When people hear the word travel, many think of driving somewhere, like a road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But when people hear “National Park,” they don’t think of a highway. I’m about to change all that.

Let me tell you about one of my favorite National Parks, managed by the National Park Service since 1936 and dubbed “America’s Favorite Drive.” It is also America’s longest linear park. The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountain Range…from the Shenandoah National Park in Rockfish Gap, Virginia, to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Happy Anniversary, National Park Service!

The National Park Service is turning 108 on August 25, 2024! President Woodrow Wilson created the Park Service with a stroke of his pen. The National Park Service was officially established in 1916 when Wilson endorsed the National Park Service Act.

Big Blend’s National Parks Traveling website shares a wealth of information about parks worldwide. And Big Blend Radio’s National Park Service Anniversary Podcast is airing on August 25, just in time for us all to wish them a Happy Anniversary!

Big Blend’s Lisa Smith talked with a panel of travel writers and park enthusiasts (including me) about their favorite National Parks. Segments from some of those writers appear in this article, so read on to learn where my friends Kathleen Walls and Elaine Masters think you should plan to go on your next trip. And be sure to listen to or download this special podcast. It will air at 6 a.m. ET on August 25 on multiple channels, but the easiest way to find this podcast and others is on Big Blend Radio’s Parks & Travel channel.

More celebrations will air that day, too—three shows in all! Lisa will interview travel writers, B & B Inn owners, artists, and an artist who founded the National Parks Arts Foundation. What a great anniversary party! You don’t want to miss it!

Parkway History

The Parkway has been the most visited National Park nearly every year since opening in 1946! Clearing the land and building those lovely split rail fences and rock bridges was provided by the labor of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). My Grandfather and an uncle were a part of that group in 1935. The public works projects helped the Appalachian region climb out of the Great Depression.

The Parkway is known for its curves; the most famous series is called the Back of the Dragon—it has 438 curves in 32 miles—a motorcyclist’s nirvana! The speed on the Parkway is 45 miles per hour but does drop to 35 or even 25 in some curves. Oh, and the Blue Ridge Parkway also has tunnels carved through rock mountains. There’s only one in Virginia, but North Carolina has 25!

The Parkway showcases prehistoric and early European settlements in a breath of fresh air. The Blue Ridge Parkway was planned in 1936 for the purpose of connecting two National Parks and has been managed by the National Park Service since opening to motorists. By the 1950s, about half of the Parkway had been completed, with the last 7.7 miles completed in 1966 when the Linn Cove Viaduct around Grandfather Mountain opened.

Fun Fact:  The Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest single-unit planned road in the United States.

Blue Ridge Parkway’s Highest Elevation

The Blue Ridge Parkway reaches 6,053 feet on the southwestern slope of Richland Balsam. Richland Balsam’s upper elevations provide the growing ground of one of only ten stands of the Southern Appalachian red spruce-Fraser fir forest. Spruce-fir forests grow in Southern Appalachia’s high elevations because they survive where it is too cold and harsh for the hardwood trees that grow at lower elevations. Richland Balsam is sandwiched between Pisgah National Forest and Nantahala National Forest.

Blue Ridge Parkway’s Lowest Point

The lowest elevation point along the Parkway is 649 feet along the James River. At milepost 63.7, you should stop at the James River Visitor Center for a few hours. It is a great place to stretch your legs, with several trail choices. Pick from the Trail of Trees, Canal Lock Trails, or the 3.5-mile Otter Creek Trail.

The James River Visitor’s Center has an excellent display for visitors to learn about the evolution of transportation. Virginians built a canal system on the James River, and ultimately a railroad bought the canal system. The James River Gorge evolved from a foot path, to a boating waterway, to rail transportation, to the modern highway system we use today.

Widest and Narrowest Spots on Blue Ridge Parkway

In some places, the Blue Ridge Parkway has only a standard-width right-of-way, maybe a short distance of just 200 feet on each side of the pavement. But in other places, where the Blue Ridge Parkway crosses a large park, like Doughton Park, originally called The Bluffs, NPS land may stretch as far as the eye can see.

Doughton, the biggest park in North Carolina, was created in the 1930s when it was announced that the planned Parkway’s path would pass through the area. Six-thousand-acre Doughton Park remains the largest park managed by the National Park Service. At Doughton, there are 30 miles of hiking trails and a well-preserved early cabin where visitors can learn about rugged mountain life.

What Can You See On the Blue Ridge Parkway

You could drive the entire 469 miles in about nine hours. But I have to ask, why would you? This is the most beautiful drive in the United States; every mile should be savored.

The drive is peaceful and beautiful at any time of the year. You can see rock churches built by Reverend Bob Childress (of The Man Who Moved a Mountain), view waterfalls, tour churches filled with Italian-style frescos, spot over 200 species of birds, pull in at overlooks with panoramic scenic views, spend a night in a caboose at a bed and breakfast, or visit more than 14 wineries. You might even see black bears picking berries alongside the road.

However, if you go during the winter, you must be aware that temperatures are five to ten degrees cooler than the lower region of the state you’re traveling through. The water dripping through the crevices forms elegant icicles along the sides of the Parkway. However, when ice forms on the road or snow falls, portions of the Parkway will be closed to vehicle travel until the roads are clear. If you choose to drive on a closed parkway and get stuck, the fine is $500, and nobody will come to tow you out!

One of the most photographed spots on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway is Mabry Mill in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Ed Mabry built the mill in 1905 to grind corn. He and his wife Lizzy ran the grist and lumber mill and provided blacksmithing for mountain neighbors for over thirty years. Today, the mill has cultural demonstrations and a tradition of Sunday afternoon music and dancing that has drawn visitors for decades.

