I have a Jayco 28bhsw TT and a 2500HD. Traveling with wife and kids, 2 and 5(they're troopers, trust me). I'm hitting a friend's place(private campground) near 76 falls in Lake Cumberland heading south from Columbus, Ohio for 2 nights(he has a nice boat but he will only be there 2 days before leaving) and wanted to fill 4 nights of camping between lake Cumberland and Luray, Virgina(going to Jellystone for 3 days with the kids). So, I have many options. The 3 days at Luray will be split between driving/hiking and letting the kids do their thing at the campground while we wind down. So, here are my questions...1. I'd love to drive the parkway. I'm young and dumb but this would be late July/August so would it be a nightmare? If so what would be your suggestions for 4 nights, as far as stops, and I could always backtrack from Luray for a day to stretch out the 4 days in the south. 2. I love the smokys but I'm used to being there in the fall. Will the crowds be annoying to me and should I just loop around to the south and bypass 441 altogether? Catch rt 74 off of I-75s? 3. Biltmore with 2 kids? Worth it or will I hate my life?4. I loved driving through the Natahala Forest last year. Any safe rafting or canoe trips for the 2 and 5 year old? They swim at my house all summer so they aren't completely helpless but I wouldn't put them in a situation that was dangerous obviously. 5. Can't miss hikes/geographical spots? I love the outdoors and we have taken both kids on a 6-7 mile hike in RMNP before so I don't scare easily. Carriers for both kids if needed but likely just the littlest. The 5 year old can do some decent scrambling as well, lol. She is amazing and already told me she needs new hiking shoes for the mountains... :-)Thanks for any responses, they will all be read.

The Blue Ridge parkway is one of my all time favorites drive. Beautiful overlooks, nice road, and very doable hills and grades. Campgrounds are exceptional with the exception of Peeks of Otter. Check it out at www.nps.gov/blriBy the way, I found the Biltmore to be expensive and not worth it. I think it will be a complete bore for the kids and they and you will be miserable.

The kids won't enjoy Biltmore Estate.There is good canoeing on the French Broad River. Checkout the Asheville Outdoor Center. they rent canoes and kayaks and do shuttles, and you will float right by the Biltmore estate.We live right close the Parkway. The section from Asheville to Boone is the absolute best, but to drive much farther can get old real quickJack L

If you dont mind coming south a ways. Crabtree falls is a nice hike its just a little ways above Lynchburg va, and there is a campground (have not stayed there) nearby, Go further south and in Roanoke Va is a small zoo, Mill Mountain zoo that you may like. And at milepost 204 just above the Va/NC line is a small Alpaca farm, Peaceful Heart Alpaca's that always keeps a few very young ones by the small store so kids can see them. and just a few miles North of there you can stay at Fairy stone state park which has a large beach area, very gently sloping to allow the kids some water time. Canoes, kayaks, and hiking are good there too. Fairy Stone is about 20 miles off the parkway and also close to Philpott reservoir.

How tall is your rig? I just completed a 3-week trip to the NC/VA mountains, and spent some of the time up on the Parkway. At one of the visitor's centers I was asking about low clearances. The very helpful lady showed me a list of all the tunnels on the entire parkway. It listed their mile-post locations and the height of clearance (as well as a little more info that I didn't care about.) My rig requires 10' 6", and I found that one of the tunnels has only a 10' 6" clearance. I'd be a little hesitant about going through that tunnel. It's located at milepost 459.3, which is well south of where I was going to be. I took pictures of the four pages of the book she showed me, and I've posted them here as a public service. It shows 26 tunnels, three of which are below 13' clearance.-Speak

