Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
One road, 469 miles of ridgelines, waterfalls & loop hikes.
A five-day Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, hikes and overlooks included: the Graveyard Fields Loop, the Price Lake Loop Trail, Linville Falls, Mount Mitchell, Craggy Gardens, plus where to camp along the way.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
19 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Humpback Rocks to Waterrock Knob · Virginia to North Carolina
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
5 of the stops on these 5 days.
Plan and book your 5 days in Blue Ridge Parkway, one step at a time
How 5 days in Blue Ridge Parkway split up
The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles along the crest of the Southern Appalachians, from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia south to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. There are no tolls, no trucks, and no billboards, just a slow, winding ribbon of pavement marked off by mileposts (MP), with hundreds of overlooks, dozens of short loop trails, and access points every few miles where a state highway crosses the ridge.
Day 1: Start in Virginia · Humpback Rocks & Mabry Mill
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: The High Country · Price Lake Loop & Moses Cone
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Linn Cove Viaduct, Rough Ridge & Linville Falls
4 stops · Day three
Day 4: Mount Mitchell, Craggy Gardens & Asheville
4 stops · Day four
Day 5: Graveyard Fields Loop, Devil's Courthouse & the Smokies
4 stops · Day five
Start in Virginia · Humpback Rocks & Mabry Mill
Begin at the northern end near Waynesboro, Virginia, where the Parkway meets Shenandoah at Milepost 0 and rolls south. Stop early at Humpback Rocks (MP 6), where a short but steep climb of roughly 2 miles round trip leads to a rocky outcrop with a wide-open view back over the Shenandoah Valley, a great way to stretch your legs on day one.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive fromMP 0 · the northern start · DriveThe Blue Ridge Parkway begins at Milepost 0 near Waynesboro, Virginia, where it meets the southern end of Shenandoah National Park. From here the road rolls south along the Appalachian crest, measured the whole way in mileposts. Check the road-closure map at nps.gov/blri before you set off.
Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0Humpback RocksMP 6 · ~2 mi RT · steep · HikeStop early at Humpback Rocks (MP 6), where a short but steep climb of roughly 2 miles round trip leads to a rocky outcrop with a wide-open view back over the Shenandoah Valley. It is a great first leg-stretcher, so wear real shoes and go early to beat the crowd at the overlook.
- Mabry Mill
MP 176 · most photographed spot · ViewpointContinue south to Mabry Mill (MP 176), the most photographed spot on the entire Parkway, an old water-powered gristmill mirrored in its millpond. There is a short, flat interpretive walk and a restaurant known for its buckwheat and cornmeal pancakes. Stop early or late to beat the midday crowds.
Ben Schumin from Montg / CC BY-SA 2.0Overnight near Roanoke, VALargest city on the road · lodgeRoanoke is the largest city right on the Parkway and makes an easy first-night base, with plenty of lodging and food just off the road. If you would rather keep driving, you can push on toward the Virginia–North Carolina line, but services thin out the farther south you go.
The High Country · Price Lake Loop & Moses Cone
Cross into North Carolina's High Country around Boone and Blowing Rock and spend the day in the Moses Cone and Julian Price area (around MP 294 to 297). The highlight here is the Price Lake Loop Trail (MP 297), an easy and mostly flat walk of about 2.7 miles all the way around the lake, with the forest and ridgelines mirrored in the water. It is one of the most relaxing hikes on the whole Parkway.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Price Lake Loop Trail
MP 297 · ~2.7 mi · easy · HikeIn North Carolina's High Country, walk the Price Lake Loop Trail (MP 297), an easy and mostly flat loop of about 2.7 miles all the way around the lake, with the forest and ridgelines mirrored in the water. It is one of the most relaxing and family-friendly hikes on the whole Parkway, and gorgeous in fall.
miketnorton / CC BY 2.0Moses Cone Memorial ParkMP 294 · carriage-road walks · ViewpointNext door, Moses Cone Memorial Park has miles of gentle carriage roads radiating from the white Flat Top Manor, perfect for an easy add-on stroll with long ridgeline views. It pairs well with the Price Lake walk for a low-key day in the High Country.
Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0Camp at Julian Price or stay in Blowing RockOn Price Lake · largest campground · lodgeJulian Price Campground sits right on Price Lake and is the largest campground on the Parkway, reserving through recreation.gov and filling fast on fall weekends. If you would rather sleep indoors, Blowing Rock and Boone both have plenty of lodging and food just minutes off the Parkway.
Linn Cove Viaduct, Rough Ridge & Linville Falls
This is one of the most dramatic stretches of the entire road. The Linn Cove Viaduct (MP 304) curls on slender pillars around the rugged shoulder of Grandfather Mountain, the last section of the Parkway to be completed in 1987. Just before it, pull off at Rough Ridge (MP 302) and walk the short trail up to a wooden boardwalk with a knockout view back down onto the viaduct and the ridgelines beyond.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Rough Ridge boardwalkMP 302 · short steep · viaduct view · HikePull off at Rough Ridge (MP 302) and walk the short, steep trail up to a wooden boardwalk with a knockout view back down onto the Linn Cove Viaduct and the ridgelines beyond. It is the best place to actually photograph the viaduct, since you cannot really see it from on top.
