"Nice area to take a dip! The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile journey through the Blue Ridge Mountains, connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Weather, road status, operating hours, permits and reservations, and more. Waterrock Knob (Milepost 451) The grand finale of our Blue Ridge Parkway adventure is Waterrock Knob. It's drive in the clouds . It’s also possibly the most majestic of the entire route, and certainly packed with the most cool towns to visit if such a thing is on your to do list while weaving through these Blue Ridge Mountains. LAUREL SPRINGS — Blue Ridge Parkway travelers can once again enjoy a home-style meal at The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park beginning Saturday, Aug. 22. Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Milepost 384. A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The restaurant is located within Doughton Park at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Autumn colors coming to life. All campgrounds have potable water, comfort stations with flush toilets and sinks, and a dump station for recreational vehicles. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is seeking a partner to operate The Bluffs Restaurant starting this spring and continuing through fall. The shelves of this Trading Post are full of local color, home-crafted by talented Blue Ridge Mountain … The greens of spring returning to the mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. Severe weather can cause temporary closures along the Parkway. Blue Ridge Parkway RV camping offers nonstop activities or peaceful seclusion. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a uniquely motorized experience, so there’s no surprise that the classic Parkway visit is a day trip that includes a roadside picnic. Construction for the Blue Ridge Parkway began on September 11, 1935, near Cumberland Knob in North Carolina. This adjustable hat features an embroidered Blue Ridge Parkway logo. CAMPING SEASON. The visitor center has a 50’ long map of the Parkway displayed on a wall and a staff of … Our Top 10 list covers the most popular attractions and sites, as well as a few lesser known places where you can take in amazing views of the mountain scenery. The beloved former coffee shop at milepost 241 on the Parkway is reopening a decade after closing its doors. A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. When you are seeking total nirvana in the best of Americana, it’s gotta be the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you are visiting any of the national parks on this guide, or any of the other 2,000 federal registered sites in the US, we highly, highly recommend purchasing an ‘America the Beautiful’ pass that lasts for 1 year and grants you admission to all registered sites. Here’s our Top 10 list of the best attractions on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Maggie Valley and Asheville, NC. 156 reviews. Download the free Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Planner for your smart phone. It also has a small zipper pocket to keep small important items with you while hiking or exploring the Parkway. At Milepost 294, you can visit Flat Top Manor, once the home of Moses and Bertha Cone. This Blue Ridge Parkway features many convenient access points along its 469 miles route. Look for more webcams here in the future! Between these two points, there are several major attractions, which should be the focal points in your itinerary. A third, the Bluffs Lodge , was closed in 2011 and most likely will never reopen due to advanced deterioration. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 441 on the boundary between Great Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway meanders for 469 miles through the hills, mountains, and pastoral landscapes of the Southern Appalachian Highlands. Travelers can continue from Skyline Drive south onto the Blue Ridge Parkway to begin at Parkway Milepost 0 in Virginia. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for 469 miles through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is typically open from May until the end of October, though the official opening and closing dates change each year. At the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Cherokee, North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park connects to the borders of the … This nearly 500-mile meander has it's own set of rules and challenges. The Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive connects to the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. It’s one of the best stops along the parkway, and the Doughton Park Campground gives you the chance to wake up to it. It runs mostly along the spine of the Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains. The park rises above the Virginia Piedmont to its east and the Shenandoah Valley to its west. Works Project Administration crews completed some of the early road construction, landscaping and recreation area development. We offer full hookups, paved sites, laundry, and a heated pool from May 15-September 15. www.ashevillebearcreek.com or (800) 833 … The hike up to the 6,273 ’ summit offers a 360-degree view of federally protected national forests and the majestic Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Take a road trip with