Blue Ridge Parkway start to end

zackyboy3rs wrote:
How many days would you spend? I would like to check out a lot of the local area.

We did it once, actually I've done it twice, once with a pop-up and again with a 5th wheel, and took three days from Front Royale Virginia to Cherokee North Carolina. I enjoyed the trip, but, would never do the whole thing all at one time again. I love to go up on the parkway for day trips. Stop at the rest areas, they usually have some interesting things. And, around mm 171, there's a good dog friendly winery, Chateau Morisette, I think. And there is some excellent hiking, like the Black Balsam Mountain and Tennet Mountain trail just south of Asheville. Also nearby is the Graveyard Fields trail. When in North Carolina, go up to Clingman's Dome in the GSMNP.
Watch for elk in that area also. I love the BRP, I just wouldn't do the whole thing at one time again.

jaycocamprs wrote:

pulsar wrote:
Here are some numbers for the Bunches Bald tunnel.

Height at the edge line: 10' 6"
Height at the center line: 18' 4"

Height 1' from edge line: 11.98'
Height 2' from edge line: 13.31' - Driver's side is on center line.
Height 3' from edge line: 14.48'


Note: I made the following assumptions:

1. The shape of the top of the tunnel is parabolic.
   
2. The minimum and maximum heights Min. Has post on www.blueridgeparkway.org are accurate.
   
   

Tom

www.virtualblueridge.com lists them at
458.8 Lickstone Ridge Tunnel Length 402' Min. Height 11' 1" Max. Height 13' 1"
459.3 Bunches Bald Tunnel Length 255' Min. Height 10' 6" Max. Height 13' 4"
I don't know which is right, but at less than 13'6" max I wouldn't try.

I've been through the Bunches Bald Tunnel (in a car.) Although I didn't measure the height, I assure you it was more that 13' 4'' tall, in the center.

If you go to the National Park Service site, you will see that they list the Bunches Tunnel height as Max = 18' 4", Min = 10' 6", the values I used in my calculations.

Wikipedia gives the heights that you do, but have a not that one should rely on the heights provided by NPS, and provide a link in the footnotes.

Incidentally, the NPS site lists Lickstone Ridge tunnel heights as 18' 1" and 11' 1".

Tom

pulsar wrote:
Here are some numbers for the Bunches Bald tunnel.

Height at the edge line: 10' 6"
Height at the center line: 18' 4"

Height 1' from edge line: 11.98'
Height 2' from edge line: 13.31' - Driver's side is on center line.
Height 3' from edge line: 14.48'


Note: I made the following assumptions:

1. The shape of the top of the tunnel is parabolic.
   
2. The minimum and maximum heights Min. Has post on www.blueridgeparkway.org are accurate.
   
   

Tom

www.virtualblueridge.com lists them at
458.8 Lickstone Ridge Tunnel Length 402' Min. Height 11' 1" Max. Height 13' 1"
459.3 Bunches Bald Tunnel Length 255' Min. Height 10' 6" Max. Height 13' 4"
I don't know which is right, but at less than 13'6" max I wouldn't try.

Here are some numbers for the Bunches Bald tunnel.

Height at the edge line: 10' 6"
Height at the center line: 18' 4"

Height 1' from edge line: 11.98'
Height 2' from edge line: 13.31' - Driver's side is on center line.
Height 3' from edge line: 14.48'


Note: I made the following assumptions:

1. The shape of the top of the tunnel is parabolic.
   
2. The minimum and maximum heights as post on www.blueridgeparkway.org are accurate.
   
   

Tom

pulsar wrote:

Tom N wrote:

pulsar wrote:

Tom N wrote:
I drove the complete BRP and the Skyline Drive in my 39' motorhome. No problems and a great, scenic drive. I highly recommend it. Don't let anyone mislead you on the tunnels.

-Tom

You give the length of yours but fail to state the height. It's 11'5", unless you have modified it.

I'm a few inches higher than 11'5" with a roof top satellite dish. But I do have a ~3' CB antenna on the driver's side. That antenna never hit the roof of any tunnel.

Anyway, as I stated, one can drive the complete BRP with an RV. Although, stay towards the center in most tunnels, as you stated.

-Tom

Would it have hit if it were on the passenger's side? I believe that is the side we are worrying about.

Tom

I don't know, although I do have 2 - 18" AM/FM antennas on the extreme passenger side and they never hit. I do know I never had to go over the double yellow center line.

-Tom

Tom N wrote:

pulsar wrote:

Tom N wrote:
I drove the complete BRP and the Skyline Drive in my 39' motorhome. No problems and a great, scenic drive. I highly recommend it. Don't let anyone mislead you on the tunnels.

-Tom

You give the length of yours but fail to state the height. It's 11'5", unless you have modified it.

I'm a few inches higher than 11'5" with a roof top satellite dish. But I do have a ~3' CB antenna on the driver's side. That antenna never hit the roof of any tunnel.

Anyway, as I stated, one can drive the complete BRP with an RV. Although, stay towards the center in most tunnels, as you stated.

-Tom

Would it have hit if it were on the passenger's side? I believe that is the side we are worrying about.

Tom

zackyboy3rs wrote:
Has anyone ever traveled the entire BRP? Is it possible to travel it with a 33ft 5th wheel? Or may a 25' TT? (My parents have the TT). Just one of the things on my bucket list.

Waaaaay back in the day, in my much younger years, I did the entire Blue Ridge Parkway as well as the Skyline Dr, from Front Royal VA to the Smokies. Did it in an Honda Civic CVCC and tent camped the entire trip. Was well worth it then, and I'd love to do it all over again...but with my trailer!

Done most of it at one time or another towing. No biggie really. If you are tall drive the center of the tunnels if you can. The height on the post should be height at curb.

The access & local roads in the mountains are far worse than the BRP when it comes to width & corners with no shoulders.

Pretty drive any time of the year.

If ya like the BRP consider the Natchez Trace for next year ! Kinda nice in a different kinda way , Nashville on one end and Natchez on tuh udder !

pulsar wrote:

Tom N wrote:
I drove the complete BRP and the Skyline Drive in my 39' motorhome. No problems and a great, scenic drive. I highly recommend it. Don't let anyone mislead you on the tunnels.

-Tom

You give the length of yours but fail to state the height. It's 11'5", unless you have modified it.

I'm a few inches higher than 11'5" with a roof top satellite dish. But I do have a ~3' CB antenna on the driver's side. That antenna never hit the roof of any tunnel.

Anyway, as I stated, one can drive the complete BRP with an RV. Although, stay towards the center in most tunnels, as you stated.

-Tom