How to plan a grand road trip adventure through the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is an epic East Coast road trip that’s worth being on your bucket list. As the first motorway in the country designed purely for recreational purposes, this parkway weaves through six mountain ranges and four massive national forests and strings together some of the wildest spaces in the East in 469 miles of outdoor fun.

This parkway includes the Blue Ridge Mountains, Black Mountains, the Great Craggy Mountains, the Pisgahs, the Balsam Mountains, and a bit of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you’re looking to take your crew on the road trip of a lifetime, the Blue Ridge Parkway is sure to make your heart sing. Here’s how to do it:

Choose the right season

The Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful no matter what time of year you go, but there are a few things to keep in mind as you time your trip. During winter, some areas may be closed to snow, but it’s charming and serene. Spring and summer have lush greenery and wildflowers, but the real charm of the Blue Ridge Parkway is autumn.

Fall is by far the most popular time of year to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway, and it’s easy to see why. With more than 100 different species of trees and many levels of elevation, fall colors are guaranteed to be spectacular. The season’s transition generally begins at higher elevations in mid-October and then slowly creeps down the mountains.

To get a general idea of peak color in the region, Appalachian State University has generated a Fall Color Map for North Carolina, and in Virginia, the state’s Department of Forestry provides a weekly Fall Foliage Report.

Map out your trip

Before you pull out of your driveway, plan your trip. While it’s fun to live life on the edge, your trip will be much more enjoyable when you have a general idea of where you want to go and which highlights you want to hit. It’s much easier to pivot to fallback plan than to waste time thinking up a new course of action from scratch.

Please be aware that gas stations and other amenities are not readily available along the parkway itself. Plan your fuel stops and fill up before entering the parkway.

Accommodations near the Blue Ridge Parkway

For road trippers, the parkway has eight developed campgrounds offering both tent sites and RV sites with fire rings and picnic tables. For campers, amenities include potable water and bathroom facilities, and the Julian Price Campground and the Mount Pisgah Campground also offer hot showers. All eight of the parkway’s campgrounds are open seasonally, from early May through the end of October, but exact dates may vary depending on weather.

For backpackers, there are also three hike-in backcountry campgrounds scattered along the Blue Ridge Parkway — Rock Castle Gorge, Basin Cove, and Johns River Road. Keep in mind that you will need a backpacking permit if you decide to enjoy the parkway in this way.

There are also two lodges situated along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In Virginia, the Peaks of Otter Lodge is situated along the parkway in southwest Virginia (milepost 86). Named for the trio of peaks overlooking the town of Bedford, all of the lodge’s rooms have views of Abbott Lake and Sharp Top (and dog-friendly rooms are available, too). The lakeside lodge also offers an attached restaurant and bar, along with a gift shop stocked with trail snacks, guidebooks, and locally sourced artisanal products.

In North Carolina, the Pisgah Inn (milepost 408) is open from the beginning of April through the end of October. Perched on the flanks of Mount Pisgah at an elevation of 5,000 feet, the alpine inn presides over the massive Pisgah National Forest. To help guests savor the sweeping vista, each of the inn’s rooms features attached porches complete with lounge-worthy rocking chairs. The inn also offers a formal dining room (open to the public for lunch) and a café with easy-to-grab meals and snacks.

For late fall and winter travelers, the parkway also provides access to a handful of state parks with year-round accommodation options. In Virginia, just west of Buena Vista, Douthat State Park has cabins for rent and a campground open year-round, along with more than 40 miles of hiking trails. Further south in North Carolina, the campground at Stone Mountain State Park is open year-round and offers sites for both tents and RVs. And for hardy backpackers, North Carolina’s Grandfather Mountain State Park has 13 hike-in backcountry campsites, permits required.

Fun things to do at the Blue Ridge Parkway

Take a spectacular fall hike

For hikers, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides access to more than 360 miles of trails, offering everything from leisurely nature walks to lengthy rambles through parcels of roadless wilderness. And for leaf-peepers, there are a number of superb foliage hikes. In Virginia, the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail traces the path of the parkway for just over 100 miles, beginning at Rockfish Gap (milepost 0). In North Carolina, the state’s 1,175-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail also crisscrosses the parkway between the Folk Art Center (milepost 382) and Mount Pisgah (milepost 408).

At the northern end of the parkway in Virginia, Humpback Rocks (milepost 5.8) is among the scenic highlights. Perched at 3,080 feet, the craggy outcrop presides over the northern section of the parkway, providing expansive views encompassing the Rockfish and Shenandoah Valleys to the west and the pastoral Virginia Piedmont to the east– although the mile climb to the craggy pinnacle includes 700 feet of elevation gain. Further south, the three-mile out-and-back hike to the 3,875-foot summit of Sharp Top (milepost 85.9) serves up 360-degree views of the Peaks of Otter portion of the parkway, with the Shenandoah Valley to the east and the Allegheny Mountains silhouetted against the horizon to the west.

