The Appalachian Mountains are one of the most beautiful areas of the United States. Spanning nearly 500 miles across Virginia and North Carolina, The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the best ways to view these stunning mountains. The Parkway is a part of the National Park system and is bookended by two great National Parks, Shenandoah to the northeast, and Great Smoky Mountains on the southwest end. The drive consists of many places to pull over and admire the views, as well as many hiking trails and other places of interest along the route.
In this blog post I will share all the exciting things to do, and beautiful places to see along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in the surrounding cities and towns. You can use this online interactive map of the Parkway to get more details on the locations I discuss in the post, or order a paper copy here. I will also share why this trip was extra special to me (hint: it involves a big shiny ring!)
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Shenandoah National Park
Our trip started driving about 9 hours from Indiana to Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah is a long and narrow park, situated along 100 miles of rolling mountain ridges.
We camped in the park for two nights, but I noticed many adorable B&Bs and cabins for rent in the surrounding area as well if camping isn’t your thing. We were actually supposed to camp for a third night but the forecast was calling for rain again so I booked a last minute Airbnb (more on that later!)
Hiking Old Rag
The two main activities in Shenandoah are site seeing along Skyline Drive and hiking to waterfalls and mountain peaks. At just about 9 miles and over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, Old Rag Mountain is the most popular and strenuous hike in the park. There are many other hikes throughout the park, but if you’re up for the challenge I highly recommend Old Rag.
The beginning of the hike is all uphill and eventually turns into more of a rock scramble than a hike.
Eventually the views make the hike worth it. We visited in August, but I have heard the views are even more incredible in the fall when the leaves start to change.
About 2/3’s of the way up the mountain we stopped and ate the lunch we packed. It takes about 5-7 hours to complete the hike, so be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks.
By the time we reached the summit of Old Rag, I was about as exhausted and sweaty as I’d ever been. I dropped my backpack on the group and bent down to get my water out. When I stood back up Andrew was down on one knee with a ring in his hand. He asked me to marry him and I obviously said yes! I was completely surprised but so excited. Luckily there were some other hikers near by that saw what happened and offered to take some pictures of us. What an epic place to get engaged! I can’t wait to do this hike again some day.
Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia
After spending 2 nights in Shenandoah National Park we started our journey driving the 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. With a maximum speed of 45 MPH and many vistas and trails to explore, it’s recommended to take 3-4 days to drive the whole length of the Parkway.
I got a little overly ambitious in my planning and thought we could drive the first 300 miles in one day. However the pesky mountain fog had other plans for us. As soon as we got on the Parkway at mile 1 just outside Shenandoah we could barely see 20 feet in front of us! I kept driving for about 15 minutes hoping it would clear up, but we had no such luck.
This was the clearest view we got all morning on the Parkway.
Due to the fog and the potential for rain, we scrapped our plans for the day and decided to book a room at a boutique hotel we found on Airbnb in the middle of nowhere North Carolina. This doubled as a way to celebrate our engagement! So we hopped off the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove towards our Airbnb.
Roanoke, VA
Although not on our original itinerary, we decided to drive through Roanoke as it was on the way to our Airbnb. It is not too far off of the Parkway, so it could be a great town to spend the night in during your trip.
We passed by a street that had some big patios and couldn’t resist trying out a local brewery. Big Lick was a great spot if you’re ever in the area.
Blue Ridge Parkway – North Carolina
Halfway down the Blue Ridge Parkway, around Mile Marker 220, you cross from Virginia to North Carolina. The North Carolina section of the Parkway is the most popular and has most of the famous views including the Linn Cove Viaduct (mile 304), which is the cover photo of this blog post. Learn more about this fascinating section of the Parkway here.
There are many gorgeous hikes along this section of the Parkway including Crabtree Falls at Mile Marker 340 and Craggy Pinnacle Trail at Mile Marker 364. Other noteworthy parts of the NC section of the Parkway are below.
Perfect Airbnb Getaway
This Airbnb was in the most peaceful and beautiful setting. The Big Creek Lodge is located out in the country outside of Mt. Airy, NC but conveniently not too far off of Interstate 74 and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We got to see the most gorgeous sunset over the mountains from our balcony and enjoyed a lovely dinner from the onsite restaurant. I was so glad we picked this amazing spot last minute and I didn’t have to sleep on the ground for a third night in a row!
Linville Falls & Linville Falls Winery
Located at Mile 316, Linville Falls is a great place to get out and stretch your legs. There are several short trails that lead back to a gorgeous waterfall area.
Linville Falls Winery is located about a mile off of the Parkway. There you can enjoy some wine on their patio and walk through the gardens and vineyards. It was a relaxing way to spend some time out of the car. Don’t worry though, I only had a few samples before I got back in the car – don’t drink and drive folks!
Asheville
The Blue Ridge Parkway cuts right through Asheville around Mile 380, which makes it a perfect place to stop for a night or two. I think Asheville is one of the most underrated cities in the US. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains and several state parks, has a large craft brewery scene, and is home to many other attractions including the Biltmore Mansion.
