The lilting accents, the stiff drinks, the lingering meals—nearly everything about the American South asks us to slow down. The key to enjoying the region is not to rush. That goes for the Blue Ridge Parkway, too. With a speed limit that rarely exceeds 45 mph, the meandering, artfully laid-out, two-lane highway politely demands to be savored. It’s no surprise that people travel from around the world to experience one of North America’s most iconic routes.
Although it would only take about nine hours to drive the road straight through from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Asheville, North Carolina, give yourself five days to mosey along the 384 miles between these two cities, the most popular segment of the 469-mile-long Parkway. The drive’s scenery justifies its reputation as one of the great roads, following the rocky ridges, green plateaus, and soft hilly meadows of the Appalachian Mountains all the way from Shenandoah National Park down the Blue Ridge chain to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But the road has more appeal than just the dramatic vistas—the excuses to pause are as plentiful as the panoramas.
Illustration by Emily Blevins, animation by Claudia Cardia
Along this storied U.S. highway, you will see wild birds, breathtaking overlooks and mountain views, clear mountain streams, and mist-bound hilltops that remind you how the Blue Ridge Mountains got their name—you may even see some black bears picking their way through roadside woods for wild berries. You’ll hear birdsong as well as lots of banjos, fiddles, and guitars; you’ll hear the roar of waterfalls, and hopefully you’ll find a little silence, too. You’ll experience the sudden dark coolness of tunnels after brilliant sunlight and the particular thrill of driving around a curve to an open view that extends to the horizon.
The best time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
You can drive this route at any time of the year, but late spring through midfall are some of the best times to visit. Summertime can get warm, but the cooler temperatures along the parkway will work in your favor. Wildflowers bloom throughout May and June, setting the scene for an especially dreamy trip. And if you plan your trip in autumn, you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable fall foliage.
A drive early in the year (January through March) comes with a few challenges. Some of the visitor centers, picnic areas, gift shops, and other places of interest will be closed if there’s heavy precipitation or freezing temperatures. This part of the country does get snow and ice—keep in mind that temperatures are often 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the lower regions of the states you’re traveling through.
Also remember that the Parkway can get foggy any time of year. Visibility can vanish, so expect to pull over at one of the many overlooks or stop points to wait for the weather to pass. Wildlife is abundant throughout the region, making the fog even more dangerous because you can’t always anticipate animal crossings. It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast before you begin your day.
The itinerary
It’s a drive, yes, but five days should give you plenty of time to get out of the car, order some barbecue, listen to music, and head up into those hills. Use this itinerary to make the most of your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is a great way to kick off your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip.
Courtesy of Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock
Day 1: Arrive in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville’s amenities and proximity to the Parkway’s northern entrance make it an excellent place to start your trip. If you’re flying in to do the drive, the Albemarle-Charlottesville airport is also a natural spot for a one-way car rental. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about a two-hour drive north of Charlottesville.
Where to stay: Oakhurst Inn
- Book now: Oakhurst Inn
Start the journey with a good night’s sleep at Oakhurst Inn, a companionable cluster of buildings from the 1920s. (Two were formerly boardinghouses; one, a professor’s home; and one, a fraternity house.) The 35-room inn has a lobby cocktail bar that’s open every evening until 9.
Stop by Floyd’s Country Store on a Friday night for live music and dancing.
Courtesy of Brett Winter Lemon
Day 2: Charlottesville to Floyd, Virginia
- Distance: 180 miles
- Highlights: Virginia ham sandwiches, hoedowns, and hikes
If you want to linger in Charlottesville before your drive, visit nearby Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, or stroll through the grounds of the University of Virginia. Then head west on I-64 to begin your drive south on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The start of the Blue Ridge Parkway also marks the end of Skyline Drive. Skyline Drive is a similarly scenic highway that winds 105 miles north through Shenandoah National Park’s 200,000 acres of protected land. While that direction is deeply tempting, turn south instead.
