For 470 miles, the Blue Ridge Parkway, administered by the National Park Service, winds through the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park on its North Carolina side.
There’s not a single stoplight, 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 a lot of great things to see and do, and we’ve listed several here, arranged from north to south.
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.
13. Linville Falls
At this location, the quiet Linville River narrows dramatically and then plunges over a high drop and races away through the rugged Linville Gorge. Trails lead the overlooks of the falls and also down to the base, appropriately named Plunge Basin.
14. Museum of North Carolina Minerals
This area is rich in mineral resources and mining history. Hands-on interactive exhibits help visitors learn about the geological history of the Blue Ridge and about the region’s mining history and legacy.
15. Crabtree Falls
Crabtree Meadows is a busy spot since it offers dining and camping. A moderately strenuous trail there leads to Crabtree Falls, one of the prettiest waterfalls along the Parkway.
16. Mount Mitchell State Park
Mount Mitchell, 6,684’ in elevation, is the highest peak east of the Mississippi. A short spur road from the Parkway gets you there. The summit is mostly tree-covered, but there’s an observation platform that allows for 360-degree views. The park also has a restaurant and a small campground.
17. Craggy Gardens
The easy trails here yield excellent views of the surrounding mountains, but that’s not the main attraction here. Instead, it’s the profuse blooms of azaleas and rhododendrons that take place around late May each year.
18. Folk Art Center
This spot is close to Asheville, the largest North Carolina town that the Parkway passes by or close to. The Center’s purpose is to highlight traditional and contemporary arts and crafts of the Appalachian region.
19. Graveyard Fields
It’s unusual to see mostly open areas in these mountains, but that’s what you get here. Hundreds of years ago, powerful winds knocked down most of the trees here, and people thought the remaining stumps looked like gravestones, hence the name. In the 1900s, two fires ruined the soil here, making the regrowth process very slow. Today, a loop trail through the area takes you to two pretty waterfalls.
20. Devils Courthouse
This is a large rock outcrop right by a pullout. It makes for a good picture, but you can also take a short, easy trail to the top and enjoy the views.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
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.
Leave a Reply