8 Tips for Planning a Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip: Route, Cost, Weather, Hiking & More
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- čas přidán 17. 09. 2022
- Blue Ridge Parkway is a fantastic road trip. My dad and I drove it over 4 days and enjoyed all of the fun experiences there were to see along the way. I made this video to help others plan their road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In it I cover how much it cost, how many days are best, how to plan for the weather and more. Let me know what other questions you have below.
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I used to live around that area surrounding the parkway. It was routine to go to one trail or another every few days when I lived there. I worked in Lynchburg and Roanoke and went to college in Blacksburg and Charlottesville...in total about 15 years in the area.
So many trails and overlooks I can't remember the names.
They are serious about getting you OFF the mountain when its going to snow.
There are some narrow roads with very steep drop-offs....enjoy the drive and take your time.
This came at a great time for me as me and my son are about to roadtrip from New Orleans back to Baltimore. Hoping to drive through Blue Ridge on the way back! Thanks for this one!
Commercial vehicles aren't allowed on the Parkway, hence the effect on availability of food/gas. There were once gas stations at stops easily accessed from side roads (Peaks of Otter once had gas), but those were taken out in the early 90s. Also, if you are camping/RVing, the Parkway-related camping is typically without hookups, though there are accessible commercial campgrounds close to the road.
While studying the road itself, look for the offshoots that will take you down to the towns. The comment about there being nothing between Boone and Roanoke was mistaken in that respect. At Fancy Gap, US52 drops down into Mt Airy, otherwise known as Mayberry. A shorter hop in the other direction on US52 takes you to Hillsville. Mabry Mill has a restaurant. Hopping off of VA8 to drop down to Floyd is worth it.
There are also a number of cabins and B&Bs close to the Parkway, you just have to study the route.
If time is limited (yeah, 4 days ain't gonna do it) then some sections are best plowed through. We lived an hour from the Parkway for 25 years and drove/rode motorcycles up and down the entire length. We knew some parts where we simply focused on the road ahead. Also - speed limits? 45 with some sections around tourist spots less. Busy places like Mabry Mill, the Linville Viaduct, Moses Cone House .. will see a lot of congestion on the road. Some of the pullouts are on blind curves. Slow down and use your turn signal. Watch for people scampering across the road at the most scenic areas. You may see people pulled off on some of the verges to picnic. That is allowed ... or at least tolerated.
Asheville - the locals use the Parkway as a shortcut. Some speed. Be on the lookout for cops. KEEP IN MIND THAT SPEEDING ON THE PARKWAY CAN BE A FEDERAL OFFENSE. That action was forced by the bikers who came up with challenges of riding between certain sections.
If you plan a fall trip (the busiest time, especially on the weekends) the road will be crowded, especially around some of the places I named above.
There are other videos on youtube providing details on how to find lodging/food. This one is a good introduction. We hope to move back to NC; our retirement to Tennessee ("hey! It's right next door to NC!") isn't as good as we had hoped. One reason is that we miss the Blue Ridge Parkway. I can't wait to get back 'home.'
I'm sorry but don't know your name....but wanted to say I ABSOLUTELY LOVE all the videos you do with your dad. I think that is just about the coolest thing in the world. Plus you are a natural at narrating your adentures; always so perfectly smooth and detailed. A question if you don't mind, and apologies if it is too personal. But I was wondering about your mother, as I've never seen her or heard you mention her in any of your videos. Has she passed on (sorry if yes), or if still living does she just consider you & your dad traveling together "a guy thing" ? Very curious. THANK YOU for all the fantastic videos, and keep up the great work ! Gary from Rochester, NY
I was on the blue ridge once at an overlook in NC and saw a tornado probably around 20 miles away. It was wild.
What a beautiful trip across the mountains that makes my husband and I dream even if we will not be able to visit for we live far abroad...Such stunning and gorgeous sceneries and places full of history to see outside big cities that we didn t know. Nice to travel with your father too. A real pleasure to watch thank you for sharing and a big hello from France !
What can I say! This is super awesome and amazing and please keep doing what you do! 😁
You can also fly to Greenville SC and drive one hour north to enter the parkway at Asheville
Your videos are great and informative. Thanks for letting us see your adventures
Based on our experience this a great short instruction video. I endorse all your planning tips. Thanks for sharing watching these videos brought back great memories of past trips and we hope to drive it again one day.
Enjoy y’all’s adventures and videos! Thank you for sharing your journeys! Food and gas isn’t that limited as there are good access points from the Pkwy to nearby/close towns and communities. But, I totally agree, take plenty of drinks and snacks to have along the way. Also, several map publications that are free & can be picked up all around the Pkwy often denote where gas is available. Also, lodging is pretty available as well. There are somewhat parallel roadways to the Pkwy with local hotels and larger communities with national chains that are located at good daily breakpoints. Bathrooms are the most challenging to find in the park. Planning a cross country trip is more difficult for sure, but this National Park is far easier to plan for than the larger, remote parks out west. Safe travels and happy trails all!
Your videos are some of the best I have seen. Very informative too
Your eBook is incredible and I hope you develop more in the future. Thanks Josh and Pops!!
Love your Resturant choices Food looks,Yummeeeeeee! !!
ThankYou for Sharing your Trip!! Pretty cool.
You are fantastic, thank you for this information.
Love your long series of road trip and National Parks. Please make a Road trip on the East Coast and to upper New England during the fall. Also consider a long series on Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks
very interesting and informative...Thank you for zeroing in on major concerns. 👏👏🛣
Thank you! Love your videos!!!