If you’re a hiker or looking to get some biking in, you will already want to pull over at Milepost 6 to set foot on the Appalachian Trail, a two-mile uphill hike from the road. Anglers, on the other hand, may want to stop instead at the Tye River access point at Milepost 28.9, where the bites abound for summertime fly-casters.
Turn off at Glasgow (Milepost 61.4) for a stop at Layne’s Country Store and a country ham sandwich. Fill up your cooler with local jams, pickles, and hand-cut bacon. From Glasgow, it’s just a 10-minute drive to Natural Bridge, an impressively tall limestone arch. (If you skipped the ham and stayed on the Parkway, look to exit at Milepost 63.7.) This geological spectacle, dubbed “Nature’s Cathedral,” was once surveyed by a young George Washington, and was bundled into a land purchase Thomas Jefferson made from King George III. Take in the natural wonder, but spare yourself its many related tourist traps.
After you get back on the Parkway, drive another hour or so, stopping to spend the afternoon in Roanoke. The Taubman Museum of Art showcases regional, folk, and contemporary artworks and has a unique permanent collection of twinkling minaudières (whimsical evening bags) from designer Judith Leiber.
Catch a unique evening bag collection alongside folk artwork at the Taubman Museum of Art.
Courtesy of Taubman Museum of Art
For supper, chef Aaron Deal’s comforting bistro-style cooking at the River and Rail Restaurant offers a genuine taste of the region: hardy, wild-caught proteins, local preserves, and seasonal produce. In this part of the country, farm-to-table is not a trend but a matter of course for generations of mountain folk.
To sample more of the local scene, especially if it’s a Friday night, after dinner drive an hour farther south to the Floyd Country Store to witness a dry-goods shop transform into a kickin’, stompin’, live bluegrass hive, complete with cloggers on the dance floor. An $8 cover will put you right into the Friday night mix. (Even if it’s not Friday, check the store’s website to see what events it’s hosting during your visit. Chances are strong you’ll hear good music.)
Where to stay: Airbnb
- Book now: Airbnb
The best options for overnighting near Floyd are via Airbnb. Your choices include a geodesic dome, a tiny house, and, best of all, a lovingly renovated mill above a creek.
The Primland resort sits on 12,000 acres near the Blue Ridge Parkway, offering prime stargazing opportunities at the on-site observatory.
Courtesy of Primland
Day 3: Floyd to Meadows of Dan, Virginia
- Distance: 23 miles
- Highlights: A historic mill and luxurious mountain resort
Long before the advent of Instagram, the idyllic Mabry Mill has been one of the Parkway’s most recognizable sights. The restored 1905 millhouse rests, shake-roofed and endearingly lopsided, streamside at Milepost 176. Get your photo, and then enjoy a pancake breakfast at the on-site restaurant, with buckwheat flour produced at the gristmill. (A bag of the flour makes a tasty souvenir.)
Where to stay: Primland
- Book now: Primland
With plenty of time left to enjoy the day, grab an early check-in at Primland, a luxury mountain resort sprawled across 12,000 acres near the Blue Ridge Parkway (exit at Milepost 177.7). The resort’s unusual menu of activities includes tree-climbing, sporting clays, archery, and stargazing at an observatory in the main lodge.
Even with all the diversions, you’ll want to turn in early to linger longer in one of the property’s unique tree-house cottages, featuring all the modern amenities of lavish hotel rooms, but built high up in the canopy of beautiful old trees. Take in the sunset and sweeping views of the Kibler Valley from your private deck in the trees.
Day 4: Meadows of Dan to Blowing Rock, North Carolina
- Distance: 124 miles
- Highlights: Fresh cheese, mountain music, and historic manors
After your treetop slumber, get back on the Blue Ridge Parkway and make your way to Milepost 213, near Galax (pronounced GAY-lax), to see what’s going on at the Blue Ridge Music Center, a casual museum dedicated to mountain music where midday pickup shows with local string bands are an everyday occurrence. Galax is the lodestar for bluegrass musicians and their fans because of this museum and for the Old Fiddlers’ Convention held the second week of August every year. The music you hear will be top-notch, down-home gold.
