Blue Ridge Parkway - Early April

[valhalla360]

Been north from the SE up to Michigan multiple times. Usually take I-75 if on a schedule. Otherwise, we've swung east and hit the Smokey Mountains NP.

Looking for something new, we are looking at the following:

- Starting at Charleston SC
- Stop at Congaree NP (never heard of it until looking at routes)
- Work up to Asheville NC.
- Do a day trip with just the truck to hit the southern end of the BRP with the low clearance tunnels. (Also hit Biltmore)
- From there pull the trailer up the parkway over 2-3 runs with stops for a few days along the way.
- At the north end, hit Shenandoah NP for a few days.

We aren't on a schedule so if there is any late season snow, we would just hold up for a couple days until it melts.

We are pulling a 25ft travel trailer (10'6" height).

Any thoughts or concerns we should have?

[LindaAnn]

Retired JSO wrote:
I’ve travelled both directions the entire length from just west of Waynesville with a fifthwheel 13’3” tall. The low clearances are where the outside radius is. Moved over a few feet toward the center and no problems.

We always stay in Maggie Valley at Stone Bridge RV park. You can access the Parkway from there...and not far from Waynesville are some pretty waterfalls in nearby Transylvania County, NC.

[valhalla360]

Hokiehall wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

Hokiehall wrote:
There is a section of the parkway in Virginia that is closed south of Roanoke from mile post 121.4 - 135.9 at Adney Gap due to a slope failure from heavy rains. A detour is in place.

Luckily we hit that driving just the truck...the "detrour" was a sign about 200ft before the closed gate with no drive or other means to turn around. With the trailer, we would have had to back up quite a ways to the next drive where we could turn around.

Another section at Roanoke will be closed to replace a bridge over the Roanoke River at MP 112. This will be within a few weeks and will last at least a year.

We had stopped in the visitor center at Asheville and got the closures at the beginning of the trip (there are a few), so we purposely avoided it with the trailer but we were just out meandering with the truck not paying too much attention when we came across it...the signing for this closure was borderline negligent (I develop maintenance of traffic plans as part of my job).

[Hokiehall]

valhalla360 wrote:

Hokiehall wrote:
There is a section of the parkway in Virginia that is closed south of Roanoke from mile post 121.4 - 135.9 at Adney Gap due to a slope failure from heavy rains. A detour is in place.

Luckily we hit that driving just the truck...the "detrour" was a sign about 200ft before the closed gate with no drive or other means to turn around. With the trailer, we would have had to back up quite a ways to the next drive where we could turn around.

Another section at Roanoke will be closed to replace a bridge over the Roanoke River at MP 112. This will be within a few weeks and will last at least a year.

[Retired_JSO]

I’ve travelled both directions the entire length from just west of Waynesville with a fifthwheel 13’3” tall. The low clearances are where the outside radius is. Moved over a few feet toward the center and no problems.

[Mayor30]

Be advised that portions of the parkways are closed. We wanted to go up the parkway south of Roanoke up to Sherando Lake but it was closed. I looked at the website for the campgrounds and there was no notices of closure on the parkway there. You must go to Blue Ridge Parkway Road Closures to find where they are at.

[valhalla360]

Hokiehall wrote:
There is a section of the parkway in Virginia that is closed south of Roanoke from mile post 121.4 - 135.9 at Adney Gap due to a slope failure from heavy rains. A detour is in place.

Luckily we hit that driving just the truck...the "detrour" was a sign about 200ft before the closed gate with no drive or other means to turn around. With the trailer, we would have had to back up quite a ways to the next drive where we could turn around.

[valhalla360]

Up at the north end of the Blue Ridge now, so I thought a follow up was in order.

Wound up doing a mix of towing and bypassing.
- Stopped near Asheville first.
- Drove the section down to Cherokee with just the truck.
- On the day we were headed north, it was rainy, so we choose to bypass on the way up to Mt Airy.
- From Mt. Airy to the north end, we were on and off the parkway due to closures.
- Wound up driving the very north end with just the truck as a day trip.
- Skyline Drive (Shendoha NP) was very similar. We drove it with just the truck as we will be heading west from here.

As long as you have a rig that handles well and you are comfortable driving it in hilly conditions, it can be done...but even with the low speeds, you do really need to stay focused. This distracted from being able to enjoy the scenery.

The pavement was in good condition but the one thing I didn't like is it appears they have simply added a new top course without filling in the shoulders to match, so it was commonly a 6" drop off from the edge of the pavement. Never had a wheel drop off but had to watch carefully.

There were a few low branches but generally not bad as the trees hadn't leafed out yet.

Facilities were generally closed, with the exception of gift shops...apparently, they are immune to the virus.

Overall a nice sidetrip on our way north.

[Hokiehall]

There is a section of the parkway in Virginia that is closed south of Roanoke from mile post 121.4 - 135.9 at Adney Gap due to a slope failure from heavy rains. A detour is in place.

[valhalla360]

agesilaus wrote:
Those low tunnels are strange, it seems like the height on the sign going one way is different on the sign on the other side of the same tunnel coming back.

Each lane may have a different controlling height. These tunnels were built decades ago, so being off by a few inches during construction isn't surprising.

The only thing odd is that the NP lists both the height at the edge line and at the center...but then says you aren't allowed to drive down the center.

If they don't want you driving down the center (a reasonable thing), don't tell people that they can make it by driving down the center.

[Retired_JSO]

Tunnel heights are measured at the fog line so one direction could be more or less clearance than the other.

[DrewE]

agesilaus wrote:
Those low tunnels are strange, it seems like the height on the sign going one way is different on the sign on the other side of the same tunnel coming back.

It isn't surprising to me that they could have different minimum heights, since the minimum height is at the edge of the road above the fog line. If the tunnel curves or the roadway isn't perfectly centered or the arch isn't exactly symmetrical, the heights there could easily differ. (By the same token, if the maximum height on your RV is not near the passenger side, you could gauge based on the height of the wall rather than the height of the air conditioner or whatever.)

[ken56]

Google maps shows the south of Asheville portion closed right now. says it will open 3/7. North of Asheville is the Folk Arts center that's worth a look. There's Mt. Mitchel. the highest point east of the Mississippi. It has a restaurant that has great food too. Further on your way north is Blowing Rock and Boone that are worth some time to see. Grandfather Mountain is in that area.

[agesilaus]

Those low tunnels are strange, it seems like the height on the sign going one way is different on the sign on the other side of the same tunnel coming back.

[valhalla360]

Desert Captain wrote:
Not many campgrounds open that time of year especially right on the Parkway but if you venture off there should be some available. For those who drive down the middle due to low tunnel clearance PLEASE DON"T. If you cannot safely/comfortably fit within the posted heights while staying in your lane you DO NOT belong on that road.

Already covered that in the first post.

That's why we came up to Asheville and propose to do the southernmost section in just the truck. That's where the low clearance bridges are. We have a 10.5ft high trailer so the rest of the tunnels are non issues as they show over 12ft at the edge line (higher in the center).