to James Madison University. The heart of our institution is our students — more than 21,000 strong. Sporting purple and gold most days, they drive the activity of our vibrant campus.

Visitors are always welcome at JMU!

Students enjoy a downtown restaurant
Catch the Dukes' Top Ten!
#1 The Quad
#2 Blue Hole and Shenandoah River
#3 Homecoming and JMU Football
Massanutten & Reddish Knob
#5 Klines' Ice Cream
#6 The GreenValley Book Fair
#7 The food at D-Hall
#8 The Arboretum
#9 A hug from Duke Dog
#10 Friendly faculty and lifelong relationships

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