Blue Ridge Parkway - best section for southern drive?
 

In mid-June my husband and I (50s) will be driving from the East to the West Coast in 10 days and will head south thru PA to NC. We'd like to experience some of the Blue Ridge Pkwy on our way to the Smokeys, but have limited time. What scenic section with great views would you recommend that has easy on/off access to Rte 81? Any recommendations for cozy and clean B&Bs in that area too? Thanks. Jan

I'd recommend picking it up somewhere around I-77 and going south as far as time permits. It's pretty slow going through this section, but well worth it.

I agree w/Eric, to me the NC section, particularly around Asheville is the best. Near the entry in Va. very close to I-77 is Chateau Morrisette (a great place for lunch)- www.thedogs.com or www.villaappalaccia.com (can also be a great place for lunch).www.blueridgeparkway.org, www.nps.gov/blri The last bit to Cherokee is pretty but Cherokee has been ruined, so I'd skip that part if I didn't have the time.

Thank you both - I have already mapped out your suggested route, going from Fancy Gap, VA past Asheville and on to Cherokee staying on the Parkway. Can you comment at all on what it would be like for us to go through the Smokeys once we've been on the B/Ridge? My thought was to head from the Cherokee area through the Gap to Pigeon Forge and then continue westward through Nashville, etc. Is it worth it for us to go through the Smokeys, or would you suggest a different route as we continue westward?

It is a nice drive through the Park from Cherokee to PF. Should work nicely with what you are doing.

I believe you have the proper route already mapped out.

Check to see if the Parkway is open south of Asheville - you can find out on their website. We were there a couple of weeks ago and the road was closed for repairs from the NC Arboretum past Mt Pisgah (going south).

You might want to consider staying at the Bluffs Lodge (not too far from Fancy Gap) - right on the Parkway.