Blue Ridge Parkway

[Canadian_Camper]

We are planning on getting on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Fancy Gap, Va on a Saturday. We have reservations near Washington DC on the following Thursday night. Will those 6 days give us a good taste of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive? Is it enough time? Will we be missing a lot by not doing the NC section of the BRP? Your opinions please and thank-you!

[Terryallan]

Canadian Campers wrote:
We are planning on getting on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Fancy Gap, Va on a Saturday. We have reservations near Washington DC on the following Thursday night. Will those 6 days give us a good taste of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive? Is it enough time? Will we be missing a lot by not doing the NC section of the BRP? Your opinions please and thank-you!

From this I gather you will be heading North on the BRP. If that is true. you will in fact miss a lot of good stuff of the BRP.

If you are heading South. You won't get to see much before you have to get off the BRP, and haul butt back up to DC

[Hondavalk]

http://brpatravelplanner.nomadmobileguides.com/m/website/index.html

https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/maps.htm

My opinion is 6 days will give you a taste of the parks but not enough time to check into it's many attractions.

[mikebreeze]

Yes, 6 days will give you enough time. Some people take US11 or I81 around certain sections of Skyline Drive as the campgrounds on the drive do not have W/E/S. Also, the clearance at the Marys Rock Tunnel is only 12'8". And that is only in the center. I have seen people stop traffic and drive their RV's down the middle of the 610 foot tunnel. Here is more info:

http://www.skylinedriveoverlooks.com/marys-rock-tunnel-skyline-drive/

And I would avoid Skyline Drive during the fall leaf season. Have a good and safe trip.

[bigred1cav]

I would say Biltmore and Asheville, NC are don't miss. also beware of tunnels the arched ones are not 13 ft on the sides that means in the middle.

Canadian Campers wrote:
We are planning on getting on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Fancy Gap, Va on a Saturday. We have reservations near Washington DC on the following Thursday night. Will those 6 days give us a good taste of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive? Is it enough time? Will we be missing a lot by not doing the NC section of the BRP? Your opinions please and thank-you!

[1stgenfarmboy]

In my opinion "YES " you will miss the best part of the parkway, 6 days is long enough to see the north part and Shenandoah N.P.



Shanendoah N.P. is a really nice relaxing park as well, we have spent 3 days on three different trips in Shanendoah, it has the most black bears per square mile of any park in the lower 48 states, so practice bear food storage saftey.




with that said the entire parkway is really nice, we love the BRP and travel on it as often as we can, we spent 18 days on the parkway in 2011 and could have spent more time.


the southern end for sure south of Ashville is the highest elevation and thus my favorite part.


Just think of it this way, you have a good reason to go back for another visit.

[Matt_Colie]

Denis and Susan,

It will give you a taste, but you will be on eastern end. It is easier driving, but a little less scenic. I also suggest that you know your vertical clearance requirement. With a TT that will probably not be an issue, but you can download a guide. We enjoyed it, but we were there in the "spring" and it was still winter at the higher elevations at the western end. There are a number of man-made stop and see things too.

Matt

[md_procouple]

That is a fair enough time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Also if you are into horse back riding, there is a stable along your route to spend an hour or so on horse back. Also make sure of your roof clearance I know there are one or two low bridges, it was close when we had our TT a few years ago, now impossible with the 5'er. I'm sure others will have some good suggestions also. Have a SAFE and Wonderful trip ! Good Luck and Happy Camping !!

[kerrlakeRoo]

There are quite a few parkway guides available. Places I liked along that area include Fairy Stone State Park, check there for a campsite. Check out lovers leap on 58 just drive slow. In Mount Airy NC get some of Aunt Bea's barbecue and a couple of bottles of sauce to take home. I cant remember the name of it but there is an old mill in that same area that also has a couple of folks playing old style Bluegrass music fairly often, and the town of Floyd is well known for the music there as well.
When you leave that area and get farther north check the trail along crabtree falls, beautiful setting, its just above Lynchburg.