Blue Ridge
Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic drive like no other. The Blue Ridge Parkway wanders 469 miles through the spectacular mountains of Virginia and North Carolina from Shenandoah National Park at the North end to the Great Smokey Mountains at the southern end.

The Blue Ridge Parkway gets around 17 million visitors a year making it one of the most visited parks in the United States. The Parkway is marked with concrete mileposts beginning at 0 at Shenandoah National Park and ending at 469 at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Four lodges and six restaurants are scattered along the Blue Ridge Parkway and most are open from late April through the fall color season. The Peaks of Otter lodge and restaurant north of Roanoke, VA is open year round.

A drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway is meant to be slow paced and relaxing. A stop at almost any overlook or trail will reveal much of the natural and cultural history here. Explore the many communities along the way that make this region so special and enjoy the view.