Blue Ridge Parkway
Traversing the Blue Ridge Parkway

Departure: Oconaluftee Indian Village, North Carolina
Destination: Waynesboro, Virginia
Time to allow: 2 days

Starting from the corners of North Carolina and moving up into Virginia, there is plenty to see and do on this route.

Day 1

  • Start: Oconaluftee Indian Village

    Learn how the native civilization actually lived over 225 years ago.

  • Stop 1: Looking Glass Rock

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue east and then north along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 34 miles / 54.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 25 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes

    Explore this rocky trail that looks like a smooth domed mountain of granite from the road.

  • Stop 2: Cradle of Foresty in America

    Directions from previous place:

    Take the Blue Ridge Parkway north up the junction of the Parkway and US 276. Turn east on US 276 and take the road south until reaching the Cradle of Forestry.
    Distance from Previous Site: 8 miles / 12.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour

    Learn all about the forest through informational movies, programs, and special events that occur at the center. Hikes and trails around the facility lead to historic buildings and to scenic places in the forest.

  • Stop 3: Mount Pisgah

    Directions from previous place:

    Take US 276 east back to the Parkway, then travel north on the Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 8 miles / 12.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes

    Once part of the Biltmore Estate, which became the first U.S. forestry school. Walk around the grounds that use to exclusively belong to the wealthy Vanderbilts.

  • Stop 4: North Carolina Arboretum

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 14 miles / 22.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour

    Hike or bike around this 426-acre public garden in the Pisgah National Forest that presenting a natural botanical setting.

  • Stop 5: Biltmore Estate

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 4 miles / 6.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 30 minutes

    Explore the grounds of the extensive Biltmore Estate; hiking, horseback riding or carriage rides are available to give you a sense of classic country charm.

  • Stop 6: Asheville

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 1 miles / 1.6 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 4 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours

    Center of many of the activities on this part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville provides hours of entertainment and many areas of interest. While here, be sure to visit the headquarters of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

  • Stop 7: Smith McDowell House Museum

    Directions from previous place:

    Go east towards US-25, then turn left on McDowell Street. Turn right, then left. Turn left on Victoria Road.
    Distance from Previous Site: 1.51 miles / 2.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes

    Tours, programs and exhibits are featured in this 1840's brick plantation home. Learn about the traditional folk art toys, Victorian Christmas and Easter while exploring this beautifully restored home.

  • Stop 8: Thomas Wolfe Memorial

    Directions from previous place:

    Start out going northeast on Victoria road toward Oakland road. Turn left onto Biltmore Ave. Biltmore Ave becomes US-25. Turn right onto E Walnut St., then turn left on N. Market St.
    Distance from Previous Site: 3.37 miles / 5.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes

    Learn about the life of Thomas Wolfe as you explore his boyhood home. This Queen Anne style dwelling provided the setting for his most famous work.

  • Stop 9: Biltmore Village Historic Museum

    Directions from previous place:

    From Interstate 40, take exit 50 (Biltmore Estate exit), and head north on Highway 25. Biltmore Village is approximately one-quarter mile ahead on the right.
    Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours

    Take a look at some of the original maps and copies of original drawings of the Biltmore Village.

  • Stop 10: Folk Art Center

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 4 miles / 6.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes

    Visit Allanstand Craft Shop, one of Appalachia`s oldest and best-known craft shops.

  • Stop 11: Craggy Gardens

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 11.5 miles / 18.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 8 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes

    Start at the parking lot of the Craggy Gardens and take a trail through a tunnel of rhododendron to the top where decks at the end of the trail provide stunning views of the Craggy Mountain area.

  • Stop 12: Mount Mitchell State Park

    Directions from previous place:

    Take the Blue Ridge Parkway north, until reaching the junction of the Parkway and SR 128. Take SR 128 west until reaching the park.
    Distance from Previous Site: 10.2 miles / 16.3 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 8 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes

    Hike or horseback ride amid the natural splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Mount Mitchell State Park.

  • Stop 13: Crabtree Meadows

    Directions from previous place:

    Take SR 128 east until reaching the Parkway. Travel north on the Parkway until reaching Crabtree Meadows.
    Distance from Previous Site: 12 miles / 19.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes

    Take a few moments to rest from your travels at Crabtree Meadows. Bring your lunch or buy it here; breathe in the fresh mountain air and take in the view of "Nature's Flower Garden" while enjoying a picnic lunch.

