Virginia and North Carolina
Blue Ridge Parkway
About this scenic drive
The Parkway is a 469 mile road built for the drive itself, with no commercial traffic, no billboards and a 45 mph limit for its whole length. This line covers the long Virginia and northern North Carolina run from Rockfish Gap down to Asheville. Everything is measured in mileposts, starting at zero where the Parkway leaves Skyline Drive. Campgrounds, overlooks and visitor centers are all identified by milepost rather than by exit, which takes a day to get used to and then makes perfect sense.
Rockfish Gap south to Asheville along the spine of the Blue Ridge, past the Peaks of Otter.
Highlights
What earns the trip
- Peaks of Otter, one of the classic Parkway stops, near milepost 86
- The Blue Ridge Music Center at milepost 213, with live traditional music in season
- Mabry Mill, the most photographed building on the road
- Nine developed campgrounds spaced along the route
Stops
- 1
Rockfish Gap
Milepost 0, where the Parkway begins at Skyline Drive.
- 2
Peaks of Otter
Lodge, lake and campground around milepost 86.
- 3
Blue Ridge Music Center
Milepost 213, at the Virginia and North Carolina line.
- 4
Asheville
The largest town on the route, near milepost 382.
When to go
Best time to go
Mid October for fall color, which moves down the ridge over several weeks. Sections close for ice in winter.
Planner estimate for the mapped line: 26h 23m
Before you go
Know before you go
- The speed limit is 45 mph and lower in places. Plan roughly two days for this segment, not one.
- Tunnel clearances in North Carolina restrict tall rigs. Check the posted heights before committing.
- Fuel is not sold on the Parkway. Exit to a town before you get low.
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