Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway provides a world-class backroad look at the natural world surrounding Asheville, as roughly 60 of its 469 miles cover the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains in our backyard. The roadway provides the perfect jumpin-off point for day trips from Asheville.

Many leaf peepers make an annual trek to see fall color from “America’s Favorite Drive.” The scenic highway and Asheville endure as a favorite fall destination because of a wide range in elevations and exceptional biodiversity, which blend together to produce one of the most extended foliage seasons in the Eastern United States.

Similarly, the Blue Ridge Parkway spring bloom enjoys steady popularity as the stunning display of native mountain laurel, rhododendron, and azalea runs from late April through June and even July at different elevations.

The Parkway provides many other opportunities for diversion, from hiking and camping to butterfly watching and stargazing. Hard-core road bikers trek up the scenic roadway, and Lance Armstrong and other well-known road bikers have made the parkway their training ground in years past.

The park information line at (828) 298-0398 has the most updated information on closures, special events and winter weather conditions.

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