Jess_M

Hi all,

Planning a trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville. We're driving there and back from DC. We'd love to drive the whole stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia to Asheville on the way down, but are having trouble determining exactly how long it will take. We have two and a half days to drive there and plan on camping two nights along the way. Has anyone driven this route in full? Can we drive the whole Parkway comfortably (with time to stop and hike) in about 2 days, or should we use the interstate, pick one spot on the Pkwy to camp at for both nights, and drive only part of the road? (The way back will be just by interstate, most likely.)

Thanks for any help you can give!

yestravel

This is a great site for the Parkway
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=73 Yes, I have driven the entire parkway -- really a wonderful drive. It really depends upon how much driving u want to do each day. I think you'd have trouble doing what u suggest in 2 days. The mileage would be around 400 miles starting in the Shenandoah in Va and ending at Asheville. The parkway can be really slow going esp if you're on it during leaf peeping season. If you cut out hiking it would be fine. To give u an idea of time, I've driven DC to Asheville on the Interstate and its taken around 9 hours.

SAnParis2

It is up to you & when you'll be driving. The Speed limit is 45 max. thru out (Less than that in high traffic/scenic areas). But if it is a weekend, you'll be doing more like 35 a lot of the time. Part of it is/was closed so you'll have to navigate around that - http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/. To break it up you may want to do part en route & part on the way home. That would probably be my inclination.

obxgirl

I agree with the others that 2 days is unrealistic to cover that distance. It does go slower than you might imagine.

kylemore

I have done it in 2 days, but you can's stop and loiter much - I would reccomend you stop at the Peaks of Otter Lodge around Buchanan, Virginia - that always seemd like the scenic highlight of the drive to me - and if time justifies, that is an easy turn to the Interstate.

starrs

As much as I love the BRP I find myself getting bored and antsy on it for too long. If you get on at Front Royal and do the Shenandoah stretch and then back on in NC, you'll get a great taste for it. My camping days are over but we loved the campgrounds on the parkway. If you want to do the entire stretch, you'll need more time ESPECIALLY if it's in the fall.

Gretchen

I'm with Starrs. Choose a couple of places that access it and camp. You can really get "caught up" on the scenic views pretty quick.
You will want to be on it at Blowing Rock for that portion.

weimarer

If you are talking just the BRP and not including the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah, then you can absolutely do it with 2 overnight camping spots, plus have time for a few hours hiking and some other stops each day. Of course. No way that is not enough time. For much of it you can cruise along at 50 mph, particularly in southern VA where there are fewer twists and turns, so figure one averaging around 40 mph overall (yes, that is correct, I've done this several times and that's what it is), so maybe 10-11 hours total driving time from the start west of C'ville, easily done in 2 1/2 days with plenty of time to make stops, hike, pitch tents. (assuming you are doing this before it gets dark earlier)

If there has been rain before you go, do the 4 mile roundtrip of Crabtree Falls on the way. 2 mile ascent along a continuous series of smaller falls and cascades dropping 1200 feet until you get to the big falls at the top. Outstanding.

You have plenty of time over 2 1/2 days. I've driven back from Banner Elk, NC along the whole length of the BRP from Grandfather Mtn and the better part of Skyline Drive (to 211), did the Crabtree hike, stopped a bunch of other times to do some shorter walks or relaxed at viewpoints for a while, and was home in Alex, VA before 9.