Blue Ridge Parkway
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands.
Photo: Harold Blackwood Photo / NPS
About Blue Ridge Parkway
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.
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Driving times from Blue Ridge Parkway, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Hours
Parkway Road Hours
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Activities
Getting there
The weather on the parkway can vary widely along its 469-mile route. Precipitation is possible any time of the year. Winter can be cold and snowy, especially at the higher elevations. Spring and fall can have large temperature swings, from near freezing to over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers are hot in the lower elevations, but the highest elevations remain cooler. Summertime thunderstorms are common, so be prepared for weather changes.
Frequently asked questions
- What is there to do at Blue Ridge Parkway?
- Popular activities include Arts and Culture, Auto and ATV, Backcountry Hiking, Biking, Bookstore and Park Store, Camping.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Blue Ridge Parkway?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (42 min), Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (1 h 9 min), Cowpens National Battlefield (1 h 29 min), Kings Mountain National Military Park (1 h 42 min), Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (1 h 43 min), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (1 h 45 min).