How to Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic roadway that extends for 469 miles from Rockfish Gap in Virginia to the Oconaluftee River Valley south of Asheville, North Carolina. The parkway follows the Blue Ridge Mountain range and is a part of the U.S. National Park System and is federally maintained. The parkway was specifically designed for scenic travel, and as such, it avoids passing directly through major towns or crossing interstate highways. It is the most often visited part of America's National Park System.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Before You Go

1. Plan your trip methodically. Study the map, and book your overnight stays well in advance. Motels and Bed and Breakfast facilities near the parkway sell out quickly, especially during the Autumn and around major holidays. By the same token, note areas of the parkway that are close to towns where you will be able to get gas.
2. Plan to stop frequently. The point of driving the parkway is to enjoy the scenery. There are parking areas near the best vistas. Take the time to stop an enjoy them, so that you can concentrate on driving while you are on the road.
3. If you are driving an RV or other large vehicle check the tunnel heights (see link) in the areas where you will be driving to avoid a very unpleasant surprise. There are a total of 26 tunnels along the entire route, most in North Carolina.
4. Verify that your car is in good working order. While the parkway is not extremely remote, service stations are not located along the road itself.
5. Exercise caution about traveling the parkway in winter. Ice and snow can build up quickly in the higher elevations. Check reports of road closures on the internet before heading out each day.

What to See

6. Focus on the North Carolina segment for the most spectacular scenery. The elevations are much higher in NC than in VA, and the areas near Blowing Rock and further south in the Smoky Mountains offer some very impressive views.
7. Go in the Fall to see the changing leaves. The mountains are covered in brilliant colors that will not be soon forgotten. Expect a lot of traffic however, as this is the most popular time to visit. At times the cars will crawl along slowly, but this just gives you more time to enjoy the view. The peak is generally in late October, but it varies depending on the particular area and elevation you are visiting, so check before you go.
8. Plan to drive over the Linn Cove Viaduct at Grandfather Mountain. Not only are the views amazing, but the viaduct itself is a very impressive feat of architecture, and is considered to be one of the most complex concrete structures in the world.
9. Stop at Linville Falls, which is just a mile or two south of the Linn Cove Viaduct. The falls are actually comprised of several waterfalls that cut down through Linville Gorge. There are several trails, some steeper than others, leading to the upper and lower sections. There is also a visitors center with restrooms.
10. Be sure not to miss the many views of Looking Glass Rock in the Pisgah National Forest. This natural stone monolith dramatically catches the sunlight as it towers over the valley below with a peak that is nearly 4000 above sea level. Looking Glass Rock can be seen directly form the parkway. There is also a hiking trail to the peak, and it is a popular rock climbing site.
11. Visit Mt. Mitchell State Park. The 6,000-foot mountain is the highest point in the U.S. east of the Missisippi. There is a parking lot and visitors center at the summit as well as an observation tower. There are also a variety of hiking trails of varying difficulty.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch your brakes, especially if you are driving a large vehicle. The hills can be steep, and constantly riding the breaks will burn them up.