National Parks at Night. The Blue Ridge Parkway is as much about the people around it as it is about the scenery and parkway architecture. The Blue Ridge Parkway Guide is a privately owned website authored by Joe Veler and Sarah Cooke, who began work on the site after discovering their shared love of the Parkway. This pastoral mountain road is actually a series of parks that stretches nearly 500 miles between the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Park, making it one of the most unique and breathtakingly gorgeous journeys any traveler could hope to experience. The Parkway travels along the crests of the Blue Ridge Mountains through 29 counties in North Carolina and Virginia. Highlights on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia. Together these parks make up the largest… Read more. As you travel the Parkway today,… The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special. The 600 acre E. B. Jeffress Park is much smaller than the typical recreation area along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it has some of the nicest features of any park you will find. From speed limits to weather, tunnels to tight turns, it's best to be prepared for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Showers are available at Julian Price and Mount Pisgah campgrounds. Your first stop for parkway information, maps, and touring recommendations. 199 Hemphill Knob Rd ... first served basis. This Blue Ridge Parkway map indicates the many convenient access points in the Roanoke Valley in Virginia's Blue Ridge. This hat is made of durable 100% cotton and is available in three colors, olive, navy, and khaki. We drove all the way to Graveyard Fields (Milepost 418), and while we saw very few people, we really didn’t notice any significant difference. The hiking is abundant and the vistas are incredible. Bear Creek RV Park – Year-round availability just minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Explore some of the Parkway's hiking trails. Blue Ridge Parkway road trip National Parks Pass. This Blue Ridge park spans about 7,000 acres and includes picnic areas, campgrounds, an official Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center, two historic cabins, and a collection of beautiful mountain streams. In total, the Blue Ridge Parkway runs for 469 miles from Skyline Drive and Rockfish Gap, Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee. It is America’s longest National Parks Service unit. Crabtree Falls Campground is one of eight campgrounds on the Blue Ridge Parkway that is operated by the National Park Service. Code Key The Blue Ridge Parkway patch is 3 in diameter. Exit at Milepost 393.6 and take Highway 191 North. We offer full hookups, paved sites, laundry, and a heated pool from May 15-September 15. www.ashevillebearcreek.com or (800) 833-0798 for more information. In addition to the TRACK Trail, another fun and exciting program for youth to do on the Blue Ridge Parkway is the Junior Ranger program! Best part you park right at … 28803. Sleep under the stars at one of the parkway's eight campgrounds. Past the bathrooms and down the trail the path takes you until you reach a series of steps, the a bridge that crosses Falls Creek which is part of the water for the Cascades waterfall. At the top the views are simply amazing especially after you cross the board of Asheville Watershed begins. The night is falling, and the road is calling. En route, it passes through Jefferson … Located just outside Asheville, this is the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center. This exhibit brings together stories of the history, evolution, and current status of several of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s iconic “recreation areas” — places like Mt. The occasional snowfall. The list runs from north to south: MP 0 in Virginia to MP 469 in North Carolina (MP stands for Mile Post). Be sure to visit the Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway for lists of the park’s “must see” stops and attractions. Blue Ridge Parkway Map. The Blue Ridge Parkway road trip experience provides visitors with regional history, mountain culture, and outdoor activities like hiking and camping. Julian Price Memorial Park lies directly adjacent to Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Hiking, bicycling, concerts, picnicking, and camping...It's all here. Peaks of Otter, operated by the National Park Service, is located at Milepost 85 on the Blue Ridge Parkway between the Piedmont to the east, and the Shenandoah Valley with the Allegheny Mountains to the west. It is a part of the Virtual Blue Ridge Network, which aims to share the Parkway experience with long-distance viewers and to enhance it for visitors and residents. Blue Ridge Parkway Motorcycle Tours; Blue Ridge Parkway Photo Gallery; Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway officially begins in Virginia, just after Skyline Drive leaves Shenandoah National Park. The largest recreational area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Doughton Park is filled with scenery and activities. 