Experience 75 miles of breathtaking mountain scenery on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Cherokee to Asheville. Explore overlooks, waterfalls, and sweeping vistas along one of America’s most iconic scenic drives.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Explore the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile mountain drive through Virginia and North Carolina. Discover top overlooks, hiking trails, and cultural stops along America’s favorite park road.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of America’s most beloved scenic drives, stretching 469 miles through the Appalachian Highlands of Virginia and North Carolina. Designed as a linear national park, the parkway connects Shenandoah National Park in the north with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the south, following the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Renowned for its sweeping mountain vistas, historic sites, and seasonal displays of wildflowers and foliage, the route is a favorite for leisurely road trips, photography, and motorcycle touring.
Constructed beginning in 1935 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives, the parkway was envisioned as both a conservation project and a recreational corridor. Its design emphasizes harmony with the natural landscape, featuring low-speed curves, stone bridges, and scenic overlooks rather than utilitarian highway structures. Along the way, travelers can explore hundreds of miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, visitor centers, and cultural sites like Mabry Mill, the Blue Ridge Music Center, and historic Appalachian farms.
Unlike an interstate or U.S. highway, the Blue Ridge Parkway is managed by the National Park Service and prohibits commercial traffic. Speed limits are generally limited to 45 mph or less, making it a true pleasure route rather than a point-to-point thoroughfare. Whether you’re seeking peaceful mountain drives, panoramic sunrise views, or access to vibrant Appalachian communities, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a uniquely immersive travel experience through the heart of the southern Appalachians.
Experience Blue Ridge Parkway