Evening on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo: Harold Blackwood Photo
About
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.
Activities
Arts and CultureLive MusicAuto and ATVScenic DrivingBikingRoad BikingCampingCar or Front Country CampingFishingFreshwater FishingFoodPicnickingHikingBackcountry HikingFront-Country HikingJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife Watching
Directions
The parkway is a 469-mile-long scenic road connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Numerous federal and state highways provide access to the parkway. Milepost markers are positioned every mile along the parkway, starting at 0 in Virginia and ending at 469 in North Carolina. We suggest using a map to identify the area you want to visit, as GPS directions often do not incorporate the parkway's milepost system.
Get directions →Weather
The weather on the parkway can vary widely along its 469-mile route. Precipitation is possible any time of the year. Winter can be cold and snowy, especially at the higher elevations. Spring and fall can have large temperature swings, from near freezing to over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Summers are hot in the lower elevations, but the highest elevations remain cooler. Summertime thunderstorms are common, so be prepared for weather changes.
News
Oct 6, 2026
National Park Service to Implement Wildfire Risk Reduction Efforts in Areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway Damaged by Hurricane Helene
The National Park Service today announced that work will begin in early October to reduce wildfire risk along the Blue Ridge Parkway by removing hazardous, storm-generated tree debris left by Hurricane Helene. The first phase of work will address approximately 208 acres between mileposts 380 and 391 in the Asheville area. This work is expected to be completed by spring 2027. This is one of the many federal recovery efforts advancing under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump in response to Hurricane Helene damage across western North Carolina.
Oct 5, 2026
Multiple Projects Completed on Blue Ridge Parkway in Time for Fall Travel
Consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s direction to accelerate rebuilding and recovery following Hurricane Helene and keep parks open and accessible, the National Park Service continues to advance critical repairs and restore safe public access along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
