The Blue Ridge Parkway begins where Skyline Drive ends in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. It runs 217 miles from Anton to the border with North Carolina near Roanoke, before continuing farther to the southwest into the Smoky Mountains in far western Carolina; 469 miles in all. It is very similar to Skyline Drive, but offers somewhat higher peaks and and more astounding long vistas of blue tinged valleys from overlooks along the route. Still, if you love this part of the Appalachians, you really owed it to yourself to continue the excursion at least partially down the twisting crest hugging blacktop for as long as you wish. We were able to do more rock scrambling there than farther north, and the adventure quotient was that much more challenging. Too, we had a decent map of the secondary roads, and turned off the Parkway to return via unpaved single lane gravel tracks that took us deeper into the vales and hollows where the locals live and work the land. I imaged hearing banjo and bluegrass as we passed crystal flowing streams and cascading boulder diverted waterfalls. Perfect soundtrack to our personal travelogue. Those fifty miles were the most exciting. At first a little nervous being somewhere we might not be found, we gradually found some confidence as our car trekked the forest road well, and the one pickup we met along the way courteously pulled out of our way to let us pass, with a smile and wave. Pennsylvania has the Allegheny Mountains, the northern continuation of the Blue Ridge. They are rugged and beautiful in their own right, but lack the focus demanded from a challenging drive on mountain roads dedicated to letting travelers discover their intense magnetism. Spend enough time under their spell and you will swear you underwent a near religious experience. read more

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The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most visited National Parks, 469 miles of twisty road from Waynesboro, VA to Cherokee, NC. It's a gorgeous drive or bicycle ride, with a lot of elevation changes and tons of pretty vistas. There are numerous visitor centers along the way to stop and rest, and if you like this type of drive, you will be rewarded with an interesting drive. It's also a springboard to many hiking opportunities, with numerous trail heads along the road. It's beautiful at any time of the year, from the colorful autumn colors to the burst of wildflowers in spring, to the icy beauty in the winter, and the cooler temperatures in the summer. An awesome drive! read more

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Great , scenic road with hikes just off the road . The best part is that it's free! I highly recommend ! Take your time , enjoy the scenery , and drive carefully. read more

I hadn't been here since I was a kid. It was an amazing drive and the scenery was magnificent. We were originally going to take 81 down to TN, but decided that since we didn't have anywhere to be today before check in at the hotel, we would go this way for awhile. It is a great break from the interstate and the typical road hypnosis you get on 81. The trails are a nice break and give you a little workout. The visitor center on the north end that we stopped at was cozy and the staff member was very helpful and informative. I can't wait to drive the other couple hundred miles the next time we get down here. read more

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I was honestly expecting more. The road's in pretty bad shape in parts. I did the entire length in 3 days, and preferred the VA side. The NC side has more elevation and is certainly more scenic because of it (parts are breathtaking) , VA more "civilized". Has good hiking trails throughout. Speeds can get challenging for the timid driver. Wiser to pull over and let the speed demons pass. Hogging the road is not a great idea here. VA speeds much easier to maintain. It's gorgeous, but watch the potholes. Personally, I prefer Skyline Drive. I went October 17-20, great time for a midweight touch of color; not yet full-blast. In hindsight, would be smarter to go North to South. Leaves change at a different time each year - was just really warm; I hear last year they were gone much earlier. Glassmine Falls were not falling - I guess they dried up as there wasn't any rain. I was looking forward to this drive very much - perhaps overexcited a touch? I'm happy I did it, but am unlikely to do it again. As opposed to Skyline Drive, which I do several times a year. Then again, maybe it was just mountain overload. It gets repetitive; and I often found myself going on out of pure stubbornness - I said I'd do it and I'll do it. Perhaps a more flexible approach would make it more enjoyable. Star removed for the potholes. Some of them are BAD, and that's not good on a mountain road. Just sayin'. Go mid-week if you can. Weekends are crazy. read more

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The Blue ridge parkway in Waynesboro, Virginia is a beautiful place to visit . The light breeze and the scent of nature makes it even more appealing. If you appreciate nature and beautiful views , then you will enjoy the blue ridge parkway. read more

Blue Ridge Parkway - Parks Near Me

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic mountain highway that runs from the southern entrance of the Skyline Drive, in Afton, Virginia, to the eastern entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Cherokee, North Carolina. In addition to the overlooks, gift shops, restaurants, picnic areas, and the hotel at the Peaks of Otter, be sure to visit Mabry Mill (a functioning watermill), and Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain peak in mainland eastern North America, while traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I end this review with bit of touristy wisdom. Make sure you have enough gas in your motor vehicle while visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway, because regular unleaded at a filling station on the Parkway is a bit pricey. Also, if entering/exiting the Parkway, from one of the smaller winding mountain roads, drive slowly. read more

an amazing landscape of winding road mixed with nature set thousands of feet above sea level read more

Blue Ridge Parkway - so high man - Parks Near Me