241.1: Doughton Park. Visit the top attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC. The Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is 217 miles (349 kilometers) long. Asheville, NC Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway in Fall General FAQs About the Blue Ridge Parkway. Additionally, it is renowned for excellent wildlife watching and has a diverse collection of trees to enjoy in spring (flowers) and fall (foliage). about Enjoy A Virtual Tour Of Flat Top Manor On The Blue Ridge Parkway. This adjustable hat features an embroidered Blue Ridge Parkway logo. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains from Waynesboro, Virginia, to Cherokee, North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park with Great Smoky Mountains National Park.The Parkway is open to … This is a Documentary that Andy Lockett and I worked on for 10 years. View maps of the park and get traffic and travel tips. Unlike the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway is free throughout its length. A drive along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is literally a trip through time. Blue Ridge Parkway Camping: Campendium has 38 reviews of 8 Campgrounds in Blue Ridge Parkway. From there, the road winds another 200 miles south before reaching North Carolina. Blue Ridge Parkway Patch: Display your love for a national park on your jacket, hat or tote. Parkway drive is always be memorable.. One of its kind." Rocky Knob is the last campground directly on the parkway in Virginia, though additional private parks such as Fancy Gap-Blue Ridge Parkway KOA are still to be had before we cross the border into North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway patch is 3 in diameter. 6. The Parkway is 469 miles long and the experience of the drive can vary throughout the year. Terms & Conditions 258.6: Northwest Trading Post. Check for current closures. Current schedule of campground seasonal dates. The open meadows of this park are some of the best locations along the Parkway for viewing wildlife, and the area is rich in preserved Appalachian history. 129 reviews of Blue Ridge Parkway "The ride is not to be missed. READ MORE: The Best NC State Parks in the North Carolina Mountains. The Johnson Farm, a mountain farmstead established in 1767 by Thomas Wood and then purchased by John T. Johnson in 1852, exists today much as it did in the 1930’s. In fact, E.B. Located at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Asheville Visitor Center (Milepost 384), the TRACK Trail offers four self-guided adventures for kids of all ages. Shenandoah National Park includes 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians. The 600 acre E. B. Jeffress Park is much smaller than the typical recreation area along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it has some of the nicest features of any park you will find. This beautiful drive from Grandfather Mountain exit to Asheville is breathtaking. ... States with RV Parks Arizona California Colorado Florida Georgia New Mexico Oregon Texas Utah Washington; RV PARKS VIEW ALL Best RV Parks – 2020 Campers Choice Awards The Best RV Resort in Each State. When the sun fades, we’ll bring our cameras along the 469-mile ribbon of national parkland that stretches atop mountain ridges, through farming communities, past historic cabins and mills, alongside meadows and more, while the stars and moon gently shine on the great blacktop river … Parks to the Side is a web exhibit created by the students in the Fall 2014 version of Dr. Anne Whisnant’s History 671, Introduction to Public History, course at UNC-Chapel Hill. It is a part of the Virtual Blue Ridge Network, which aims to share the Parkway experience with long-distance viewers and to enhance it for visitors and residents. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 296.7: Price Park A majestic 4,200 acres at the foot of Grandfather Mountain named in honor of Julian Price comprises this popular park. National Park Trips independently sources all of the products that we feature. The parkway, whose headquarters are in Asheville, had 14.1 million recreational visits, pushing it past the Golden Gate Recreational area for […] Construction on the Parkway began near Cumberland Knob in North Carolina in September 1935. There may be no better place to do it than on one of America’s favorite roads, the Blue Ridge Parkway. This exhibit brings together stories of the history, evolution, and current status of several of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s iconic “recreation areas” — places like Mt. Blue Ridge Parkway Patch: Display your love for a national park on your jacket, hat or tote. The Blue Ridge Parkway is part of the National Park Service and is known as America's Favorite Scenic Drive. Watch it all on the new webcam at The Bluffs Restaurant at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Sparta, North Carolina. The final official Blue Ridge Parkway campground on our tour will take us another 69.1 miles down the parkway, and leave us around 60 miles shy of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Bear Creek RV Park – Year-round availability just minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway. This hat is made of durable 100% cotton and is available in three colors, olive, navy, and khaki. The Blue Ridge Parkway reclaimed the title as most-visited national park in 2020, as cooped up people found refuge in the scenic road that twists and turns for 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia. Jeffress Park on the North Carolina section of the Parkway honors the NC highway official that lobbied against making it a toll road. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is seeking a partner to operate The Bluffs Restaurant starting this spring and continuing through fall. While The Blue Ridge Parkway is officially closed, it is accessible and you can drive on it. The map combines both the Blue Ridge Parkway with Skyline Drive inside Shenandoah National Park to cover almost 600 miles of scenic driving. A Parkway Motoring Primer. It also has a small zipper pocket to keep small important items with you while hiking or exploring the Parkway. In 2015, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation provided funding to pave the Abbott Lake Loop Trail, making it the first complete wheelchair accessible trail on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pisgah, Linville Falls, Doughton Park, Cumberland Knob, Rocky Knob, and Mabry Mill. Plan your trip along the Parkway. The Blue Ridge Parkway Guide is a privately owned website authored by Joe Veler and Sarah Cooke, who began work on the site after discovering their shared love of the Parkway. Purchase the detailed National Geographic Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Map at REI.com or Amazon.com. And we will be there, driving and photographing America’s greatest scenic byway. The National Park Service on Tuesday implemented a mask requirement for employees and visitors of all NPS buildings and U. S. national parks. EB Jeffress Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway Cascade Falls Trail Looking for an easy hike, with great views, my Faithful Hiking Companion suggested EB Jeffress Park at MP 272 on the Blue Ridge Parkway....and it turned out to be two great hikes that anyone can take with some really great views Access detailed information for the Parkway's four major regions (Ridge, Plateau, Highlands and Pisgah) as well as information for connecting regions including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region (located near the Parkway's southern end) and the Shenandoah National Park region (near the Parkway's … A picnic area with a few dozen tables sits overlooking the mountains, and the Cascades Trail leads to one of the best waterfalls on the northern half of the Parkway. That includes the Blue Ridge Parkway … Exit at Milepost 393.6 and take Highway 191 North. Access to visitor centers, picnicking, and other such activities is also free. The Parkway connects Shenandoah National Park, near Waynesboro, VA (Milepost 0) with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Cherokee, NC (Milepost 469). According to preliminary data, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway was the most-visited of all 423 national parks in 2020. The Parkway's eight campgrounds are open from May through late October, weather permitting. There are two historic lodges currently operating on the Blue Ridge Parkway: the Peaks of Otter Lodge and Pisgah Inn, which was recently renovated and is the most modern of the two. Fourteen major picnic areas line the route, often situated by scenic streams and lofty vantage points. Speed The Parkway speed limit is 45, with occasional areas of 35 mph, and limits of 25 mph in some congested pedestrian areas. A picnic area with a few dozen tables sits overlooking the mountains, and the Cascades Trail leads to one of the best waterfalls on the northern half of the Parkway. Other Area Resources, While we cannot guarantee all of our information is correct, we always do our best. The Blue Ridge Parkway has been the #1 most visited unit of the US National Park system for 70 of the past 74 years. The Parkway headquarters is located next door. Enjoy A Virtual Tour Of Flat Top Manor On The Blue Ridge Parkway. The following is a master list of pullouts, overlooks, and attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The 469-mile ribbon of road weaves around the peaks of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains connecting Shenandoah National Park (Virginia) and Great Smoky Mountains National Park … Trail head starts off at the E.B.Jeffress Park overlook at milepost 271.9 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Morganton Point Recreation Area. The parkway is a National Scenic Byway maintained by the National Park Service, and comprises 469 miles of infinite photo opportunities. The Blue Ridge Parkway’s Asheville Visitor Center TRACK Trail was the first TRACK Trail we installed (August 29th, 2009). It runs from Rockfish Gap at the entrance of Shenandoah National Park southward to the North Carolina border.. 5. The restaurant is located within Doughton Park at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. In 1935, Cumberland Knob was the site where construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began. BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY IN VA. Thanks to a new 3D virtual tour of Flat Top Manor along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the historical home at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is accessible year-round. We encourage you, the Parkway Traveler, to help us in this endeavor and welcome you to, suggest changes, corrections, and additions. This scenic road passes through many popular points of interest in the region and can be easily reached from a variety of locations.