Location
James Madison University is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, within a 2 hour drive southwest of Washington, D.C. The city of Harrisonburg is a safe, attractive community in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Harrisonburg is a growing city with a diverse population of approximately 42,000 that boasts many attractions including museums, shopping, skiing, golf, caverns, farmer's markets, concerts, movie theaters and many restaurants.
The university's 472-acre campus, one of the most beautiful in the country, offers a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. In this western region of the state of Virginia, there are four distinct seasons with average temperatures ranging from 33F (0 C) in January to 82F (27 C) in July. There is below-freezing weather and snow in winter and daytime high temperatures above 90F (32 C) in mid-summer.
Most international students travel to JMU by flying to Dulles International Airport-Washington, D.C., and driving west via Interstate 66, then south on Interstate 81 to exit 245. Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport is also located within a 15 minute drive from the university campus.