Wanting to go to the BRP and stay on the west side. Looking to trout fish and motorcycle. Wife loves to antique. 28ft rv pulling a 14ft trailer. Electricity would be nice. Thanks for any and all advice. Chris.

The BRP and SNP are 465 miles long so not real sure what part you are doing. If its the northern end try Andy Guest Shenandoah River SP near Luray, VA. Right on the Shenandoah river, you can fish, DW can find at least 50 antique shops within a 50 mile radius. Yogi Bear at Natural Bridge is also on the river so you can fish, not so many antique shops in that area. There are also several State Parks further south where you may get in some fishing, like Claytor Lake,and Douthat.

We were thinking around Cherokee area? Right around the North Carolina /TN. border. Base camp on the western side.

shenandoahvalley wrote:The BRP and SNP are 465 miles long so not real sure what part you are doing. If its the northern end try Andy Guest Shenandoah River SP near Luray, VA. Right on the Shenandoah river, you can fish, DW can find at least 50 antique shops within a 50 mile radius. Yogi Bear at Natural Bridge is also on the river so you can fish, not so many antique shops in that area. There are also several State Parks further south where you may get in some fishing, like Claytor Lake,and Douthat.Yeah, there is no West side. It runs more or less, North South, and the right of way is only a few hundred feet wide. Tell us what town, or section you want to be near. Cherokee, Linville, Boone, Virginia, and we can help more.

shenandoahvalley wrote:The BRP and SNP are 465 miles long so not real sure what part you are doing. If its the northern end try Andy Guest Shenandoah River SP near Luray, VA. Right on the Shenandoah river, you can fish, DW can find at least 50 antique shops within a 50 mile radius. Yogi Bear at Natural Bridge is also on the river so you can fish, not so many antique shops in that area. There are also several State Parks further south where you may get in some fishing, like Claytor Lake,and Douthat.Yeah, there is no West side. It runs more or less, North South, and the right of way is only a few hundred feet wide. Tell us what town, or section you want to be near. Cherokee, Linville, Boone, Virginia, and we can help more.As for electricity. None of the NP CGs have it, or sewer hookups. You have get off the BRP for that. However Raccoone Holler, is just along side near Glendale Springs, and Miller Camp as well. Bear Den is near Little Switzerland. They has full hookups.

Near the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia is SERANDO LAKE which is an excellent camp ground with hookups... Has access to the Parkway which is somewhat steep and and sharp curves near the Parkway.Altho the parkway is a NORTH SOUTH route the areas in the NC area around the Cherokee area is sometimes referred to as the western section.Referring to actual town locations where you want to be would serve you best.The Parkway itself is just a hugh scenic drive for some 420 miles with camp locations about every 50 miles along the way. None of the camp ground have hookups. All of the places you are wanting to see are off the parkway in the local town such as Cherokee and others. One big downside with the parkway is only a few good locations to get on and off of the parkway. The parkway has numerous access points along the entire 420 mile route and alot of those places getting on and off the parkway may not be camper trailer friendly. There are also only a few restaurants and fuel stations on the parkway. You really need to get a map of the whole parkway to be aware of where these locations are located. The speed limit on the parkway is 45MPH but a lot of places are only 25-30MPHS with lots of curves, some tunnels and viaducts, alot of motorcycle and bicycle traffic. Wildlife especially deer is something to be very aware of especially at the dusk part of the day.Using the parkway as a base camp for those places you have mentioned is probably not the better idea. In NC the PISGAH and Nantahala National Forest areas with hookups might be better choices for base camp ideas.You cannot be in hurry along the parkway...We have tent camped at most camp sites along the Blue ridge Parkway from Virginia to Ashville a couple of times. just some of my thoughtsRoy Ken

western Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

wbwood
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
kohldad wrote:
Well, he was very vague on where he wanted to go.