  • Stop 14: Little Switzerland

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north on the Blue Ridge Parkway until reaching the junction of the Parkway and SR 226A. Turn east onto SR 226A. Little Switzerland is directly off the road.
    Distance from Previous Site: 4.2 miles / 6.7 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes

    Walk along the streets of Little Switzerland and visit a few shops that are unique to this small mountain town.

  • Stop 15: Museum of North Carolina Minerals

    Directions from previous place:

    Turn west on SR 226A back onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. Travel north on the Parkway
    Distance from Previous Site: 2.3 miles / 3.7 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 3 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes

    Learn about the different gems and minerals that are found in Spruce Pine Mining District. While in the area, visit Gillespie Gap, which was once an important stop for Revolutionary War fighters. Encampments take place every year.

  • Stop 16: Linville Falls

    Directions from previous place:

    Take the Blue Ridge Parkway north until reaching the turn off to US 221. .1 miles onto US 221 is Linville Falls.
    Distance from Previous Site: 11.1 miles / 17.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 6 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes

    Hike up a number of offered trails to best glimpse the roaring waterfall through a dramatic, rugged gorge.

  • Overnight Point: Linville

    Directions from previous place:

    Take US 221 northwest as it circles around, passing through the towns of Crossnore and Pineola.
    Distance from Previous Site: 11 miles / 17.6 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 12 minutes

    Stay overnight in the town of Linville to rest from a long trip and to prepare for the next part of it.

Total Distance Traveled in Day 1: 142.18 miles / 227.5 km

Day 2

  • Stop 1: Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue on US 221 until it meets up with the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center is about .3 miles from the turn off.
    Distance from Previous Site: 2.3 miles / 3.7 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes

    Learn about an architectural wonder that allows travelers to enjoy driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains with minimal environmental impact.

  • Stop 2: Grandfather Mountain

    Directions from previous place:

    Adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center, Grandfather Mountain can easily be reached from the road.
    Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours

    Grandfather Mountain has a wide range of areas to visit. A breathtaking view can be seen from the Mile High Swinging Bridge, and there are many wildlife habitats situated around the mountain so that animals can be seen in their natural settings.

  • Stop 3: Blowing Rock

    Directions from previous place:

    Take US 221 northeast, passing through the Julian Price Memorial Park.
    Distance from Previous Site: 7.5 miles / 12.0 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes

    At Blowing Rock, the wind blows upwards, causing even the snow to fall up instead of down. Visit the town of Blowing Rock to learn about the legend behind Blowing Rock.

  • Stop 4: Tweetsie Railroad

    Directions from previous place:

    Take US 321 west; the Tweetsie Railroad is located halfway between the town of Blowing Rock and Boone. From the Blue Ridge Parkway, take the Boone exit.
    Distance from Previous Site: 5.5 miles / 8.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour

    Visit North Carolina's first theme park, which is centered around an old west theme. There are saloon shows, chances to ride an old locomotive, and Professor Phineas T. Peppercorn's Traveling Medicine Show.

  • Stop 5: Boone

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue west on US 321.
    Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 3 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes

    Visit the "Firefly Capital of the World" where Daniel Boone once camped. Be sure to see "Horn of the West" while you are there; telling the story of Daniel Boone and and the Regulators and their battle at Alamance.

  • Stop 6: E.B. Jeffress Park

    Directions from previous place:

    Take US 321/421 north until the town of Deep Gap. From Deep Gap, exit onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. Travel north on the Blue Ridge until reaching the park.
    Distance from Previous Site: 13 miles / 20.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes

    Grab a quick bite to eat or just stretch your legs here; the park has a trail that leads to the Cascades.

  • Stop 7: Jumpinoff Rocks

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north along the Parkway until reaching the turn off for Jumpinoff Rocks.
    Distance from Previous Site: 8 miles / 12.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes

    Hike an easy trail to get to Jumpingoff Rock; which provides an encompassing view of the ridgetops.

  • Stop 8: Northwest Trading Post

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 minute
    Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes

    Hewed from the imagination and perseverance of local citizens, the Northwest Trading Post is a quaint store to visit. Pick up locally made crafts and goods that have been traded there for centuries now.

