Summer Road Trip Along Blue Ridge Parkway



The highly anticipated summer vacation is almost here. Is it time to fill up your tank and load up the kids for a summer road trip? The American road system is vast and the number of exciting destinations is virtually limitless.

Where are you heading to this summer?

Before we show you where to go along the scenic route of Blue Ridge Parkway, here are 5 tips to help you plan your road trip:

1.    Find out the cost to fly or drive. An example: Boston to Charlotte.
2.    NileGuide’s Blue Ridge Parkway Hotels.
3.    5 Things to Do Before Taking A Family Road Trip with Kids.
4.    Driving time. An example: Boston to Charlotte.
5.    Pick up a car at Charlotte or Asheville airports instead of driving from your hometown. And drop off in Virginia. You can do the reverse by picking up your car at Staunton VA's Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport and dropping off the rented car in NC.

Blue Ridge Parkway was named “America’s favorite drive” for a reason. It is 469 miles long connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. This route offers scenic overlooks, mountain meadows, old farmsteads, plenty of recreational opportunities, picnic areas, trails and diverse flora and fauna.

Along the parkway you will find numbered milepost markers, starting from Rockfish Gap in the south of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The southernmost milepost marker is at Cherokee NC. You can start your road trip either from Virginia or North Carolina.

Here are 7 milepost points to look out for along Blue Ridge Parkway:

One: Waterrock Knob NC Milepost 451
Waterrock Knob is located at 6,000 feet above sea level. It’s best to be there during sunrise or sunset while you view layers of rugged mountains in all directions. A hike to the top takes about 45 minutes. It is rather steep with plenty of rocks.

You will find plenty of parking, bathrooms and a ranger station with snacks for purchase.

Two: Craggy Gardens NC Milepost 364
Craggy Gardens is filled with rhododendron of pink and purple in June and July. Adventurous travelers can hike the one and half mile Craggy Pinnacle trail for a 360-view of the mountains, forested slopes and North Carolina’s high elevation flora.

Craggy Gardens is has an elevation of about 3,500 feet. Bring something warm to wear.

Three: Linville Falls NC Milepost 316
Linville Falls is a three-tiered waterfall plunging into Linville Gorge. It is known as “Grand Canyon of the Southern Appalachians.” Visitors can take the 1.4 miles strenuous Gorge Trail or the moderate one mile Plunge Basin Trail.

Information: Linville Falls

Four: Linn Cove Viaduct NC Milepost 304.4
Linn Cove Viaduct is known as the engineering marvel of the world. It goes around the slope of Grandfather Mountain. While you are there, visit the bridge museum and take a walking trail under and above the viaduct with part paved and part dirt roads.

Five: Boone NC Milepost 291.9
Boone NC was made famous by explorer and pioneer Daniel Boone. It sits at 3,300 feet above sea level and a little off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here you can enjoy Tweetsie Railroad – the Western-themed steam train used in the 1800s until 1940.

Then take the chair lift to Miner’s Mountain and enjoy funnel cakes or dippin’ dots.

Information: Tweetsie

Six: Mabry Mill and Rocky Knob VA Milepost 176
According to Virginia Tourism Corporation, Mabry Mill is one of the most photographed and painted locations in Virginia. The town has a restored sawmill, gristmill, woodworking and blacksmith shops. Visitors are treated to basket weaving, spinning and chair weaving demonstrations.

On Sundays enjoy the bluegrass music from 2-6 p.m.

Rocky Knob’s rural landscape, camping and hiking places is easily accessible from Mabry Mill. There are over 100 campground sites in the area. For those who prefer other activities there is the Chateau Morrisette Winery, for Virginia’s premier wine experience.

Information: Mabry Mill

Chateau Morrisette Winery

Seven: Peaks of Otter VA Milepost 86
Peaks of Otter is not just for hikers. If you prefer being shown around, take the Sharp Top Mountain Shuttle. The shuttle takes visitors to the top of Sharp Top Mountain, one of the three mountains at Peaks of Otter.

Jefferson National Forest surrounds peaks of Otter. It attracted European settlers since mid-1700s. Few of the attractions are Polly Wood’s Ordinary, a cabin that served visitors from the beginning, picnic area at Little Stoney Creek and fishing at Abbott Lake.

Information: Peaks of Otter

Ready to take a trip to Blue Ridge Parkway? Here are 3 safety tips:
1.    Speed limit is 45 miles per hour.
2.    Beware of speed changes, spiral curves and steep grades.
3.    Prevent forest fires by using only grills and fire pits provided in campgrounds and picnic areas.

If you have any tips about road trips please leave a note below.
For more information download the Blue Ridge Parkway Travel Planner.




© 2024  Travelmath

About   ·   Privacy   ·   Terms