SpeakEasy wrote:How tall is your rig? I just completed a 3-week trip to the NC/VA mountains, and spent some of the time up on the Parkway. At one of the visitor's centers I was asking about low clearances. The very helpful lady showed me a list of all the tunnels on the entire parkway. It listed their mile-post locations and the height of clearance (as well as a little more info that I didn't care about.) My rig requires 10' 6", and I found that one of the tunnels has only a 10' 6" clearance. I'd be a little hesitant about going through that tunnel. It's located at milepost 459.3, which is well south of where I was going to be. I took pictures of the four pages of the book she showed me, and I've posted them here as a public service. It shows 26 tunnels, three of which are below 13' clearance.-SpeakX2. At 11' tall, there are several places on the parkway you won't be able to negotiate. We camp hosted in a National Forest campground right off the parkway in NC. I wouldn't dream of taking our 13'4" tall fifth wheel on the parkway and used the Toyota to travel and sight-see on the parkway. Many people book campgrounds (and I would recommend reservations that time of year) near easy access to the parkway and do their sightseeing in their tow vehicles. There are many places this is possible/convenient.Rob

Blue Ridge Pkwy | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

dolbsss
Explorer
Jun 30, 2017
flguppie wrote:
If you have bikes and can visit Cade's Cove on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, they close the one lane loop road to cars before noon. You can walk or bike ride only. This makes for a beautiful quiet time where you can often see wildlife without the vehicle traffic jams (bear jams). The loop is about 11 miles long with some hills, so you may only bike or walk part of it and when they open to cars at noon, then drive the loop. Also, They do have restrooms and visitor center at the back of the loop too.

we do have bikes, will be there on a Saturday and I have to tell you we do long bike trips all the time. 11 miles with kids on the back wouldn't be an issue at all. This idea I really like. So I could get there by 930-1000 and ride the loop easily before cars are there? I trail ride at home at an average of 11mph with kid on back so I'm assuming 2 hours total allowing for sightseeing time?
FLGup
Explorer
Jun 29, 2017
If you have bikes and can visit Cade's Cove on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, they close the one lane loop road to cars before noon. You can walk or bike ride only. This makes for a beautiful quiet time where you can often see wildlife without the vehicle traffic jams (bear jams). The loop is about 11 miles long with some hills, so you may only bike or walk part of it and when they open to cars at noon, then drive the loop. Also, They do have restrooms and visitor center at the back of the loop too.
falconbrother
Explorer II
Jun 29, 2017
1stgenfarmboy wrote:
We were just there a couple weeks ago, we really liked "Butts on the creek" in Maggie Valley.

when I was a kid 45 years ago Cherokee was a must see, but I find it sad now and only drive through.

My very favorite section of the parkway is from MM 425 south/west to cherokee, I can ride my motorcycle back and forth all day through there, the smell and elevation makes it so different.

regardless of where you are on the parkway and what you do I think it is just a special place to be.

Yes, you are right. Cherokee is pretty sad these days. The ratty old Mom - Pop hotels are abandoned all over the place. Harah's finished them off I guess. They were pretty terrible anyway. For several years running my wife and I stayed at the Newfound Lodge during motorcycle trips. But, the last time we stayed there it had gotten to be so run down that we decided to stop going there. It's been several years so, it may have been upgraded since then. Benefit of the doubt -n- such.
1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Jun 29, 2017
We were just there a couple weeks ago, we really liked "Butts on the creek" in Maggie Valley.

when I was a kid 45 years ago Cherokee was a must see, but I find it sad now and only drive through.

My very favorite section of the parkway is from MM 425 south/west to cherokee, I can ride my motorcycle back and forth all day through there, the smell and elevation makes it so different.

