Blue Ridge Parkway
469 miles of Appalachian ridgeline, no billboards, no trucks
- Distance
- 416 mi
- 670 km
- Driving
- 9 hr
- excl. stops
- Suggested
- 4 days
- balanced split
- Stops
- 5
- curated
Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 5 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.
Opens the planner with every stop loaded. Free, no card needed.
Day by day
Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.
Before you go
Best time to drive it
April to June, or September to October
Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
Indicative costs
- We haven't compiled cost data for USA yet.
Tolls assume ~65% of the distance on tolled road. Fuel prices move constantly: treat these as a range, not a quote.
Driving rules
Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.
Every stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway
- 1Waynesboro, VA
- 2Roanoke, VA
- 3Blowing Rock, NC
- 4Asheville, NC
- 5Cherokee, NC
Worth a detour
Curated places within 25 km of the road.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
national parkAmerica's most visited national park, renowned for its ancient mountains, diverse plant life, and misty ridges.
Biltmore Estate
castleAmerica's largest privately owned home, a stunning 250-room French Renaissance chateau built by George Vanderbilt in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Wren's Nest
cafeA cozy mountain cafe near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, a favorite stop for travelers exploring America's most scenic drive.
Mast General Store
cafeA beloved 1883 general store in the Blue Ridge Mountains that has become a destination stop for travelers on the Blue Ridge Parkway, famous for its candy barrels and Appalachian charm.
Linn Cove Viaduct Viewpoint (Blue Ridge Parkway)
scenic viewpointA viewing area for the engineering marvel of the Linn Cove Viaduct as it curves around the face of Grandfather Mountain.
Waterrock Knob Overlook (Blue Ridge Parkway)
scenic viewpointA 6,292-foot summit near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway with 360-degree views of the Great Smoky and Plott Balsam mountains.
Blue Ridge Parkway
scenic viewpointAmerica's favourite drive: 469 miles of ridge-top parkway linking Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks, with countless overlooks, hiking trails, and blazing autumn foliage.
Newfound Gap Road (US-441)
mountain passThe only paved road over the crest of the Great Smoky Mountains, climbing to the 5,046 ft Newfound Gap on the Tennessee–North Carolina line with sweeping overlooks along the way.
Clingmans Dome (Kuwohi)
landmarkThe highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains at 6,643 ft, reached by a seven-mile spur road off Newfound Gap; a spiral observation tower gives 360-degree views over the Blue Ridge.
Grandfather Mountain
landmarkA craggy 5,946 ft North Carolina peak just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, crowned by the Mile High Swinging Bridge: America's highest suspension footbridge, reached by a dramatic summit road.
Mount Mitchell
landmarkThe highest peak east of the Mississippi at 6,684 ft, reached by scenic NC-128 off the Blue Ridge Parkway; a short paved path leads from the parking area to the summit observation deck.
Craggy Pinnacle
scenic viewpointA short, gnarled tunnel of rhododendron on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 364 opens onto a bald 360-degree summit above the Great Craggy Mountains. Catawba rhododendron turns the slopes purple in mid-June.
Common questions about the Blue Ridge Parkway
How long does the Blue Ridge Parkway take?
The driving itself is about 9 hr across 416 miles (670 km). Most people spread it over 4 days: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.
How many miles is the Blue Ridge Parkway?
416 miles, or 670 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.
When is the best time to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway?
April to June, or September to October. Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
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