Linn Cove Viaduct
A graceful S-curved bridge around the side of Grandfather Mountain, the parkway's engineering masterpiece.
Blue Ridge Parkway
America's favorite drive: 469 miles of mountain views along the crest of the Appalachians, without a stoplight or a billboard.
The Blue Ridge Parkway winds 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, the most visited unit of the National Park System. Begun in the Depression, it was designed for slow driving, with overlooks, stone bridges and tunnels.
Fall color climbs down the ridges in October, and rhododendrons bloom in June. Old mountain farms, mills and music venues lie along the way.
- Best Time
- May to October; peak color in October
- Time Needed
- 1–5 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round; sections close for weather
- Getting There
- Join at Waynesboro, Virginia, at the north end, or Cherokee, North Carolina, at the south.
What to See
4 of 4 are freeMabry Mill
The much-photographed 1908 water-powered mill in Virginia, with a restaurant serving buckwheat pancakes.
Craggy Gardens
High rhododendron balds north of Asheville, spectacular in June.
Peaks of Otter
Hikes and a lakeside lodge near the Virginia section's midpoint.
Know Before You Go
- Some sections have been closed by storms and repairs since Hurricane Helene in 2024, so check the park's road map before you go.
- The speed limit is 45 mph at most, and there are no gas stations on the road itself.
- Parts close in winter for snow and ice.
Where to Stay
Stay in Asheville, Blowing Rock or Roanoke, or at parkway lodges.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
Must-SeeGreat Smoky Mountains
North Carolina and Tennessee
America's most visited national park: misty ridges and old-growth forest.
Full Guide
Worth a DetourShenandoah National Park
Virginia
Skyline Drive runs 105 miles along the Blue Ridge, with waterfalls and summit views just off the road.
Full Guide
If You're NearbyCharlottesville and Monticello
Virginia
Jefferson's hilltop home and university, surrounded by Virginia wine country.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Southeast list.