In North Carolina, Mount Pisgah is supremely positioned for fall foliage views. After the 1.3-mile climb to Mount Pisgah’s 5,721-foot summit, hikers are rewarded with an eyeful of the Black Mountains to the north and the rugged Shining Rock Wilderness to the west. Closer to the parkway’s southern terminus, at the eastern edge of the Great Balsam range, the grassy summit of Black Balsam Knob also treats trekkers to a jaw-dropping panorama. The 6,214-foot peak is a prototypical southern Appalachian bald, meaning Black Balsam Knob’s treeless summit dishes up 360-degree views extending to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Hit some of the best scenic overlooks in the country

For the least amount of crowds, time your overlook visits to early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Sunrise and sunsets are always gorgeous photo opportunities, so don’t forget your camera! Many overlooks have picnic tables or benches where you can enjoy a packed lunch. No matter how you plan to enjoy them, be sure to try some of these stunning overlooks.

Northern Section (Virginia)

1. Humpback Rocks Overlook (MP 6.0): Enjoy sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley. Pair this with a short hike to the nearby Humpback Rocks for even more views.
2. Ravens Roost Overlook (MP 10.7): A favorite for photographers, this overlook offers incredible sunsets and a glimpse of the mountains plunging into the horizon.
3. Thunder Ridge Overlook (MP 74.7): Located near the James River, this spot provides a peaceful place to take in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
4. Peaks of Otter Overlook (MP 86.0): View Abbott Lake and the Peaks of Otter, with Sharp Top Mountain in the distance.

Central Section (Virginia/North Carolina Border)

5. Mabry Mill Overlook (MP 176.1): Capture the iconic image of the historic watermill, one of the most photographed spots on the parkway. Visit in the fall for peak colors.
6. Rock Castle Gorge Overlook (MP 167.1): Stunning views of the Rock Castle Gorge and a great starting point for hikes into the surrounding wilderness.
7. Groundhog Mountain Overlook (MP 188.8): Features traditional Appalachian wood fences and a panoramic view of rolling hills.

Southern Section (North Carolina)

8. Grandview Overlook (MP 281.0): Aptly named, this overlook offers expansive views of the Yadkin Valley and the surrounding mountains.
9. Beacon Heights Overlook (MP 305.2): A short hike from the parking area leads to a rocky outcrop with jaw-dropping views of Grandfather Mountain and the Linville Gorge.
10. Linn Cove Viaduct Overlook (MP 304.4): View the engineering marvel of the viaduct with the dramatic backdrop of Grandfather Mountain. Stop at the visitor center for more educational experiences about how this final section of the parkway was built.
11. Chestoa View Overlook (MP 320.8): A short walk from the parking lot leads to a platform with unparalleled views of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.
12. Craggy Gardens Overlook (MP 364.4): Famous for its late spring rhododendron blooms, this overlook offers incredible views of the Craggy Mountains year-round.
13. Mount Mitchell Overlook (MP 355.4): View the highest peak east of the Mississippi, with options to drive up or hike to the summit.

Westernmost Section (North Carolina)

14. Graveyard Fields Overlook (MP 418.8): Features views of waterfalls, open meadows, and vibrant fall colors. Great for a picnic or a short hike.
15. Black Balsam Knob Overlook (MP 420.2): One of the most iconic overlooks, with views of open, treeless mountain balds and rolling hills.
16. Waterrock Knob Overlook (MP 451.2): Ideal for sunset watching, this overlook is one of the highest points on the parkway. A short but steep trail leads to even better panoramic views.

Go wildlife watching

Fall is also an ideal time to spot wildlife along the parkway — especially charismatic megafauna. Along the southern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, resident elk are particularly active. Once prevalent throughout the Appalachian Mountains, elk disappeared from the southeastern United States in the mid-1800s, after populations dwindled due to over-hunting and loss of habitat.

Elk were reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park between 2001 and 2002, and now the brawny ungulates roam the southernmost section of the parkway in Western North Carolina, typically gathering in the Cataloochee Valley. And during the fall, the region’s resident elk begin their mating season, also called the rut, with males bugling, sparring, and strutting ostentatiously to attract females.

Black bears are also active along the parkway during the fall. While the bruins do hunker down for portions of the winter, in the Southeast, they don’t entirely hibernate — and if seasonal temperatures are mild, the black bears will remain active year-round. However, fall is a strategic time to spot the opportunistic eaters gorging on calorie-dense nuts and berries along the parkway in preparation for the leaner days of winter.

Autumn is also a spectacular time for birders along the Blue Ridge Parkway. From early September through the end of November, the lofty ridgelines of the southern Appalachian Mountains become a superhighway for birds migrating south to warmer climes for the winter — especially birds of prey, including a diversity of hawks, eagles, kestrels, and falcons. There are a number of hawk-watching spots scattered along the Blue Ridge Parkway designated by the Hawk Migration Association of America, including Rockfish Gap (milepost 0) and Harvey’s Knob (milepost 95.3) in Virginia and Grandfather Mountain (milepost 305) in North Carolina.

As you travel through the Blue Ridge Mountains, take time to slow down, savor the views, and enjoy the peace that comes with exploring the outdoors. Whether you’re a nature lover, photographer, history buff, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, the Blue Ridge Parkway provides endless adventure for the wild at heart.