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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
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…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: North Carolina, Virginia. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
The road is open 24 hours a day, weather permitting. Road closures due to inclement weather occur most frequently during winter. Sections of the road may also be closed during road maintenance projects. Check our road closure map to verify that the parkway is open before traveling. Visitor centers and other facilities have hours and seasons that vary. Most picnic areas, campgrounds, and visitor centers are closed from the beginning of November until early May.
Activities
Getting There
The parkway is a 469-mile-long scenic road connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Numerous federal and state highways provide access to the parkway. Milepost markers are positioned every mile along the parkway, starting at 0 in Virginia and ending at 469 in North Carolina. We suggest using a map to identify the area you want to visit, as GPS directions often do not incorporate the parkway's milepost system.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Spot an Elk on the Heintooga Spur Road
Heintooga Ridge Road on the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a good place to spot elk.
Become a Blue Ridge Parkway Junior Ranger
Becoming a Blue Ridge Parkway Junior Ranger is exciting and rewarding! Pick up your Junior Ranger Folder and instructions at…
Stargaze at Waterrock Knob
Stargazing on the Blue Ridge Parkway can be an amazing experience. Waterrock Knob at Milepost 451.2 is a great place…
Watch the Sunrise from Pounding Mill Overlook
Sunrise on the Blue Ridge Parkway can be an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Pounding Mill Overlook at Milepost 413 is a…
Watch Peregrine Falcons at Devils Courthouse
Peregrine falcon, once near extinction, now can be viewed in the skies over the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Watch for Hawks at the Mills River Overlook
The raptors are coming! And they’ve got the “kettle” on!
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
OVVI Junior Ranger
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Junior Ranger booklet and directions.
Save A Bear's Life
Your actions while visiting the parkway can have a direct and lasting impact on a black bear. Discover how YOU can save…
Hawk Watch at Harveys Knob
Every autumn, thousands of raptors ride the thermal updrafts of the Blue Ridge Mountains on their way to wintering grounds. You can…
Visit Adney Gap
Take a scenic drive through Adney Gap around milepost 136 and experience one of the many mountain gaps that provided an important…
Visit Tuggle Gap
Take a scenic drive through Tuggle Gap to experience one of the gaps which provided early travelers passage through the mountains.
Mahogany Rock Overlook
Visit the Mahogany Rock Overlook for soaring views of Buck Mountain, Doughton Mountain, and Cheek Mountain among others. In the fall visitors are…
Hike the Gully Creek Trail Loop
While this hike is challenging, the trek is very rewarding for the seasoned hiker. The small cascades are pure magic!
Bicycle the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway offers 469 miles of picturesque road cycling though the Virginia and North Carolina mountains.
Enjoy Sunrise at the Afton Overlook
The Afton Overlook provides an excellent introduction to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The view is spectacular at any time, but the colorful…
Go Fishing in the Mountains
A mountaintop park may seem an unlikely place to fish, but just the opposite is true. The parkway protects over 100 miles…
Hike the Devils Courthouse Trail
Make the steep 0.5 mile climb to the top of Devils Courthouse for one of the most fantastic views on the Blue…
See the Rhododendrons Bloom at Craggy Gardens
Colorful rhododendron blossoms put on a show each summer along the Blue Ridge Parkway and one of the best places to see…
Showing 18 of 26 NPS Things to Do records available for Blue Ridge Parkway.
Visitor Centers
Waterrock Knob Visitor Center (Milepost 451.2)
Waterrock Knob is our highest elevation visitor center on the Parkway. Known for its beautiful long-range views of several major mountain chains in the Appalachians,…
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (Milepost 384)
The visitor center features exhibits that showcase the natural and cultural history of the area, as well as the recreational opportunities offered by the region.…
Folk Art Center (Milepost 382)
The Southern Highland Craft Guild hosts a large craft shop, craft demonstrators and upstairs galleries showcasing regional craftspeople. Within the Folk Art Center is also…
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center (Milepost 364)
The small, historic visitor center and America's National Parks store is nestled in the gap between the rocky, Craggy Mountains. At over 5,000 feet elevation,…
Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals highlights the rich mineral resources and the mining heritage of this portion of the Blue Ridge. The museum has…
Linville Falls Visitor Center (Milepost 316)
This facility was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene and is closed for 2026. The Linville River flows from its headwaters high on the steep slopes…
Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center (Milepost 304)
The rugged slopes of Grandfather Mountain proved a challenging task to engineers as they completed the last section of the Parkway here in 1987, 52…
Moses Cone Manor House and Visitor Center (Milepost 294)
This visitor center information desk, America's National Parks store and Southern Highland Craft Guild craft shop share a grand, historic estate house. The visitor information…
Blue Ridge Music Center (Milepost 213)
The Blue Ridge Music Center celebrates the music and musicians of the Blue Ridge. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1997, with support from The…
Doughton Park Visitor Center (Milepost 241)
Numerous hiking options are available in the Doughton Park area and nearby Brinegar Cabin offers insights into mountain living in the late 19th and early…
Rocky Knob Visitor Center (Milepost 169)
The Rocky Knob area offers a visitor center, campground, and 15 miles of hiking trails, including the Rock Castle Gorge National Recreation Trail. Picturesque Mabry…
Peaks of Otter Visitor Center (Milepost 85.6)
Visitors of the Peaks of Otter gain a sense of both the history of community and tourism in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The long history…
James River Visitor Center (Milepost 63.6)
The James River visitor center is closed. The James River area offers visitors the opportunity to learn about transportation history in central and southern Appalachia.
Humpback Rocks Visitor Center (milepost 5.8)
The rock outcroppings on the mountain and the relocated collection of 1890s farm buildings where settlers scratched out a living in the rocky soil makes…
Campgrounds
Linville Falls Campground
Due to impacts for Hurricane Helene Linville Falls campground will be closed to all camping in 2026.
Julian Price Park Campground
Julian Price Campground sits beside Price Lake, a pristine body of water that sparkles against the backdrop of rolling mountains. The surrounding forest offers a…
Crabtree Falls Campground
Due to impacts for Hurricane Helene, Crabtree Falls Campground will be closed to all camping in 2026.
Otter Creek
As Otter Creek descends to the James River, the Blue Ridge Parkway dips to its lowest elevation, only 649 feet above sea level. This area's…
Mount Pisgah
Mount Pisgah Campground is located in the mountains of western North Carolina at an elevation of 4,980 feet, and offers moderate to cool temperatures during…
Peaks of Otter Campground
The campground is nestled at the base of two mountains in the rolling hills of Virginia. Nearby Abbott Lake is well-stocked with small mouth bass…
Rocky Knob Campground
Located in the Rocky Knob Recreation area, surrounded by 4,000 acres of forest, the campground is ideal for a traditional camping experience. The site offers…
Doughton Park Campground
Doughton Park Campground is nestled in a landscape of mountains and open meadows. Explore the history of early settlers, enjoy spectacular shows of flame azalea…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
🗺️ Guided Tours & Experiences
Discover Blue Ridge Parkway with expert-led tours
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
🏨 Search Lodging for Blue Ridge Parkway
Review lodging results matching this park or site name
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.