Are you planning a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip?
The Blue Ridge Mountains are an amazing place for your next road trip! From the breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to scenic drive near the city of Asheville, there is something for the whole family along America’s favorite drive.
In this article, I’ll highlight some of my favorite things about this area of the southern Appalachians for your Blue Ridge Mountains road trip! I’ll also give you some tips for planning your family Blue Ridge Parkway road trip.
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Planning Your Family Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
✍️ Thank you LeRoy from AugustaPlanet.com for this amazing guide for planning a family road trip to Blue Ridge Parkway. Augusta Planet is a site dedicated to traveling around Georgia and the Southeast USA. You’ll find lots of tips and inspiration for your next Southeast trip.
Successful road trips with kids typically require some planning and background information. Since you’ll be driving along part of the Appalachian Mountain Range, it’s important to be aware of some safety conditions during your road trip.
Roads
First, at higher elevations, the roads are often more narrow, lack wide shoulders, and curve along the mountain. Be mindful of the speed limit along these winding mountain roads, which can be 25 to 35 miles per hour in some spots, though it is typically 45 mph throughout (National Park Service).
Seasonal Considerations
When planning routes and length of car trips, take into consideration the time of year. For the winter months, plan on longer times between destinations. Ice, snow, and sleet can cause delays along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway.
Planning a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the winter? Read our guide for winter road trips.
Local Wildlife
Be mindful of the local wildlife, as you’re likely to see everything from black bears and white-tailed deer throughout the car trip. If you’re driving at night, it’s especially important to drive slowly.
Audio Guides
Gypsy Guide offers two different audio guides to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park. It’s a great way to learn about the region and sightseeing spots while driving. You can download your audio guide and then use it offline.
- Download the Great Smoky Mountains National Park audio guide.
- Download the Shenandoah National Park audio guide.
Places to Visit During your Family Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
The highlights of the Blue Ridge Mountains road trip will take you north from Virginia down through North Carolina. You may also want to venture into Tennessee and North Georgia. The National Parks, wildlife, and small-town experiences are just some of the great places to plan on seeing!
Blue Ridge Parkway Map (Source: blueridgeparkway.org)
1. Shenandoah National Park and The Skyline Drive (Virginia)
Whether you’re starting or ending in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park is a must-see spot! Encompassing almost 200,000 acres, this national park stretches long and narrow through the state of Virginia. Skyline Drive is the main road that runs through the park and boasts mountain ridge views and scenic stops!
Don’t forget to use your Shenandoah National Park audio guide.
Shenandoah National Park History
Shenandoah National Park was opened in 1936 by President Roosevelt. This followed years of deliberation and planning for a national park. One that would preserve the beauty and wildlife of the Appalachian Mountains, but also let people experience the beauty of their new automobiles.
You can learn more about the history of the park here or in person at the visitor’s center (take a Junior Ranger booklet for the kids at the same time).
Shenandoah National Park Highlights
- The Skyline Drive: This 106-mile national parkway has 76 scenic overlooks of Shenandoah National Park. Some of the most popular include Range View Overlook and Crimora Lake Overlook.
- Hiking Trails: Enjoy a hike in one of the best places for outdoor adventures on the east coast! You can select from over 40 different trails, made up of 500 miles of trails. There’s everything from easy hikes under 1 mile to 9.8-mile Riprap – Wildcat Ridge Trail (8-9 hours)
- Bike along the paved roads of the park, or the gravel trail Rapidan Fire Road
- Learn about the history of the park at four different centers: Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, Massanutten Lodge, Byrd Visitor Center, Rapidan Camp
- Go stargazing and attend the park’s annual Night Sky Festival in the Fall
- Enjoy a trip fishing in one of the streams or try tubing down the river!
Fun Fact:
The highest point of Shenandoah Park is Hawksbill Mountain peak, which is 4,050 feet. The highest point of Skyline Drive is at mile 41.7.
2. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and Discover the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
After enjoying Shenandoah National Park, head down the Blue Ridge Parkway and cross over the North Carolina border. There you’ll find the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is known as “America’s Favorite Drive” because of its breathtaking views along a long part of the Appalachian Mountain range! At 469 miles long, it connects Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In fact, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited area in the United States. In 2022, it had almost 16 million visitors.
As you wind down this road, make sure to stop in at some of the official 200 scenic overlooks, many of which have picnic tables! If one lot is full, drive a few miles to the next one and enjoy with the family and stretch your legs.
Some of the best scenic overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway include:
- Cahas Knob Overlook
- Rough Ridge Lookout
- Linn Cove Viaduct Overlook Trail
- Wiseman’s View Scenic Overlook (to see the Linville Canyon)
Great Smoky National Park
Once you’ve made it to North Carolina, you’ll find one of the most popular national parks in the US – the Great Smoky National Park! In fact, in 2022 the park had almost 13 million visitors!
