You’ve heard the expression “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey,” most often attributed to American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882). Emerson would have loved the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile National Parkway and All-American Road connecting the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains Park in North Carolina. Originally called the “Appalachian Scenic Highway” in its planning phases, National Parkway construction began in 1935 and finished in 1987, though most of the road was open by the end of 1966. The Blue Ridge Parkway is the nation’s largest linear park. It is part of the National Park System, managed by the National Park Service. It has been among the system’s most popular attractions for decades, attracting over 14 million visitors in 2020.
For modern travelers used to the hustle and bustle of city life, the Blue Ridge Parkway presents a powerful alternative. The top speed limit on the length of the Parkway is 45 miles per hour and is even lower in some stretches. The Parkway has no cross-traffic or interchanges with major highways. The land on both sides of the road is National Park, and much of it backed by National Forest. No billboards blight the byway; the minimal signage is informational and neutral. Commercial traffic is banned, except by special permission from the Park Service, so big trucks and semis don’t clutter the roadway. The Parkway invites cruising and delivers beautiful scenery in return.
While composed of gentle curves, the route is a relatively straight shot from Roanoke, Virginia, in the north to Asheville, North Carolina, in the south, passing through 29 counties along the way. Twenty-six stone and concrete tunnels carve routes through the hills at various points. All but one of the tunnels is in North Carolina, where the mountainous terrain demanded tunneling. The longest tunnel on the route is Pine Mountain Tunnel at milepost 399, running 1,434 feet (over a quarter mile). The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through high elevations of up to 6,053 feet. Portions may be closed due to weather at times. Allow at least two days for your drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, giving time to stop at scenic outlooks, visit local attractions, and hike along pristine trails. If you can devote more time, you’ll find it rewarding; but if you only have a day, driving just a portion of the Parkway will hint what the entire road can deliver.
Roanoke, Virginia, makes an ideal starting point at the northern end of the Parkway. Also known as “Magic City,” Roanoke is home to the Mill Mountain Star, the world’s second-largest illuminated man-made star, constructed of over 2,000 feet of neon tubing. It was mounted on top of Mill Mountain in 1949 and continues to inspire and delight the city of 100,000 each evening. Roanoke has a great little zoo, Mill Mountain Zoo and Discovery Center. Nearby Smith Mountain Lake Farm features tours to meet and interact with alpacas – and who doesn’t love alpacas? A visit to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke can set the tone for your drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway, as you can see a comprehensive showcase of locomotives, automobiles, and vintage travel displays. Book your stay at Best Western North Roanoke.
While there are restaurants and food shops near the Blue Ridge Parkway, the roadway’s many scenic outlooks, trails, and parks offer great opportunities for outdoor dining and the ultimate picnic venues. Sherando Lake in the George Washington National Forest is 4.5 miles from the Parkway at Milepost 16. Great hiking, swimming, and picnicking spots abound from April 1 to October 31, and the day-use fee is only $8 per vehicle.
Milepost 176 is home to one of the most-photographed sites on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Mabry Mill. Built in the early 1900s, the picturesque wooden gristmill on a stream still spins, turning the stones for millers grinding grain into flour. It’s a slice of rural Appalachia captured in time. Beyond the photo ops, the Mabry Mill Restaurant makes a great stop for sweet potato pancakes – the best road food you can find.
Exit at Milepost 280.8 to visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia. This 24,000-square-foot facility is in historic downtown Bristol and has 12,000 square feet of exhibit space, a rotating gallery, music mixing and listening stations, multiple theater experiences, and interactive media experiences. Learn all about Bristol’s important role in the evolution of recorded music.
Milepost 384 is home to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, a must-visit stop before departing the Parkway in Asheville. Learn about the history of the Parkway, and see exhibits on the natural, cultural, and recreational features of the region. And, hey, there’s a gift shop. Pick up a bumper sticker and a refrigerator magnet or two.
Your drive down the Parkway concludes in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. After driving through 26 tunnels, what more appropriate place to stay than GLō Best Western Asheville Tunnel Road, a beautiful property near the River Arts District of town? A brand-new boutique hotel, it is not only close to downtown Asheville, but also just four miles from the historic Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the country.
The Blue Ridge Parkway’s continued popularity stands in stark contrast to the frantic pace of modern life. It offers limitless opportunities to experience nature, togetherness, and serenity along its 469 miles of perfect tarmac. Best of all, there’s no fee to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so start your planning today.