Blue Ridge Pkwy

The height on the tunnels are measured at the fog line with a high arch. The shorter tunnels are usually short enough in length to view if oncoming traffic would prevent one from taking a more center line. We traveled both ways with a fiver measuring 13' 3" without a hint of a problem. We stayed in campgrounds off the Parkway because of size and facilities.

I've driven Skyline Dr. many times with my 30' class c, pulling the toad on a dolly, never had a problem & have seen many 5'ers & class A's, and no body running into each other or running off the edge of the road. Let's face it, you're doing 35 mph, or less.

I started at the north end of the SNP and planned to drive and camp the entire BRP...with a 3/4 truck and a 30' TT. After two days of tight turns and steep hills I had enough. I now plan to make the trip by motorcycle and tent camp. It will be much more relaxed and enjoyable.

terrytrailertrash wrote:
Do you remember what campgrounds you used? How long you stayed at each campgroumd? Thanks for the input.

Mitchell Mountain SP about 40 miles north of Asheville was one of our favorites, spent two nights there. It is a couple of miles down a tight dirt road but drop dead gorgeous on a nice flowing stream. Had a close encounter with a hungry black bear, nose to nose through the window at O' dark thirty. Not sure who jumped the highest, him or me. :E

There were several other CG's just off of the BRP that we enjoyed but I'll have to wait until my bride returns and can check her journals for the names. The CG's in Shenandoah NP were very nice as well but no hook ups (they did have dump stations).

:C

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.

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.

Well it they may have been high enough for your TC but they aren't high enough for many other RV's:


458.8 Lickstone Ridge Tunnel 402 feet (123 m) 13 feet 1 inch
459.3 Bunches Bald Tunnel 268 feet (82 m) 13 feet 4 inches

Those are the maximum heights for those two tunnels. Many RV's are at least 13'6" in height.

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

Just remember, if you stay at the CG's on the parkway, like most (or all) NP CG's, they have no hookups, but if that doesn't matter to you, then once you're on the Parkway, you don't have to get off, except to go after supplies.

We have done big chunks of it here & there as part of various trips through the area. Doing the whole thing one time will eventually bore you to tears IMO.

CGs are off the parkway aways & sometimes involve going up or down very narrow twisty valleys. Private CGs in towns either side of the parkway are plentyful. There are also CGs within the Smokey Mountains, Shenandoa & inbetween. You pick your type preference.

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.