The Blue Ridge Parkway, administered by the National Park Service, winds through the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina for 470 miles, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park on its North Carolina side.
There are no stoplights, and with plenty of campgrounds and lodges, gas stations, restaurants, and camp stores available, you can drive the entire length without ever leaving it.
Along the way, there are many great things to see and do, and we’ve listed several here, arranged from north to south. Stop at one of these gorgeous stops and enjoy the East’s most scenic drive.
1. Humpback Rocks
This is the first major attraction as you head south on the Parkway or the last if you’re traveling north. A short, moderately strenuous trail leads to the top, where there are excellent views of the Shenandoah Valley. Because the trail is short, this makes a good place for sunsets.
2. Otter Creek
A campground and restaurant here make this a popular stop, and it’s a good place to start or end your day. Close by, the road crosses the James River, and this is the lowest elevation along the entire drive, at 649’.
3. Peaks of Otter
This is another popular overnight stop since it has a lodge, campground, restaurant, and store. You can tour an old homestead, hike to the top of Sharp Top for amazing views, and hike the short but highly scenic Fallingwater Cascades Trail.
4. Roanoke River Gorge
The Parkway crosses the Roanoke River here, and the gorge is an impressive sight. It’s not part of the Parkway proper, but you can park at a turnout and hike down into the gorge.
5. Rocky Knob
Here’s another good place to spend the night since there’s camping and lodging available. While there, take the short, easy hike out on Rocky Knob, where there are openings that yield nice views of the valley to the east.
6. Mabry Mill
This is one of the most popular stops on the entire drive. A vintage water-powered mill in perfect working order is the main attraction here. During really cold winters, the water sometimes freezes and the mill’s wheel is draped in huge icicles.
7. Blue Ridge Music Center
This is the last stop in Virginia as you drive south. With concerts, exhibits, and programs, the Center celebrates the history of music in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
8. Doughton Park
You’re in North Carolina now. Here, open meadows dominate, and people like to go to the overlook of historic Brinegar Cabin way down in the hollow (valley) below. Some like to hike all the way down to it. Gas, lodging, camping, dining, and supplies are available here.
9. Cascades Trail
This is a very quick hike in E.B. Jeffress Park that leads to a pretty waterfall. It’s definitely worth the stop since it takes so little time, and picnic tables are available as well.
10. Grandfather Mountain
At 5,890’, Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Parkway runs along its shoulders, but the summit is in a state-run park that’s a quick detour from the Parkway. The mile-high swinging bridge they make a big deal of is a little gimmicky, but the hike to the top of the mountain is scenic and enjoyable.
11. Linn Cove Viaduct
This engineering marvel is one of the most photographed features of the Parkway, and it’s been in countless pictures, calendars, and ads. You’ll drive along it, but you may also want to stop near one of its ends to enjoy its looks.
12. Flat Rock
A few miles south of the Linn Cove Viaduct is a turnoff marked for Flat Rock. From there, an easy trail leads to the aptly named summit, where there’s a spectacular view of Grandfather Mountain. Interpretive signs along the way educate you about the trees and plants you’re passing.
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The World’s 5 Friendliest and 5 Unfriendliest Cities
Some cities welcome visitors and want them to be there. Other cities are rude to visitors and would just as soon see you leave. It can be jarring to be in an unfriendly city, though some of the world’s most enticing cities rank high on the rudeness scale.
When you visit a friendly city, it’s much easier to soak in the culture and meet the locals. Rough Guides readers voted on the cities for their level of friendliness. According to Rough Guides, these are the world’s friendliest and unfriendliest cities.
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