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Photo: Matthew Trudeau / CC0 1.0

Mountains

Blue Ridge Parkway

Asheville, NC · Blue Ridge MountainsFreeFree; campgrounds along the parkway charge a fee

About

Milepost 0 of the Blue Ridge Parkway is in Virginia at Shenandoah National Park, and the road ends 469 miles later at the Smokies in North Carolina. Its lowest point is 649 feet, at the James River, and its highest is 6,047 feet, at Richland Balsam. After Hurricane Helene in 2024 the whole road closed, and it has reopened a section at a time, so check the Park Service closures list before a long drive, especially between November and March. Most visitor centers and campgrounds are open only from May through October.

Highlights

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Milepost 384Linn Cove Viaduct around Grandfather MountainCraggy Pinnacle, a 20-minute walkMile-high views from Waterrock KnobHighest point 6,047 feet, Richland BalsamFolk Art Center crafts at Milepost 382

Getting there

199 Hemphill Knob Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

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The Blue Ridge Mountains26 places

The Blue Ridge Mountains

Pick one end. Nobody drives the Parkway fast, so the Virginia stretch and the North Carolina mountains make two trips.