Virginia and North Carolina
Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway
The Appalachian crest from Shenandoah to the Great Smoky Mountains: overlooks, mills, bluegrass music and fall colors.
- Approximate distance
- ≈ 572 mi
- Stops
- 9
- Suggested nights
- 11
- Best season
- May, June, September, October
May–June for rhododendrons, mid-October for fall colors. Some sections close in winter (ice).
Warnings for large vehicles
- Low tunnels, mostly in North Carolina (about 3.2 m [10 ft 6 in] at the edge for the lowest); Marys Rock on Skyline Drive is about 3.9 m (12 ft 8 in). Measure your rig.
- 45 mph speed limit and no gas stations on the parkway itself: refuel in the towns below.
These routes were written from memory: double-check distances, seasons, rules and closures with official sources before you go.
Stops
- Front Royal Departure
- Big Meadows (Shenandoah) 2 nights
- Rockfish Gap (Waynesboro) 1 night
- Peaks of Otter 1 night
- Roanoke 1 night
- Mabry Mill 1 night
- Blowing Rock 2 nights
- Asheville 2 nights
- Cherokee 1 night
Simplified line: straight lines between stops. The planner works out the real road.
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