  • Stop 9: Doughton Park

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue driving the Blue Ridge Parkway north. The Parkway drives through Doughton Park, but also extends for miles to the east.
    Distance from Previous Site: 11.5 miles / 18.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 7 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes

    Doughton Park is home to many area attractions, such as the Caudill Family Homestead, Northwest Trading Post and the Brinegar Cabin. Walk on leafy trails as you explore the 7,000 acre park.

  • Stop 10: Brinegar Cabin

    Directions from previous place:

    Located at the edge of Doughton Park.
    Distance from Previous Site: 3 miles / 4.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes

    Standing since 1885, Brinegar Cabin is now open to the public. Peer inside to see a century old loom that is still used in craft demonstrations.

  • Stop 11: Cumberland Knob

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cumberland Knob is located near the border of North Carolina and Virginia.
    Distance from Previous Site: 18 miles / 28.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 12 minutes

    At 2,885 feet, Cumberland Knob is a delightful spot to walk through fields and woodlands.

  • Stop 12: Blue Ridge Music Center

    Directions from previous place:

    From Cumberland Knob, take SR89 west until reaching the town of Galax.
    Distance from Previous Site: 8 miles / 12.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours

    Enjoy listening to some old time and traditional mountain music, along with their many contemporary variations, during summer concerts and exhibits.

  • Stop 13: Mabry Mill

    Directions from previous place:

    Take SR89 back to the Parkway, then travel north on the Blue Ridge Parkway until reaching the mill.
    Distance from Previous Site: 25 miles / 40.0 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes

    Enjoy a glimpse of early of pioneer life along the Parkway as you visit Mabry Mill and its sawmill, blacksmith shop and water-powered gristmill.

  • Stop 14: Rocky Knob Visitor Center

    Directions from previous place:

    North on Blue Ridge Parkway
    Distance from Previous Site: 6 miles / 9.6 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes

    Rocky Knob is an accurate description of the shape of the mountain which bears that name. Hike through wild apple orchards and remains of stone chimneys; a remainder of the mountain families that once made their home here.

  • Stop 15: Smart View

    Directions from previous place:

    Travel north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 14 miles / 22.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes

    This moderate hike will take visitors through deep forests with views of cascading streams, bluffs, and Trail Cabin.

  • Stop 16: Roanoke

    Directions from previous place:

    Travel north on the Blue Parkway, turning west into the town of Roanoke after 25 miles. Roanoke is three miles west on the Parkway.
    Distance from Previous Site: 28 miles / 44.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours

    Visit the "Capital of the Blue Ridge" in Roanoke. The town's history goes back to the 1740's.

  • Stop 17: Peaks of Otter

    Distance from Previous Site: 27 miles / 43.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 10 minutes

    Visit one of the Blue Ridge Mountain's best-kept secrets.The three mountains that make up the Peaks of Otter are by most accounts the most famous peaks in Virginia.

  • Stop 18: Cyrus McCormick's Farm

    Directions from previous place:

    Take the Blue Ridge Parkway north for 29 miles, then turn west on SR56 to Steeles Tavern. The farm is located in the town.
    Distance from Previous Site: 34 miles / 54.4 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes

    Cyrus McCormick was the inventor the mechanized reaper that sparked the industrial revolution and changed the world forever. Visitors are welcome to tour the blacksmith shop, gristmill, museum and scenic site at the McCormick farm.

  • Stop 19: Crabtree Falls

    Directions from previous place:

    Take SR 56 east for 12 miles. The falls are just off the road.
    Distance from Previous Site: 12 miles / 19.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes
    Suggested Time at This Site: 10 minutes

    Crabtree Falls is the largest vertical drop waterfall east of the Mississippi River.

  • Stop 20: Humpback Rocks Visitor Center

    Directions from previous place:

    Turn east on SR 56 until reaching the Blue Ridge Parkway; travel north on the Parkway for 16 miles.
    Distance from Previous Site: 22 miles / 35.2 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 12 minutes

    Visitors will experience magnificant views and catch a glimpse of farm life in the 1890s.

  • End: Waynesboro

    Directions from previous place:

    Take the Parkway north for eight miles.
    Distance from Previous Site: 8 miles / 12.8 km
    Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes

    Waynesboro's pedestrian-friendly environment is home to businesses like specialty and service providers, museums, arts and cultural centers, unique restaurants and lodging opportunities.

Total Distance Traveled in Day 2: 258.8 miles / 414.1 km