The Airbnb we stayed at in Asheville, was one of my favorite Airbnb’s ever! Be sure to check it out if you’re in the area!
We ate dinner and enjoyed a few drinks at Burial Beer Co. one night. I loved all the outdoor seating they had, and the beer and food was top notch! Who doesn’t love twice fried fries?! Asheville has a great culinary scene, but we were there for such a short time we didn’t get to try much else. Please let me know if you have any recommendations for the next time we go!
Charlotte
Charlotte is not right on the Parkway like Asheville is, but I had never been and wanted to visit because I’ve heard good things about it. It’s about 90 minutes off the Parkway and I figured it would be a good place to work remotely for a few days. Unfortunately I was busy with work, and didn’t get to see much of Charlotte, so I hope to go back and visit again soon. Our Airbnb was OK, but I wouldn’t recommend it, so search for your own place in the widget below!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
After you complete your 469 mile drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway you end up at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park is located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.
Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited National Park in the United States, with over 12 million visitors per year. This is mainly due to its close proximity to civilization; have y’all ever driven to Yellowstone? There’s nothing around it! Not to say GSMNP doesn’t deserve the title, it has wonderful hiking and stunning views of the mountains.
Where to Stay While Visiting Great Smoky Mountains NP
Cherokee, NC
Cherokee is the closest town to the south end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stayed for one night after finishing our drive on the Parkway before heading in to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. There is a large casino in the town and some local shops selling Indian crafts and souvenirs, but other than that, there is not a whole lot to do, and from what we could tell there were not many food options either.
Bryson City, NC
The night we stayed in Cherokee we drove to Bryson City for dinner. There were a lot more options and there was even a cute downtown to walk through, however I didn’t see too many hotels.
Gatlinburg, TN
Gatlinburg is a very popular option with many hotels and cabins to stay in. If you’re staying in or around the park for more than a night I would highly recommend Gatlinburg, as it has the most options for food, lodging and entertainment. We did not stay in Gatlinburg as it’s on the other side of the park than the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Chimney Tops Hike
We only had half a day to explore the park before our drive home so we did two fun hikes, but there are many hikes to do throughout the park and you can see them all on the National Park Service website.
Chimney Tops is a four miles total, out and back hike that gains some serious elevation! Here is Andrew touching the Chimney Top!
Clingman's Dome
Clingman’s Dome is a must see in the park! There is a short, paved, but very steep walk up to see this large concrete viewing structure. The views from the top are incredible!
Other Tips and Info for Visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Bring a paper map of the Parkway. Your GPS will not show the mile markers along the Parkway that help you locate attractions. Additionally, if you search for directions, the Parkway will not show up as a recommended route.
- Pack a lunch to enjoy along the Parkway. There are so many picnic areas but if you want to buy food you will have to exit the Parkway.
- Be flexible with your accommodations if you can. You never know if a massive fog will settle over the section of the Parkway you have planned for the day. There are plenty of campgrounds and B&Bs in the area, although you might have to drive a few miles off the Parkway.
- Set a rough itinerary but don’t try to jam too much into your day. Have time to stop whenever you see something interesting, which happens quite frequently in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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9 Comments
Congrats on your engagement! Your blog is so helpful! I tried to get to the AirBnB you stayed in but it didn’t take me to specifics. Could you send me the actual link? Thanks so much for posting this!
Sorry about that, it looks like I need to update some of my links! I’m not sure which one you were looking at, but https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/42949091?source_impression_id=p3_1664444113_m5iAEoA7LUArLbwH is the one we stayed at near Mt. Airy and this is the one we stayed at in Asheville, https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/32607516?source_impression_id=p3_1664444190_VFdyvJ%2FRbwVrWti1
I’m wishing that I had gone up to Asheville before moving away from South Carolina to get a sense of the Blue Ridge Parkway, even just for a weekend. The foggy mountains are just so atmospheric! Also, I’m a fan of Charlotte so you and Andrew definitely do need to go back when you have a few days free to check out the breweries and other interesting stuff there!
What a cute engagement story! Luckily someone was there to take pics for you guys. Congratulations.
So, first of all: Congratulations!
We visited Shenandoah many years ago and had the same “luck” with the weather as you had. So, not many good photos.
I completely agree with you about Asheville being underrated. We went there during our North Carolina trip and the Biltmore alone makes Asheville a top travel destination – especially the Biltmore during Christmas season. But there are several other things to do.
I feel like ‘old rag’ doesn’t really do justice to that walk considering how gorgeous the views are! Or maybe the idea is to bring an old rag to mop up your sweat on the tough hike up!?
Blue Ridge Parkway looks like a fantastic area to explore, hike and go camping. 😀
Haha, I know right? I really need to look into the history of the name!
Some really awesome views there! Looks like an amazing place to hike, great post.
I loved learning more about this area! I really want to visit here. I think I want to time my visit so we can hike ol rag to see the fall foliage. Great tip!