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Blue Ridge ParkwayParkway in the Fall
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Experiencing “America’s Favorite Drive”

A drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway is slow paced and relaxing. Almost any overlook or trail will reveal much of the natural and cultural history here. Explore the many communities along the route that make our region so special. Enjoy the view, but watch the road! Some sections are closed for repairs. Please click on CLOSURES link (left of this column) for details.

 
Autumn along the Parkway.

Winter along the Parkway

As winter arrives along the Blue Ridge, sections of the road may be closed due to dangerous driving conditions.  Where travel is permissible, however, many visitors consider this to be the best time of year. Leaves are off of the trees and the views are magnificent on cold, crisp days. The Folk Art Center and Parkway Destination Center in Asheville, as well as the Museum of North Carolina Minerals are year-round facilities. Other visitor centers and park facilities will re-open in the spring.

 
Peaks of Otter Lodge

Food and Lodging

Four lodges and six restaurants are scattered along the Parkway and most are open from late April through the fall color season.  The Peaks of Otter lodge and restaurant north of Roanoke, VA is open year round. Visit the many adjacent communities along the Parkway to experience regional hospitality and cuisine.  

 
Ranger program on the Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary

The 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2010 provides an extraordinary opportunity to create awareness, initiate dialogue in local communities, and take action that will insure a strong future for this resource. Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. is a newly established not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to:  plan, fund, and organize the events and activities of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 75th Anniversary;  educate the general public about the Parkway’s value and assets; and, through collaborative partnerships, realize the vision of the anniversary. This vision will engage local communities and the nation in efforts to sustain a healthy Parkway for future generations by celebrating 75 years of Parkway history, Appalachian culture, and spectacular scenic views. For more information, go to www.blueridgeparkway75.org.

 
 

Write to

199 Hemphill Knob Road
Asheville, NC 28803

E-mail Us

Phone

Recorded Park Information
(828) 298-0398

Park Headquarters
(828) 271-4779

Fax

(828) 271-4313

Climate

Weather conditions high on the mountains can vary tremendously from the surrounding valleys or piedmont region. Winter time visitors should be prepared with adequate clothing. Check forecasts before your trip to the mountains and always have a few emergency supplies in the trunk of your car.
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Did You Know?  

Did You Know?
The first section of a scenic road in the Appalachian Mountains was completed by private business interests prior to World War I.

Last Updated: December 11, 2008 at 09:16 EST