Never been but it looks beautiful.
I like this video, as I want to plan trip myself! Luckily I can cut flights, rental and hotels out, since live just live east of ATL. To avoid hotel costs I’m planning on camping along the route, of course it’ll take some planning🤔
Thanks!! Wife and I will do your exact route, heading to DC continuing to Portland, ME in September.
Great tips man, Hopefully I will be there next year ;)
I was wondering about the travel trailer thing too. Ours is a little vintage trailer (13’) so I was wondering about camping along the route? We have a solar set up so wouldn’t need hook ups necessarily. I bought your E books for both the New England trip and for this one, and will be watching your Shenandoah Valley video to get info on that too. Really love it you travel with your dad. My mom and I were travel hounds and toured the Wild West before she passed away. Some of the best memories of her and of travel!
Thank you for the information. 👌
I'm driving from Birmingham, AL to Wayneboro and going North to South and taking 4 or 5 days to complete. I really don't want to lock down hotel accommodations because I want to go at my own pace and stop when I feel like it. Did you have any trouble finding rooms? I appreciate your thorough information on your trips. My brother and I are going to Alaska in June and your video was very helpful with planning that trip.
Thank you.
nice to meet you my friend,,,
Josh , my family and I love your vids. Will you ever do a Video about Salem Mass for Halloween.I have always dreamed of going but wonder would it live up to expectations? Thx and keep up the awesome work ! Your family and Father are adorable btw and we love your road trips with them 😃👍
As for myself I would drive to Nashville from the St. Louis area. We would stop near Nashville and visit the town of Franklin,Tn. It is a very historical town where battle of Franklin was fought in the civil war. It is areally interesting town.
Would love it if you could mention how safe places are, would love to do this as we travel to USA often. Love your style of videos! Thanks
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a hundred times safer than whatever city you will fly into.
we have a Garmin GPS specifically for road trips, before a trip, I would reset the whole thing, put in all the stops we are going to make in backwards order. On the GPS that puts everything in order. It doesn't need cell signal, so works in wilderness. Best part no taking your phone off mount at every stop and if you make a detour the GPS will still try to aim at your next destination, your phone can be used for other things. Can just keep the GPS mounted, unless it is some really shitty neighborhood no one is going to try to steal a GPS. No need to worry about pairing your phone to the rental car and searching for the next location each time. Map apps works great for direction to one place when you type by name, for 30+ stops, just doesn't work well.
Side note, knew it would cost ya when you said one way rental, everytime we plan a trip, we end up just adding more days to do a round trip thru a different route to keep the cost down, usually if we can stretch the rental to a week cost actually goes down as well, and returning it to the same place keeps it down too. Your cost is actually cheaper than I thought it would cost at the end.
Yea pops
We hit fog in Fancy Gap, Va. It was quite frightening. We live in Northeast and are use to fog banks rolling in from ocean, as well as Blizzard white outs. BUT this Fog was worse than any of above. 10-15’ at most visibility. Made worse by not knowing the area. Learned this is very common occurrence in the “Gaps.” Take note tourists. btw the weather was cloudy in Roanoke but not rain and why we were caught off guard.
I love your videos, sorry to use this video to ask but while I’m watching mammoth lakes video you said to ask for suggestions to visit. I grew up camping in the sierras and have now lived in Virginia for decades. There are a few neat places I think of…one is the gold town of Downieville and camping at Gold Lake. Would be extra fun is you fished!
Is there a train ride through the blue ridge mountains? Would be nice to not have to drive for a solo mission
I think the best bet for getting the best weather (no fog) would be to travel the parkway during the summer, although everyone says the best time to go is in the spring or fall. I drove the parkway in May and lost an entire day to fog...couldn't see a thing from any of the overlooks.
Are there AirBnb or Vrbo options where there are no hotels? Its crazy to know how limited food and lodging were on a well known route. Thanks for the helpful tips as always!
Hi Sir, what its like drive the Blue Ridge Parkway in early November from entry near Ashville , stay in Roanoke , then take exit to Charlottesville ?
Did you check out the Little Switzerland area?
where did u get that zion and yosemite picture/frame behind you, thanks :)
What paperback book did your Dad use? I noticed it on another video. He had lots of pages marked with stickies.
Quick question -- did you get a permit or permit(s) to film along the BRP? If so, how easy or difficult was that process?
Can you tow a travel trailer on the blue ridge parkway?
What the emblem on your hat? It looks like a CS?
What was the book your dad was referencing throughout the video?
Any particular phone map app?
Do we need to have some permit to enter each stops, any fees ?
The overlooks no fee. But some of the stops along the way, like Grandfather Mountain Park, Linville caverns, etc. there is a fee.
@@Peonies925 do you know which overlooks is close from Asheville
@@bonymathew1717
Overlooks fairly close the Asheville area would be from about mile markers 364 to 417. Go to virtualblueridge.com and you will be able to see a list of all the overlooks.
How do you afford this? What kind of work do you do to take these trips? It's amazing I want to go.....
These videos ARE his work
Interesting how there is such a lack of food on this route. Not like Route 66 at all haha 😆
Which visitor center is the best to stop at,....
I was wondering about the travel trailer thing too. Ours is a little vintage trailer (13’) so I was wondering about camping along the route? We have a solar set up so wouldn’t need hook ups necessarily. I bought your E books for both the New England trip and for this one, and will be watching your Shenandoah Valley video to get info on that too. Really love it you travel with your dad. My mom and I were travel hounds and toured the Wild West before she passed away. Some of the best memories of her and of travel!