About Blue Ridge
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Southeast
- States
- North Carolina and Virginia
- Designation
- Parkway
- Entrance fee
- None listed
- Trail data for this park is still being added.
- Places for this park are still being added.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Blue Ridge.
Entrance fees
The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.
Hours
Parkway Road Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
The road is open 24 hours a day, weather permitting. Road closures due to inclement weather occur most frequently during winter. Sections of the road may also be closed during road maintenance projects. Check our road closure map to verify that the parkway is open before traveling. Visitor centers and other facilities have hours and seasons that vary. Most picnic areas, campgrounds, and visitor centers are closed from the beginning of November until early May.
Weather and when to go
The weather on the parkway can vary widely along its 469-mile route. Precipitation is possible any time of the year. Winter can be cold and snowy, especially at the higher elevations. Spring and fall can have large temperature swings, from near freezing to over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers are hot in the lower elevations, but the highest elevations remain cooler. Summertime thunderstorms are common, so be prepared for weather changes.
Getting there
The parkway is a 469-mile-long scenic road connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Numerous federal and state highways provide access to the parkway. Milepost markers are positioned every mile along the parkway, starting at 0 in Virginia and ending at 469 in North Carolina. We suggest using a map to identify the area you want to visit, as GPS directions often do not incorporate the parkway's milepost system.
Contact the park
- Address
- Milepost 384, Asheville, NC 28803
- Phone
- (828) 348-3400
- blri_info@nps.gov
- Official site
- nps.gov/blri
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Blue Ridge
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Things to do in Blue Ridge
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Spot an Elk on the Heintooga Spur Road
Heintooga Ridge Road on the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a good place to spot elk.
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Stargaze at Waterrock Knob
Stargazing on the Blue Ridge Parkway can be an amazing experience. Waterrock Knob at Milepost 451.2 is a great place to enjoy the calm quiet of the night and contemplate the unive…
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Watch the Sunrise from Pounding Mill Overlook
Sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway can be an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Pounding Mill Overlook at Milepost 413 is a great place to welcome the dawn of a new day and ap…
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Watch Peregrine Falcons at Devils Courthouse
Peregrine falcon, once near extinction, now can be viewed in the skies over the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Watch for Hawks at the Mills River Overlook
The raptors are coming! And they’ve got the “kettle” on!
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Save A Bear's Life
Your actions while visiting the parkway can have a direct and lasting impact on a black bear. Discover how YOU can save a bear's life!
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Hawk Watch at Harveys Knob
Every autumn, thousands of raptors ride the thermal updrafts of the Blue Ridge Mountains on their way to wintering grounds. You can watch the graceful flights of these soaring bir…
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Visit Adney Gap
Take a scenic drive through Adney Gap around milepost 136 and experience one of the many mountain gaps that provided an important early tool in traversing the surrounding hills an…
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Visit Tuggle Gap
Take a scenic drive through Tuggle Gap to experience one of the gaps which provided early travelers passage through the mountains.
Campgrounds in Blue Ridge
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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Julian Price Park Campground
Julian Price Campground sits beside Price Lake, a pristine body of water that sparkles against the backdrop of rolling mountains. The surrounding forest offers…
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Linville Falls Campground
Due to impacts for Hurricane Helene Linville Falls campground will be closed to all camping in 2026.
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Rocky Knob Campground
Located in the Rocky Knob Recreation area, surrounded by 4,000 acres of forest, the campground is ideal for a traditional camping experience. The site offers e…
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Peaks of Otter Campground
The campground is nestled at the base of two mountains in the rolling hills of Virginia. Nearby Abbott Lake is well-stocked with small mouth bass and bluegill.…
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Mount Pisgah
Mount Pisgah Campground is located in the mountains of western North Carolina at an elevation of 4,980 feet, and offers moderate to cool temperatures during ca…
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Otter Creek
As Otter Creek descends to the James River, the Blue Ridge Parkway dips to its lowest elevation, only 649 feet above sea level. This area's abundant water and…
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Crabtree Falls Campground
Due to impacts for Hurricane Helene, Crabtree Falls Campground will be closed to all camping in 2026.
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Doughton Park Campground
Doughton Park Campground is nestled in a landscape of mountains and open meadows. Explore the history of early settlers, enjoy spectacular shows of flame azale…
What to pack for Blue Ridge
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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