Don’t forget to use your Great Smoky National Park audio guide.
In addition to the scenic drive on the way, you’ll find lots of fun activities!
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, which include vast forests, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking views from mountain peaks. Some highlights to experience include:
- Explore the park’s natural beauty up close and personal with over 800 miles of hiking trails
- Visit historic buildings and get a glimpse into life in the past: like at The Mabry Mill, which has a working gristmill and blacksmith shop
- See educational exhibits and go on ranger-led programs at the James River Visitor Center
Also, for the nature enthusiast, there’s a wide variety of wildlife in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Black bears and wild turkeys are two of the most recognizable animals and are frequently seen within the forests or alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway.
As you go into the forests, you’ll likely see whitetail deer, foxes, and the elusive bobcat.
Great Smoky National Park has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or just a scenic tour along America’s favorite drive.
Just outside Great Smoky National Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennesse, you can do a whitewater rafting tour where you can ride for 5.5 miles over class 3 and 4 rapids. It’s a family-friendly trip that is suitable for all rafting skill levels, but children must be 8 years old and up.
»» Get your ticket for the whitewater rafting tour. ««
During 1.5 hours you’ll ride for 5.5 miles over rapids on the Pigeon Forge river. Children must be 8 years old and up to participate.
3. Visit a Small Town or City in the Blue Ridge Mountains
After experiencing the beauty of the national parks and forests, take some time to explore southern hospitality and charm in some of the best small towns and cities in the USA.
North Carolina
Blowing Rock is a small town that’s perfect for a relaxed, quiet atmosphere. You can visit Grandfather Mountain State Park and then explore the restaurants downtown. (More ideas here.)
The city of Asheville is the largest city in western North Carolina. From exploring the historic Biltmore to sampling the arts and music scene downtown, you could spend a week here and still have sites to see!
Some of my favorite things to do in Asheville are:
- The Biltmore (especially during Christmas time)
- Eating downtown (Chai Pani has some of the best Indian food I’ve had before)
- The Basilica of St. Lawrence
- Coffee at Black Mountain’s Dripolator
- Ziplining in Bryson City
»» Get your ticket for the Mountaintop Zipline. ««
With almost 2 miles of zip lines among the treetops, this trip is a premier zip line experience in the North Carolina mountains. Children must be 10 years old and up to participate.
Georgia & Blue Ridge
If you had a little further south, you’ll arrive in the Peach State. North Georgia is famous for its mountain views and apple orchards!
Blue Ridge is a small town in the north Georgia mountains! You’ll find everything from outdoor adventures to a charming downtown to explore. Here are some of my favorite things to explore in and around Blue Ridge.
- River or Snow Tubing
- Taking a guided horseback trail ride in the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Ziplining in the Mountains
Blue Ridge Parkway road trip map (from Google Maps)
F.A.Q Blue Ridge Parkway road trip
How long does it take to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway?
The driving time for the Blue Ridge Parkway can vary depending on a variety of factors, including traffic, weather, and your personal pace. However, if you were to drive the entire length of the parkway without making any stops, it would take approximately 10-12 hours.
However, most people choose to take their time and enjoy the many scenic overlooks, hiking trails, and other attractions along the way, so it is common to spend several days exploring the parkway. It is recommended that visitors allow at least 2-3 days to fully experience the Blue Ridge Parkway and all that it has to offer.
When is the best time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway?
The best time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway is in the fall (late September to early November) and spring (mid-march to early June).
The fall season is the most popular time to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s that time of year when you can enjoy the foliage. The temperatures are mild and the crowds are smaller than in the summertime.
In the spring, you’ll see colourful wildflowers such as:
- Catawba Rhododendron
- Pinxter Flower
- Trillium
- Fire Pink
The weather may still be bot unpredictable with rain and fog, but temperatures are usually mild.
What are the best overnight stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
There are a few different options for overnight stops on the Blue Ridge Parkway such as:
- Pisgah Inn: Located just outside Ashville. It’s about 90 miles from Great Smoky National Park.
- Peaks of Otter Lodge: Located near the Peaks of Otter Visitor center. It’s a little more than 100 miles from Shenandoah National Park.
There are also a few campgrounds on the Parkway. Maybe you’ll want to rent a campervan and live the van life on this trip.
Where does the Blue Ridge Parkway start and finish?
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs between Waynesboro in Virginia and Cherokee in North Carolina.
How long is the Blue Ridge Parkway?
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic drive that stretches 469 miles (755 kilometres) through the Appalachian Mountains. It goes through Virginia and North Carolina (USA).
Final Thoughts: Your Blue Ridge Parkway Roadtrip
As we’ve seen above, you can drive the entire Blue Ridge Parkway from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park! Or you can pick various stops along the way and have a shorter trip.
Either way, there is something for the whole family on this trip. Scenic views of the mountains, countless hiking trails, historic sites, and charming small mountains. Happy road-tripping!
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