Meadow Creek, a small dairy in the area, produces organic cheeses from cows’ milk that have a cult-like following among discerning palates. Its cheeses are sold at Chapters Bookshop & Wine Cellar, right in Galax.
Fire up your favorite music or tune in to a good podcast (might we suggest one of our own?) because you’ve got the next 75 miles to listen and enjoy the scenery until the next stop in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Along this segment of the Parkway, the road is softened by elegant curves and long, expansive views. You’ll cross the North Carolina border along the road’s inaugural section. Construction began here at Cumberland Knob in 1935, part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and the entire length of the highway was finally completed in 1987.
The main draw at Moses Cone Manor is the Parkway Craft Center, which includes a gift shop full of mountain-made goods.
Courtesy of Moses Cone Manor/Shutterstock
Outside Blowing Rock, pay a visit to Moses Cone Manor (Milepost 294.1), also called Flat Top Manor, a grand 1901 colonial revival mansion built by a local textile magnate. The house and grounds are attractive (and two of Cone’s sisters were prolific collectors of modern art in the early 20th century), but the main draw here is the Parkway Craft Center, which operates from early April through late November. The center sells distinctive mountain-made goods in the craft shop, with more displayed accompanied by explanatory labels in a gallery area. The Southern Highland Craft Guild sponsors craft demonstrations by artisans on the front porch of the mansion, teaching such skills as wood-turning, broom-making, and felting.
Blowing Rock’s Main Street is a blend of good antique shops, gift stores, fudge stores, clothing boutiques, and corny souvenir joints.
Where to stay: The Blowing Rock Brewing Company Ale House & Inn
After exploring the town, retire to the Blowing Rock Brewing Company Ale House & Inn for a cold beer and a comfortable bed at one of the five rooms above the brewery.
Benne on Eagle, located in Asheville, draws from the area’s African American culinary tradition.
Photo by Johnny Autry
Day 5: Blowing Rock to Asheville, North Carolina
- Distance: 96 miles
- Highlights: Mountain hikes, a swinging bridge, and the finale of road trip in beer-and-food-filled Asheville
Forgo your usual morning workout and instead hike Grandfather Mountain, not far from Blowing Rock. You can find a couple of trailheads right along the Parkway between Mileposts 304 and 308, but for a greater variety of options, exit at Milepost 305.1 for Grandfather Mountain State Park. Its 11 different trails range in difficulty from easy nature paths to routes that trace knife-sharp ridge lines and traverse sheer rock faces via ladders or steel cables.
If you can, opt for the somewhat strenuous trek along the Bridge Trail and cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge, which—though solidly engineered from galvanized steel—looks a bit scary spanning an 80-foot chasm. The view from the bridge is ample reward for the hike to get there, although an elevator has been added to make the span accessible for everyone.
Grandfather Mountain State Park offers 11 trails to choose from, ranging in difficulty from leisurely strolls to walking on sheer rock faces.
Courtesy of VisitNC.com
Instead of driving back to the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow Route 221 south a few miles to Old Hampton Store & Barbecue in Linville. Sit down to no-nonsense pulled pork sandwiches and a side of hot greens with pot likker (the tasty liquid left from cooking greens). The store and tavern combo has perfected its barbecue technique after nearly a century in business.
On the road again (either backtrack the four miles to the point where you left it or head south on 221 five miles to the next access point), keep an eye out for Milepost 316.4, Linville Falls. Follow the trails to see the twin waterfalls tumbling 2,000 feet into rugged Linville Gorge, the deepest chasm east of the Grand Canyon.
