The Blue Ridge Parkway isn't technically a National Park, but it might as well be. It connects two National Parks (Shenandoah and the Great Smoky Mountains) together and the parkway itself is the most visited unit controlled by the National Parks System. Each year, more people drive along its roads than visit the Grand Canyon. True fact. People flock to it with good reason, though...it's pretty gorgeous. Plus, there's tons to see and do along the way. Here's a few highlights to see along the way.
Bellport, New York, United States
Parksburg Rd, Parkesburg, Pennsylvania United States
Whether you're starting or ending the trip in Shenandoah, the park's Skyline Drive is one of the most unforgettably epic parts of the trip.
Front Royal, VA, US
The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of pure beauty. It all begins in Front Royal, Virginia, and runs all the way down to Cherokee, North Carolina.
While you're in Front Royal, stop by the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center and head out on a hike across from the Parkway. You can visit Fox Hollow and Snead Farm, and you'll pass by an historic graveyard. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the local area's history.
75 miles outside Washington D.C., the pristine 200,000 miles of Shenandoah National Park wait to be explored! Shenandoah National Park offers 500 miles of trails within the park, plus dense forests, ancient caves, swooping mountains, misty waterfalls... need I go on?
If you're spending some time at Shenandoah National Park, Big Meadows Lodge is a fantastic place to spend the night. Located directly within the park, this historic lodge is close to the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center and is just over three miles to Dark Hollow Falls. The rooms are rustic and charming with wood paneling, and there are cabins available as well. Be warned: there aren't any TVs or phones in the cabins. But, there's an onsite restaurant and taproom, as well as free wifi in the lodge.
Once you reach Lyndhurst, VA, check out Humpback Rock, a massively scenic rock close to the peak of Humpback Mountain. At a stunning elevation of over 3,000 feet, Humpback Rock provides a breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In Montebello, VA you'll come to Crabtree Falls in the George Washington National Forest. It's one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, so you know it's going to be magnificently gorgeous.
Further south in Virginia, and another short detour off the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can find the ginormous Natural Bridge. It's 20 stories of solid rock, carved out by nature and it has boggled the minds of everyone who's seen it, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
When you're ready for some hearty road food, the Roanoker Restaurant is a good bet. It was first opened in 1941, then when WWII broke out the restaurant packed food for soldiers who stopped in Roanoke on trains. The eatery has been operating ever since, and has remained a local favorite!
Blowing Rock, NC, US
Next, you'll arrive in Asheville, NC. This is a fantastic stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here's you'll find plenty of historic and bed and breakfasts and cozy campsites where you can rest your head, and there's tons of good eating, from old-school diners to places serving up the next great food trend. Asheville is the perfect place to stop and do a little exploring (and eating and drinking). The town is full of unique characters, quirky galleries and boutiques, plus it's a beer-lover's dream, with dozens of microbreweries scattered around town...they don't call it the "Brew" Ridge Parkway for nothing, you know!
A favorite Asheville stop for road travelers is the Lexington Avenue Brew. The pub food is locally sourced, and there's often live music. The industrial setting is pretty amazing, too.
Also, if you have time, grab a bite at Table. It's a small, seasonal restaurant in the heart Asheville's vibrant downtown. They like to be innovative with their menu, and it's pretty whimsical and always changing.
You absolutely cannot visit Asheville and skip Wicked Weed. Here, they inspire rebellion and revolution with their brews, which include open-fermented Belgian beers and barrel-aged sours. If you want to feel like a rebel and drink epic beer, definitely grab a pint here.
Don't forget to pack a swimsuit for your trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway, because there's an awesome natural slip 'n' slide along the route. This awesome waterfall, known as Sliding Rock, is on Looking Glass Creek in Pisgah National Forest, just outside Asheville. It takes sliders down a 60-foot slope, and they are then dumped into a big ol' plunge pool of icy cold water. Eleven thousand gallons of water pour over the smooth slab of granite every minute, so expect a swift ride down the rock and into the splash pool. Between the wind in your hair and and the cool, refreshing water, it's the perfect way to spend a sticky, sweltering, Southern summer day.
via Blue Ridge Pkwy
The drive will then take you into the Volunteer State. Since you're in Tennessee, you might as well try some moonshine. Ole Smoky is the first legal moonshine in Tennessee (a state that loves moonshine so much, at least one of its state songs outright mentions it), so you know it’s the real deal. A tour of the distillery offers a chance to learn about moonshine legends and the opportunity to taste their many flavors (from their original to the classic staple apple pie flavor to other fun varieties).
Honestly, you can't pick a bad time drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. In summer, the parks along the Blue Ridge Parkway are lush and green. In the fall, the entire drive is covered in fiery foliage (usually from early October to early November). In winter, the driving is a tad precarious, especially if it's a snowy winter. But, the Blue Ridge Mountains become blanketed in snow and it looks like a white wonderland. In spring, the flowers bloom across the route: the best to see them is between April and May.