Blue Ridge Parkway

States: North Carolina & Virginia
Length: 469 miles / 750.4 km
Time to Allow: Allow 2 to 3 days, depending on the time of year and weather conditions.

The Blue Ridge Parkway starts in Virginia and ends in North Carolina, taking up 469 miles. If you plan to take the entire byway, you will need at least four days to enjoy the trip. On the North Carolina side, the trip takes about 235 miles in the western part of the state near the border of Tennessee, making this an easy trip for surrounding states such as Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina. It’s the longest road planned as a single unit in the US, making one very long park essentially with continuous series of panoramic views and protected scenes.

One unique feature of this byway is mileposts every mile from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia all the way to the Great Smoke Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Keep in mind that while you may see bears on the byway, it’s best to leave them alone and enjoy them from a distance as they are dangerous and unpredictable. Also, check out road closures on America’s Favorite Drive before visiting to check for closures.

If you are looking to go camping, you can find several options with hiking, boating, fishing, visitor centers, and more. In the North Carolina section, the best campgrounds are at Rocky Knob with bathrooms, campfire circles, picnic, tent, and RV sites. Another favorite is at Crabtree falls, with tons of sights and three waterfalls near the town of Little Switzerland. For more seclusion, choose the Mount Pisgah campground with an elevation of almost 5,000 feet!

The first big attraction along the scenic byways is the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park at milepost 294. Check out guided tours on the weekend of the manor and bass lake or go horseback riding nearby; you can even check out a couple of gorgeous trails. Next, head to milepost 304 for the Linn Cove Viaduct, where the bridge curves over the mountain for iconic views. A visitors’ shop and small museum offer information as well as much-needed bathrooms.

Next, just a few miles away at milepost 316, sits Linville Falls, a hidden waterfall that makes for a nice day hike. A small visitors center and gift shop round out the short trip. If you want to stop for the day, stay at the Linville Falls Campground right along the river above the waterfall for epic views and soothing sounds ready to help you sleep.

After, move to milepost 355.4 to Mount Mitchell that sits over six thousand feet above sea level. It makes up part of the Southern Sixers chain of Appalachian mountains and has a state part with all the amenities. Continue down through the state to mile marker 364 to the Craggy Gardens for meadows filled with flowers. At milepost 408 sits Mount Pisgah with lodging, restaurants, scenic overlooks, and impressive elevations. Next, at milepost 431, visit Richland Balsam Overlook, the highest point on the parkway, before ending your trip at Waterrock Knob at milepost 451. Check out the mountain and visit the local shops before making it to the final mile marker for some more beautiful views.