Use this time in the car to relax, because there’s more great hiking ahead. At Milepost 364, in the area called Craggy Gardens, you’ll find trailheads that lead to one of the Parkway’s most remarkable vistas. Follow the Craggy Pinnacle Trail, which passes through a tunnel of rhododendrons and climbs past trees with impossibly gnarled roots. (In early summer, Instagram is saturated with images of the rhododendrons in full bloom, arching over the pathways.) The trail ends at a summit with mind-blowing 360-degree views of mountains and valleys bounding all the way to the horizon.
Linville Falls plummets 2,000 feet into Linville Gorge, the deepest chasm east of the Grand Canyon.
Courtesy of Linville Falls/Shutterstock
Asheville is just 19 miles down the road. Even though the Blue Ridge Parkway spools out another 52 miles to its southern terminus in Cherokee, North Carolina, Asheville is the natural finish line for your road trip—the transition back to real life is made easier by the city’s lively vibe and busy regional airport.
Exploring Biltmore Estate could consume a day (or two) if you’re not completely ready to head home. The sprawling estate, built for George Washington Vanderbilt, is still the largest in the United States, with the historic manor house, extensive gardens, and a “village” with shops, a farm, and three hotels—as well as an award-winning winery.
Downtown, pick up some souvenirs at Mast General Store such as toffee, pottery, and cookbooks, and while you’re here, consider buying a zip-up fleece to blend in with the outdoorsy locals. Then, by all means, have a drink. In addition to being a hub for active travelers, Asheville is known for its beer culture and its breweries: dozens of companies, large and small, including New Belgium, Wicked Weed, and Sierra Nevada, make beer here.
Satisfy your wild side by crossing the Mile High Swinging Bridge, which crosses an 80-foot chasm.
Courtesy of Jon Bilous/Shutterstock
Your options for eating, too, are so good that you may end up squeezing extra meals into your time here. Chef John Fleer has claimed Asheville as his own restaurant kingdom. Downtown, Rhubarb sidesteps farm-to-table clichés to provide creative community-driven cuisine. The adjacent café-bakery-pantry, the Rhu, serves sit-down or take-out breakfast and lunch and sells pantry and picnic provisions, while Benne on Eagle—in Asheville’s historic district, the Block—pays homage to the neighborhood’s African American culinary traditions.
Other meals not to miss in Asheville include such local favorites as the country ham biscuits from Biscuit Head, fresh Amberjack crudo at Leo’s House of Thirst (which opened in 2020), and Spanish tapas from Cúrate, by James Beard Award nominee chef Katie Button. Keep an eye out for the latest venture by James Beard Award finalist and former Benne on Eagle chef, Ashleigh Shanti, who is scheduled to open her restaurant, Good Hot Fish, this fall.
Where to stay: Foundry Hotel or Grand Bohemian Asheville
- Book now: Foundry Hotel; Grand Bohemian Asheville
Stay upstairs from Benne at the Foundry Hotel, which opened in 2018, transforming an old unused factory into stylish, loftlike accommodations. Or check in for a turn-down at Grand Bohemian Asheville. Don’t be deceived by the hotel’s all-business exterior; its splashy interiors are a delightful surprise.
The Biltmore Estate, built for George Washington Vanderbilt, is the largest estate in the nation.
Courtesy of ZakZeinert/Shutterstock
What to pack
Before heading out on your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, be sure to pack:
- A variety of clothes (and layers) for seasonal weather. The Parkway—with its deep shaded valleys, windy high peaks, and sunny plateaus—is known for its micro climates, pocketed regions where temperatures can vary as much as 30 degrees in a few minutes.
- Comfortable hiking boots or shoes. Don’t bring new ones, or you’ll end up with blisters.
- A bathing suit. Some swimming holes and streams are safe for swimming and provide a refreshing break.
- A cooler. The Parkway passes lots of country stores, farms, and orchards where you can snap up local produce and perishable treats.
- Maps. Cell phone reception here is spotty. Go old-school and bring paper maps and/or make sure Google Maps is downloaded on your phone.
This article was originally published in 2019 and most recently updated on October 19, 2023, to include current information.