If you are in Townsend and are going down to drive the Tail of the Dragon, it will be further than an hour away

Disagree. I come through Tail of the Dragon several times with my TC. Jump over the Foothills Parkway, take a right and a couple miles you are in Townsend. Easily less than an hour even in my TC.

Now if you try to go up and over 441, then 19 to 28 to eastern start of the Dragon, yep, several hours.

You are right. I forgot about coming around that way.
cman60
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Bama, in the 14 years or so of owning this rv we have never ran into this. Needless to say this got my attenion.
Allworth
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2013
Persimmon Creek CG outside of Murphy.
BAMA_57
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Several tunnels; make sure your rig is not too tall. My sister's RV would not clear.
jaycocamprs
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
This may be to far west for you. Indian Boundary Recreation Area is just off the Cherohala Skyway and has 30 amp electric and water faucets around the campground. The Cherohala Skyway runs between Tellico Plains TN and US-129 north of Robbinsville NC. This area would provide lots of road for motorcycling, both paved and unpaved. I'm not a fisherman, but I would think that this area would have trout fishing.
cman60
Explorer
Aug 16, 2013
I'm sorry for all the confusion. We are wanting to be around the Cherokee area. We are hoping to trout fish. We are avid motorcyclist, both on road and off. We have street legal Dirt Bikes. And yes, the wife likes to also antique. With that being said we would just like electricity and maybe a campground that has showers. Trying to stay on the Western edge of NC for our base camp. Its not unusual for us to ride 2-3 hundred mile loops in a day, either off road or on. Hoping for some insight on some campgrounds. Thanks again, Chris.
Handbasket
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
OP needs to know that the BRP is closed 8 miles north of Asheville for 20 miles due to a slope failure. The detour around this section is long. They _plan_ to reopen it by Labor Day wknd, but with all the rain we've had and more in the forecast, who knows?

'Western end' of the P'way means Asheville-Waynesville-Maggie Valley-Cherokee area. Just look at a map, the P'way runs diagonally NE to SW to Asheville, then turns mostly west.

The only NPS CG's in that area are Mt Pisgah on the P'way & Smokemont in GSMNP. Neither has any hookups. There are NFS CG's a Lake Powhatan and Davidson River. No sure about the first, the second may have electric on one (?) loop. For commercial CG's, you've got a lot of choices.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
Terryallan
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2013
kohldad wrote:
Well, he was very vague on where he wanted to go.

If you are in Townsend and are going down to drive the Tail of the Dragon, it will be further than an hour away

Disagree. I come through Tail of the Dragon several times with my TC. Jump over the Foothills Parkway, take a right and a couple miles you are in Townsend. Easily less than an hour even in my TC.

Now if you try to go up and over 441, then 19 to 28 to eastern start of the Dragon, yep, several hours.

But then how far is Townsend from the Blue Ridge Parkway. More than an hour don't you think? And that is the destination. The BRP is nowhere near Townsend
kohldad
Explorer III
Aug 14, 2013
Well, he was very vague on where he wanted to go.

If you are in Townsend and are going down to drive the Tail of the Dragon, it will be further than an hour away

Disagree. I come through Tail of the Dragon several times with my TC. Jump over the Foothills Parkway, take a right and a couple miles you are in Townsend. Easily less than an hour even in my TC.

Now if you try to go up and over 441, then 19 to 28 to eastern start of the Dragon, yep, several hours.
wbwood
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
Man, this thread is all over the place...they ask about western part of the BRP...first post is what would be call the farthest eastern part of the BRP. While it may also go North/South, it does go East/West as well.

Then you got mentioning of not riding the BRP on a motorcycle because it's slow, but then they mention GSMNP, which is also slow. If you are in Townsend and are going down to drive the Tail of the Dragon, it will be further than an hour away. From Townsend to Cherokee will take you about an hour and half alone.

Then the mention of TN, which the BRP is not in. The closest you will get to TN on the BRP will be in the Linville area.

Part of the BRP is closed to the east or north side of Asheville.