Explore the Blue Ridge Parkway
Stories from the Road
Tales of Adventure & Natural Wonder
Parkway Stories
December 4, 2017
Written by Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, Alex Armstrong - PARI Special Projects
Stargazing tips from Mt. Mitchell south to Cowee Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Click here for details.
November 27, 2017
Written by Jason Frye for Southern Living
Jason Frye, accompanied by his wife, took the weekend road trip of our dreams, and mapped out the perfect route to follow from Roanoke, Virginia to Asheville, North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway is the prime spot to enjoy fall color in the South, and what better than a road trip that perfectly maps out the must-see spots along the way.
November 27, 2017
Written by Jamie Jensen for Travel + Leisure
America's most iconic drive offers us the opportunity to see the sights from our vehicles, and not just drive them around town.
November 27, 2017
Written by Krista Rossow, on assignment for National Geographic Travel
As a travel photographer, I consider myself a puzzle solver. Despite best-laid plans, there are always elements I can’t anticipate. For example, sometimes I don’t find out about cancellations, closures, or construction until I’m on the ground. But another reliably unpredictable element is the weather. Light is a necessary element to the craft of photography, and I truly believe that there isn’t good or bad light—only appropriate light. There is always a photograph to be had, but you sometimes have to look harder to find your pictures.
November 27, 2017
Written by Christopher Reynolds for Los Angeles Times
Here’s how not to start a road trip. First, at the Alamo rental car counter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport just over the line from Washington, D.C., discover that your driver’s license is missing. Search and swear for two hours. Then find it in your left shoe. Second, when the Holiday Inn clerk asks what brings you to town, tell him you’re kicking off a big fall foliage road trip: all 105 miles of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, then all 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina.
Parkway Itineraries
Some sample Itineraries to get you started
Looping through the Blue Ridge Mountain range, the Claw of the Dragon is one of the most popular destinations in the South among motorcycle enthusiasts.
A two-day trip from Afton Mountain and Rockfish Gap (Milepost 0) to the Peaks of Otter (Milepost 86) and on to Roanoke, the largest metropolitan area on the Parkway, offers plenty of time to experience this region and highlight hiking, including magnificent views of the flora and fauna of Appalachian hardwood forests and sweeping vistas of the Great Valley of Virginia.
A two-day trip along from Roanoke (Milepost 120) South to the Virginia state line (Milepost 216) is highlighted by intensive exposure to the Blue Ridge cultural landscape. The rural experience on the Plateau Region of the Parkway and on adjacent lands highlights mills, music, and agriculture, demonstrating how people have interacted with the landscape over time. The opportunity to camp overnight in two iconic Blue Ridge towns will make this a memorable visit.
A two-day trip through the Parkway's Highlands district reveals the shift from flat plateau to mountain ridges. Find yourself in the rolling pastures of Doughton Park (Milepost 240 – 245) or exploring the Grandfather Mountain corridor (Milepost 295 – 300) or the rugged Linville Gorge (Milepost 317) with a night in North Carolina’s High Country of Boone or Blowing Rock.
A one-day trip through the Pisgah District is a long drive that comes with unique rewards. From Mount Mitchell (Milepost 355.3) to places like Craggy Gardens (Milepost 364.3) and Devil’s Courthouse (Milepost 422.2), you'll experience long vistas across rugged and remote areas, a feel of wilderness, and amazing biodiversity.