Best Mountain Towns

Some towns along the Parkway include Waynesboro, Roanoke, Floyd, Rocky Mount, and Galax in Virginia. For a great week of music, go the second week in August to experience the Galax Fiddlers’ Convention. In North Carolina, visit Boone, Asheville, and Mt. Airy, the Mayberry of Andy Griffith fame.

Fun Fact:  The Blue Ridge Parkway runs across Biltmore Estate property in Asheville.

Favorite Wineries

There are nearly 15 wineries along the Parkway, and (sadly!) I haven’t visited them all—yet! Some of my favorite Virginia vineyards are in Virginia’s Rocky Knob AVA (Rocky Knob American Viticultural Area):  Chateau Morrisette Winery and Villa Appalaccia Winery. These wineries are less than two miles apart, with the Blue Ridge Parkway in between, so you could walk between them if you wanted to burn off calories. Welcoming tasting rooms, live music, and delicious food make this a stop you won’t regret. You can listen to a podcast about those Virginia wineries and many others on Wine Across America (I was a guest!)

In western North Carolina, the Yadkin Valley holds a special place in my heart. I mean, with 45 wineries in one AVA, what’s not to love on this wine trail? However, only a few like Biltmore Winery and Thistle Meadow Winery are nearly touching the Blue Ridge Parkway. A few others are located in sight of those famous Blue Ridges, like Golden Road Vineyards.

After you walk to beautiful Linville Falls, you will have earned an afternoon at Linville Falls Winery, less than two miles away. *smile* The winery gives vineyard tours complete with tastings as you go. What fun! 

Others lie in the foothills, so wine lovers can easily spend a week on this little side trip, searching out the area’s best wines at all the wine tastings mentioned in the Yadkin Valley Wine and Shine Trail.

Visitor’s Information Center

The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor’s Center is located at milepost 384, near Asheville. This center is 85 miles into your drive if you start in the Smoky Mountains. You can pick up a map, chat with a ranger, learn about things to do near the Parkway, and get hiking directions. One hike starting at the visitor’s center is a short loop, but serious hikers can also access to the Mountains-to-Sea trail from this point.

Then there is the Appalachian Trail, a National Scenic Trail that roughly parallels and occasionally crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Trail is a public walking path across 2,144 miles of Appalachian Mountain from Maine to Georgia. A quarter of that trail traverses Virginia, with one hundred of those miles in the Shenandoah National Park, and intersects the Skyline Drive 32 times. Further south, the AT crosses Virginia’s Blue Ridge Parkway twice.

If you start your drive from the Shenandoah National Park, you can start on the Skyline Drive. The scenic drive runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is the only public road through the Park. The drive through the Shenandoah National Park on the Skyline Drive takes about three hours.

And do get a map! Cell phone reception here is iffy. Go old-school and use paper maps or at least download Google Maps.

Other Must-Visit National Parks

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park is South Carolina’s only national park. It’s about 18 miles from Columbia. Congaree has the largest preserved section of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. It has a unique ecosystem that supports native wildlife, including bobcats, deer, armadillos, turkeys, alligators, snakes, and feral hogs. Congaree’s ancient trees harbor over 2,000 bird species, one of the largest numbers in the country.

The museum in the visitor’s center tells the park’s history and about the wildlife found there. The park offers over 25 miles of hiking trails and 2.5 miles of boardwalks. There is also a canoe trail where you can rent a kayak or canoe and paddle through the swamp, or you can bring your own. It’s an under-appreciated treasure in South Carolina’s midlands. Read my friend Kathleen’s article, Congaree National Park: An Under-Rated Treasure to learn more about Congaree.

The National Park of American Samoa

The National Park of American Samoa is the only national park system south of the equator. The largest section of the Park on Tuituila Island is about 2,600 miles from Hawaii and accessible by service to the Pago, Pago Airport. The smaller islands of Ta’ū and Ofu also have sections of the Park. Ta’u has weekly flight access, and Ofu is accessible by boat.

There are few services in the National Park of American Samoa. Bring a snorkel and fins, as over 4,000 acres of the Park are underwater. Bug spray and sunscreen are essentials. Many American Samoa visitors arrive to complete their National Park Passport with an official stamp showing the date and location of their visit. The Park office, one of the island’s few public spaces with WiFi, is a ten-minute walk from the Tuituila cruise terminal and about a twenty-minute drive from the airport. The Park is another ten-minute drive from the main road to the no-cost entrance. Wind down from the gated entrance to a long public beach perfect for snorkeling since most other beaches are private.

Watch for flying fruit bats that nest on high branches. Stop along the route to the beach to take in breathtaking views and admire the orchids that decorate the lush, tropical jungle. Visitors are excited to spot bright fish, sea turtles, and giant clams in the reef shallows. Read more about American Samoa in Elaine’s article on Tripwellgal.com.

Before You Go to a National Park

A Senior Lifetime Pass is only $80—a bargin that begins at the young age of 62! If you don’t have one, pick it up the next time you visit any national park (or order it online before you go.)

And download some podcasts to enjoy on the road, like one about our National Parks, and this one about Etosha, a fabulous National Park in Namibia.

Plan Your Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip

For more exciting stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway, try these locations! Plan a road trip from the Roanoke Valley through the neighboring mountain towns of moonshine fame, to the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway’s Rocky Knob AVA to beautiful Yadkin Valley Wineries.