regardless of where you are on the parkway and what you do I think it is just a special place to be.
legolas
Explorer
Jun 29, 2017
I lived in Maggie from 2009 until 2015. The play is on the Cherokee reservation. Maggie and Waynesville are 30 to 45 minutes from Cherokee depending on which way you go and how fast you drive. You're already familiar with Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge traffic never good. I don't want to be difficult but I am not a fan of Snappy's. It was always too dark and had several separate rooms that made it feel gloomy and the food while not totally terrible was nothing to write home about. in 2012 a really good italian restaraunt opened in Maggie, Frankies Trattoria much better. Waynesville is a nice little town with several nice restaraunts and quaint shops. And if you are going to Maggie any way its only a few minutes more to Waynesville.
Retired_JSO
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017
SpeakEasy wrote:
How tall is your rig? I just completed a 3-week trip to the NC/VA mountains, and spent some of the time up on the Parkway. At one of the visitor's centers I was asking about low clearances. The very helpful lady showed me a list of all the tunnels on the entire parkway. It listed their mile-post locations and the height of clearance (as well as a little more info that I didn't care about.) My rig requires 10' 6", and I found that one of the tunnels has only a 10' 6" clearance. I'd be a little hesitant about going through that tunnel. It's located at milepost 459.3, which is well south of where I was going to be.

I took pictures of the four pages of the book she showed me, and I've posted them here as a public service. It shows 26 tunnels, three of which are below 13' clearance.

-Speak

We've traveled the Parkway many times even with a 13'3" fiver without any problems. The lower clearance is measured at the fog line. Just hug center and you will be fine.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Jun 28, 2017
You might want to also consider:
WNC Nature Center in Asheville
Highland Craft Guild at mile 382 on the Parkway
Carl Sandburg Estate in Flat Rock

Have fun in our part of the world.
falconbrother
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2017
There's a few tubing options. It's good fun for sure. I don't know about tubing right at the KOA. Most start a couple of miles away.

Joyce Kilmer is off near Murphy. The play is in Cherokee proper. Buy the tickets in downtown and the show is a short drive up the mountain. My parents took me to see it when I was a kid and I never forget it.
dolbsss
Explorer
Jun 27, 2017
falconbrother wrote:
Decent restaurants in Cherokee are bloody hard to come by. I like Cherokee but, don't over expect. Your kids will love it. For a good meal you can drive over the mountain to Maggie Valley. Better restaurants. There's a pizza joint in Maggie called Brick House. We ate there last weekend, twice. It was good. Snappys for dinner, it's Italian. Waynesville is close by and they have a super Walmart should you need it. We used to take motorcycle trips and stay in Cherokee then spend the week riding the mountains. Good times.

The only grocery store on the Cherokee reservation is the IGA. Not bad but, small. It's about a block away from the casino. The KOA in Cherokee is pretty good. It's beautiful mountains up there. Make sure to take the kids tubing on the river. That's a hoot and a half. For an evening show the play about the Trail of Tears is great. It's called: "Unto These Hills".

Cades Cove is gorgeous. If you ease over into Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge get ready for heavy traffic. The Joyce Kilmer forest is great for some day hikes.

I've been to Gatlinburg a few times in the fall and hated the traffic even then. I can't imagine it in a few weeks. The grocery situation is one I've anticipated all along. I like to crash hard at night so we will prefer eating in most of the time and will have plenty of eats on board. I'll enjoy some craft beers and want no part of traveling once each day is over. If we go to Gatlinburg to shop/eat it will be during the day when we go to Cade's cove. I'll look into the forest and the evening play...I assume that is at the KOA?...oh and I saw the tubing on the KOA home page...kind of what sold me :-)
falconbrother
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2017
Decent restaurants in Cherokee are bloody hard to come by. I like Cherokee but, don't over expect. Your kids will love it. For a good meal you can drive over the mountain to Maggie Valley. Better restaurants. There's a pizza joint in Maggie called Brick House. We ate there last weekend, twice. It was good. Snappys for dinner, it's Italian. Waynesville is close by and they have a super Walmart should you need it. We used to take motorcycle trips and stay in Cherokee then spend the week riding the mountains. Good times.

The only grocery store on the Cherokee reservation is the IGA. Not bad but, small. It's about a block away from the casino. The KOA in Cherokee is pretty good. It's beautiful mountains up there. Make sure to take the kids tubing on the river. That's a hoot and a half. For an evening show the play about the Trail of Tears is great. It's called: "Unto These Hills".

Cades Cove is gorgeous. If you ease over into Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge get ready for heavy traffic. The Joyce Kilmer forest is great for some day hikes.