National Parkway and All-American Road, noted for its scenic beauty, is America's longest linear park, running 469 miles (755 km) through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
General Information
March to April: 7am to 8pm
May to August: 7am to 10pm
September to October: 7am to 9pm
Closed Christmas Day
How to Get There
Head east on S Pack Square toward S Market St. Turn left onto S Market St. Turn right onto College St. At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on College St. Turn left onto NC-694 N/Town Mountain Rd. Turn left onto Blue Ridge Pkwy. Turn left onto NC-128
Overview
The Blue Ridge Parkway is America's longest linear park — a 469-mile scenic drive through Virginia and North Carolina linking Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, running mostly along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There's no fee to drive it, and it's been the most-visited unit in the entire National Park System nearly every year since 1946: frequent pull-offs and overlooks, no direct interstate interchanges, and a top speed limit of 45 mph make the drive itself the destination rather than a way to get somewhere fast.
Mileposts run from 0 at the Virginia end near Waynesboro to 469 at the North Carolina end near Cherokee. The road isn't maintained in winter, and high-elevation sections and tunnels often close from late fall through early spring, so check conditions before a cold-weather trip.
Highlights in Virginia
Humpback Rock (Mile 5.8)
A self-guided trail through historic Appalachian farm buildings, with a steeper hike up to a rock outcrop for sweeping valley views.
Peaks of Otter (Mile 84–87)
A trio of mountain peaks with trails and a lodge; a shuttle bus runs to Sharp Top for panoramic views.
Mabry Mill (Mile 176.1)
A picturesque water-powered gristmill and sawmill, with old-time craft demonstrations in summer and fall.
Blue Ridge Music Center (Mile 213)
Concerts and a museum near Galax dedicated to the region's old-time and bluegrass music traditions.
Highlights in North Carolina
Doughton Park (Mile 238.5–244.7)
One of the parkway's largest recreation areas, with miles of hiking trails, a campground, and a lodge.
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park (Mile 292–295)
Flat Top Manor, the former home of textile magnate Moses Cone, now houses the Parkway Craft Center, surrounded by trails.
Linn Cove Viaduct (Mile 304.4)
The parkway's signature engineering feat, curving around the face of Grandfather Mountain; a visitor center and trail run beneath it.
Linville Falls (Mile 316.3)
Trails lead to overlooks of the falls and the dramatic Linville Gorge.
Mount Mitchell State Park (Mile 355.4)
Reached via a short side road (NC 128), this is the highest point east of the Mississippi River.
Craggy Gardens (Mile 363.4–369.6)
Purple rhododendron blankets these highland balds in mid-to-late June.
Folk Art Center & Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (Mile 382–384)
Near Asheville — traditional Appalachian crafts at the Folk Art Center, and parkway history exhibits at the Visitor Center.
Mount Pisgah (Mile 408.6)
Once part of the Biltmore Estate, now home to the Pisgah Inn and trails with views over Pisgah National Forest.
Devil's Courthouse (Mile 422.4)
A rugged, exposed mountaintop rich in Cherokee tradition, with a short but steep trail to the summit.
Waterrock Knob (Mile 451.2)
A visitor center and trail with panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains, near the parkway's southern end.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Blue Ridge Parkway", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
