Blue Ridge Pkwy

Milepost Name of the tunnel Length Maximum Height Minimum Height

458.8 Lickstone Ridge Tunnel 402 feet (123 m) 13 feet 1 inch (4.0 m) 11 feet 1 inch (3.4 m)
459.3 Bunches Bald Tunnel 268 feet (82 m) 13 feet 4 inches (4.1 m) 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m)

First number is maximum second is minimum following length

But this site: Link gives a different number. So one or the other must be wrong. But then this site gives another number: Link 2

So choose whichever number you like and use your RV to test that number.

But wait I found the official number: Blueridge.org

So someone needs to edit the Wikipedia page.

agesilaus wrote:


If you are referring to the numbers I posted. Those are from the Wikipedia "Blue Ridge Tunnels" page and the number are Maximum height at the tunnel center.

Is this the link for Wikipedia you are talking about? It clearly says that the numbers you posted are minimum height.

We've done it several times...a few end-to-end trips and some shorter stretches. In a 32 foot class C and never a bit of problem with the road.

Last year we did a stretch of Skyline Drive in mid-October.....crazy busy......I had badly underestimated how many people were interested in fall leaf watching!

That was the only time I didn't enjoy it...trees were beautiful but so many people had the road and all the turnoffs packed...made it tricky to find enough room to stop. Compared to mid-October, the place is deserted in July and August...

Desert Captain wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
I have driven the entire BRP many times, and always find it compelling. To dispute a previous post, every tunnel is high enough for any vehicle, just remember that they are arched, so at the edges the clearance may be too low for many vehicles, but just stay towards the center (you will not have to cross the center line) and you will be fine. I always stayed at the Park Services campgrounds and found them to be completely adequate. Be sure to stop at every museum and wayside store.

My previous post:

"We were in our 24' Class C which was fine but much of the parkway is not engineered for large RV's. "

is accurate. I never said tunnel height was the issue though there are three near the south end that have minimum clearances of between 10' 6" and 11' 3" which will require larger rigs to straddle the centerline. Much of the BRP has no shoulder whatsoever and the lanes are narrow. You are constantly climbing/descending with many very tight turns and switchbacks.

If you are in any RV 36' or larger, especially with a toad you will not be able to drive the BRP without crossing the double yellow lines on a regular basis. Some folks do but that does not mean it is a good idea much less safe or legal. Should you have any sort of a breakdown it may be a couple of miles before you can get far enough off of the road to keep from blocking the lane.

The BRP is like much of Highway one in California Highway, drop dead gorgeous but not engineered for large RV's. If you have a large rig do yourself and everyone else a favor.... enjoy the BRP from your Toad.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

I am an End to Ender club member and a supporter of many activities on the Parkway. I can tell without exception that every tunnel on the parkway will accommodate ANY RV that is 13'6" or less without straddling the center line. The tunnels are arched, so at the very edges, a few tunnels are in the 10" range, but every tunnel has somewhat of a "shoulder", that is the road edge is not at the tunnel wall, so no vehicle of legal height will have any problem whatsoever in any tunnel.

There are 2 campgrounds I would recommend in Virginia.One is Goose Point.The one loop is on a pinninsula with some sites right on the water.Electric hookups and a nice beach. The other is Sherando Lake which is 18 miles south of the north terminus of the BRP.Again,nice big sites with electric and nice bath houses.Swimming beach.

agesilaus wrote:
"By looking at that chart, only the minimum height was the numbers posted by the other poster. That's minimum. If you look at the maximimum (center height) that is what the height is in the minimum."
=============================================

If you are referring to the numbers I posted. Those are from the Wikipedia "Blue Ridge Tunnels" page and the number are Maximum height at the tunnel center. Those tunnels are both near the southern start of the BRP and I suspect a lot of people start at a point somewhat further north. We did on the trip north and we exited before those tunnels on the way south. Not because of the tunnels but it was just a better spot to use.

If you look at the link that magnusfide posted for the BRP, it has the two heights you mentioned. And if you look at the NPS site, they have the same heights posted as the BRP site. Still, not maximum heights of what you are speaking of.

We've done the BRP a few times. We stayed off the parkway. While you won't have problems on the parkway itself careful on the access roads. Some of them are definitely not t.v. friendly.

"By looking at that chart, only the minimum height was the numbers posted by the other poster. That's minimum. If you look at the maximimum (center height) that is what the height is in the minimum."
=============================================

If you are referring to the numbers I posted. Those are from the Wikipedia "Blue Ridge Tunnels" page and the number are Maximum height at the tunnel center. Those tunnels are both near the southern start of the BRP and I suspect a lot of people start at a point somewhat further north. We did on the trip north and we exited before those tunnels on the way south. Not because of the tunnels but it was just a better spot to use.

magnusfide wrote:

Desert Captain wrote:
We spent a week on the BRP and Shenandoah National Park last (early) May. It was a great time to be there as not many other folks were. We too stayed at the CG's just off the parkway as the parkway CG's don't open until the middle of May. Traffic was almost non existent and as noted you will rarely be traveling at the 45 mph max speed limit. In Shenandoah NP the limit is 35 and 25 is more appropriate for most of the park.

We were in our 24' Class C which was fine but much of the parkway is not engineered for large RV's. Those with large fivers/TT's and Class A's will have a better time parking the rig and utilizing their toads to experience the best of the Parkway. We found Asheville NC to be an ideal place to enter the Parkway as just south (of Asheville) are several very restricted bridges and tunnels that even our C could not navigate. When we exited Shenandoah NP at the north end it was a short drive into Washington DC.

if you are ever going to be in this part of the country I highly recommend you spend some time on the BRP and in Shenandoah NP.

:B

Double ditto. It's worth pursuing but do check the tunnel clearances against the height of your rig. Here's a chart of the tunnel clearances on the BRP. Bookmark it and take it with you as you drive the route.
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=87.

By looking at that chart, only the minimum height was the numbers posted by the other poster. That's minimum. If you look at the maximimum (center height) that is what the height is in the minimum. From 10' 6" to 18' 4" is a big difference. i would imagine that most (except the very large high sitting fifth wheels and a some Class A's) wouldn't have that hard of a time. Especially in a Class C. Most tractor trailers are 13'6" in height and I would say "most" RV's are below that height. More in the 11' range.

Bottom line is you have to do what you feel comfortable with. After reading these postings and other postings, I see that there are a lot who do not like to drive mountain roads or don't feel comfortable driving them.