Nestled amidst the majestic peaks of the North Carolina mountains, a winding ribbon of road unfolds, inviting travelers through breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled beauty. The Blue Ridge Parkway, an iconic scenic byway stretching over 450 miles from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stands as a testament to the legacy and vision of its creators.
Created during the Great Depression as a public works project, the Blue Ridge Parkway was carefully designed to provide visitors with a picturesque drive and a park-like environment. Its lead designer, Stanley Abbott, an esteemed landscape architect, drew inspiration from renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, envisioning a road blending with its natural surroundings. Today, the Blue Ridge Parkway reigns as America’s most beloved National Park unit, beckoning millions of visitors annually with its panoramas of the Blue Ridge mountains, forests, and serene scenes. Along its winding path, travelers are treated to many delights, from cascading waterfalls and charming small towns to vineyards, historic sites, and an extensive network of hiking trails.
As one embarks on a virtual tour of this enchanting route, dive into the captivating allure of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic wonder encapsulates North Carolina’s crown jewel of scenic drives and one of the top National Parks in the United States.
How Long Is The Blue Ridge Parkway In North Carolina?
- The Blue Ridge Parkway spans roughly 469 miles and connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
- Along this drive, people will witness the Blue Ridge mountains, forests, and pastoral landscapes, with abundant hiking trails, picnic areas, campgrounds, and interpretive signage.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is much larger than most people realize, spanning 469 miles through two US states. Notably, the scenic parkway brings travelers from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. This route is incredibly popular among nature enthusiasts camping between the two National Park systems and has long been considered one of the country’s crown jewel drives. Furthermore, this scenic parkway provides travelers with a well-paved, well-signed roadway, making driving between the two states fairly straightforward. Most people spend roughly 12.5 hours.
Green summer forest trees in Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia
Again, this route has countless stops, with most tourists making pit stops at each respective town, landmark, or park. North Carolina’s section of this road covers the Great Smokey Mountains, a treasure within the US landscape. Therefore, it might be worth checking out that National Park during the drive, even camping or staying at a hotel nearby. This is not a drive that someone forgets, as it is one of the most stunning in the country.
What Is There To See On The Blue Ridge Parkway Drive? Where Should People Stop?
- Tourists driving this route can’t miss the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.
- There are countless restaurants, hotels, towns, museums, and cultural centers along the way.
While navigating the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and beyond, there are many sights to take in. Generally, people want to make a pit stop at the Great Smokey Mountain National Park in North Carolina and then around that area before heading forward. Virginia’s portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is also very beautiful, so continuing to the next state could be fun.
Blue Ridge Mountain Landscape on the Grassy Ridge spur trail off the Appalachian Trail, located along the borders of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee
Here are a few places that are highly recommended for travelers:
- Cumberland Knob, milepost 217.5.
- Linville Gorge and Falls, milepost 316.3.
- Crabtree Falls, milepost 339.5 – 340.3.
- Mount Mitchell State Park, milepost 355.4.
- Craggy Gardens, milepost 364.4.
- Mt. Pisgah, milepost 408.6.
- Looking Glass Rock, milepost 417.
- Graveyard Fields, milepost 418.8.
- Devil’s Courthouse, milepost 422.4.
- Mount Hardy, milepost 422.8.
- Richland Balsam, milepost 431.
While driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the towns one might see include Asheville, Little Switzerland, Tryon, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, Spruce Pine, Blowing Rock, Brevard, Morgantown, and countless others. Feel free to stop at each place or whichever feels the best. Plenty of lodging, food, gas, and shopping will be provided along the Blue Ridge Parkway. People can take these most scenic hikes near Asheville in North Carolina.
Craggy Gardens is a beautiful stop along North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway.
Can You Drive The Blue Ridge Parkway In One Day?
- It is possible to complete the North Carolina segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway in a day.
- Most people turn this drive into a multi-day trip, stopping at various towns and landmarks.
Smoky Mountains panoramic view from the Blue Ridge Parkway
Although one could finish this drive in a day (12.5+ hours), it’s better done with stops along the way. North Carolina’s section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is known to be incredibly charming and scenic, so speeding through this isn’t what we’d recommend. However, if someone is in a time crunch, navigating this roadway should be at least 12 hours and 30 minutes, with little traffic and no road construction.
Many compare the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive, both being breathtaking.
