Forum Discussion

regalroute66's avatar
regalroute66
Explorer
Feb 24, 2020

Shenandoah NP to Great Smoky Mountains NP

Hello Everyone,

In mid May, my wife and I are planning on driving the Skyline Dr in Shenandoah NP from Front Royal VA, down the Blue Ridge Pkwy. into Great Smoky Mountains NP, and onto Pigeon Forge TN. We have a 24' class C MH. and I know there are lots of tunnels along the route, our MH is 10' 8" tall at the highest point, I was just curious if you needed an escort to take you down the middle of the road like they do in Zion NP? or if there is enough clearance staying in your own lane?

Also, We don't pull a toad, but I was curious what the grades are like along the route, just so I have some idea of what to expect, lol.

Plus, We plan on camping and hiking along the route, so if anyone has any suggestions good or bad I welcome your input.

Thank you so much in advance.
Roads and Routes
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2020
    We have driven the Blue Ridge down a couple of times from VA to the Smoky Mtns but this was pulling my POPUP trailer.

    Even with that we decided to get off the Blue Ridge onto I81 for some reason and just took the first exit off the Parkway that came up. Almost a big mistake haha... The small winding road feeding the Parkway was a nightmare even for my low profile POPUP trailer. Advice here is to only get ON and OFF of the Blue ridge at the major Roads haha... Also I think there is only maybe three gasoline stations on the Parkway so judge accordingly.

    Another thing caught my attention was the amount of motorcycle traffic. Apparently the Blue Ridge parkway is a big magnet for motorcycles... They are hard to see sometimes and may sneak up on you...

    I also noticed you may come up on several cars and RV's just pulled off to the side of the road. This is most often associated with a bear sighting... Folks want to pull off and get a quick camera shot haha...

    We have even come up on a group Bicycle's one time...

    Don't expect making good travel time haha... Keep in mind the Blue Ridge Parkway was originally created for cars and tent camping. Some places may be a challenge for big RV units haha...

    I would download one of those PDF's that shows the whole Blue Ridge Parkway Map with mile markers and a lot of info on it...

    Roy Ken
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Feb 25, 2020
    We have only run the Blue ridge once and that was from Cherokee north and it was the very end of April and into May of 2010. The grades were no issue for our classic/antique motorhome, but being a sea level a person, I was not ready for it to still be winter at 5~6000'MSL. Craggy Garden was planned to be a stop for some hiking. We got there and were quickly convinced that we did not pack the proper clothes for that. There was a welcome fire going in the visitor center there and we talked to both of the people that were there.

    This changed our plan by some.

    We also go shut off traveling north at Pisgah. We had planned to EOD there, but the camp ground was not open. The crew that was supposed to do that was clearing the road of a late winter storm. Because the road was closed ahead and we would have to back track nearly 30 miles or go down the mountain. We went down the mountain. 1800' drop in ~3.8 miles of road on 1.5 miles of map.... Mary was driving, and I think I could have checked the taillights if I were paying attention to that.

    Altogether a good time that we may repeat some day.

    Matt

About Bucket List Trips

13,487 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 11, 2025