Blue Ridge Parkway
469 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, with mileposts from 0 in Virginia to 469 in North Carolina.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length469 miles[3]
- Drive timeAbout four days to enjoy the whole parkway[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endShenandoah National Park in Virginia (milepost 0) to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina (milepost 469)[3]
- Fees and passesNone[1]
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresSections close for weather and for road work; check the Park Service's road closure map before you go.[2]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles along the crest of the southern Appalachians, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Mileposts count from 0 at the north end to 469 at the south.
It's a slow road built for looking. Virginia highlights include Humpback Rocks, the James River and the Peaks of Otter; in North Carolina, the Linn Cove Viaduct curves around Grandfather Mountain, Craggy Gardens and Mount Pisgah sit high above Asheville, and Richland Balsam Overlook is the highest point on the parkway.
FHWA suggests four days for the whole road, and most people drive a section at a time. Weather and road work close parts of it, so check the Park Service closure map first.
Stops along the way
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Humpback Rocks
Short, steep hike to a rocky viewpoint near the north end (Virginia).
Official information · 37.96844, -78.89675 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
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James River
River crossing with a trail along the old James River and Kanawha Canal.
Official information · 37.55384, -79.36805 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
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Peaks of Otter
Mountain lake and peaks in Virginia.
Official information · 37.44162, -79.59766 · about 0.6 mi from the route line
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Mabry Mill
Water-powered gristmill, busiest in summer and fall.
Official information · 36.75105, -80.40525 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
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Linn Cove Viaduct
Curving concrete bridge around Grandfather Mountain (North Carolina).
Official information · 36.09303, -81.81312 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Craggy Gardens
High-elevation trails and views northeast of Asheville.
Official information · 35.69929, -82.39254 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
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Mount Pisgah
High-elevation area southwest of Asheville.
Official information · 35.40546, -82.75381 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Richland Balsam Overlook
Milepost 431.4: the highest point on the parkway.
Official information · 35.36298, -82.99219 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Blowing Rock Farmers' MarketBlowing Rock, NC · about 1.2 mi from the route
- Vinton Farmers MarketVinton, VA · about 1.8 mi from the route
- Waynesboro Farmers MarketWaynesboro, VA · about 3.0 mi from the route
- Floyd Farmers MarketFloyd, VA · about 3.1 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- The Historic City MarketRoanoke, VA · about 3.2 mi from the route · listed as year-round
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Blue Ridge Parkway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Blue Ridge Parkway: operating hours (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Blue Ridge Parkway: directions (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).