- Linn Cove Viaduct
MP 304 · the iconic curve · ViewpointThe Linn Cove Viaduct (MP 304) curls on slender pillars around the rugged shoulder of Grandfather Mountain, the last section of the Parkway to be completed in 1987. Drive across it, then park at the pullouts below or at Rough Ridge to see the famous curved profile from the side.
- Linville Falls
MP 316 · ~1.6 mi RT · overlooks · HikeContinue south to Linville Falls (MP 316), where well-built trails of roughly 1.6 miles round trip lead to a string of overlooks as the Linville River drops into the rugged Linville Gorge. There are upper and lower viewpoints at different distances, so pick the overlooks that match your energy.
Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0Stay near Linville or Blowing RockCamp or lodge in the High Country · lodgeSpend the night near Linville or back in Blowing Rock. Linville Falls Campground is right by the falls and reserves through recreation.gov, or base in a High Country town for more food and lodging choices before the long climb toward Asheville tomorrow.
Mount Mitchell, Craggy Gardens & Asheville
Climb to the rooftop of the East. A short spur off the Parkway (near MP 355) leads to Mount Mitchell State Park, where a quick paved summit trail reaches 6,684 feet, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. The air is noticeably cooler and the summit observation deck gives a 360-degree view over a sea of ridges. Just south, Craggy Gardens (MP 364) bursts with wild rhododendron, with a peak bloom usually around mid-June.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Mount Mitchell summit
MP 355 · 6,684 ft · short trail · HikeA short spur off the Parkway (near MP 355) leads into Mount Mitchell State Park, where a quick paved summit trail reaches 6,684 feet, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. The summit observation deck gives a 360-degree view, but the air is much colder and windier than the valley, so bring a warm layer.
Craggy GardensMP 364 · rhododendron · June bloom · ViewpointJust south, Craggy Gardens (MP 364) bursts with wild rhododendron, with a peak bloom usually around mid-June. Outside bloom season it is still a worthwhile short walk to the meadow and grassy bald, with sweeping views over the surrounding ridges.
French Broad River tubing · Asheville Adventure CompanyRelaxed float · book ahead · activityDrop into Asheville (around MP 382) and cool off on the French Broad River with a relaxed tubing float with Asheville Adventure Company. It is an easy, fun break after the high-elevation hiking, and a great way to see the river that runs through town. Book ahead in summer.
Carl Black / CC BY-SA 2.0Stay in AshevilleMP 382 · most lodging & food · lodgeAsheville is the cultural hub of the southern Parkway and has by far the widest choice of lodging, food, and breweries on the route. Stop at the Folk Art Center for Appalachian craft on the way in, then settle in for the night. Book ahead on fall weekends, when leaf-peeper demand spikes prices.
Graveyard Fields Loop, Devil's Courthouse & the Smokies
Save the signature hike for last. The Graveyard Fields Loop (MP 418) is the famous Parkway loop trail, about 3.2 miles through an open high-elevation valley with an Upper and Lower Falls on the Yadkin Fork. It is a moderate loop that is stunning in fall, when the open meadow turns gold and red, so its small parking lot fills very early. Nearby Mount Pisgah (MP 408) and the seasonal Pisgah Inn make a good fuel and view stop.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
w_lemay / CC BY-SA 2.0Mount Pisgah & Pisgah InnMP 408 · seasonal lodge · ViewpointStart the high stretch at Mount Pisgah (MP 408), where the seasonal Pisgah Inn is the one lodge right on the Parkway, with a restaurant and big ridge views. It is closed in winter, so it makes a good fuel and view stop in fall, whether or not you stay the night.
- Graveyard Fields Loop
MP 418 · ~3.2 mi · two falls · HikeThe Graveyard Fields Loop (MP 418) is the famous Parkway loop trail, about 3.2 miles through an open high-elevation valley with both an Upper and a Lower Falls on the Yadkin Fork. It is a moderate loop that is stunning in fall, so its small parking lot fills very early, often by mid-morning. Start at sunrise.
Devil's CourthouseMP 422 · short steep · huge views · HikeFinish the high country at Devil's Courthouse (MP 422), a short, steep climb to a bare rock summit with one of the widest views on the entire Parkway. Nearby Waterrock Knob (MP 451) offers another easy, big-view stop as you near the southern end of the road.
- Finish at the Great Smoky Mountains
MP 469 near Cherokee · DriveThe Parkway ends at Milepost 469 near Cherokee, North Carolina, right at the doorstep of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can roll straight from your last overlook into the most-visited national park in the country, so plan extra time if you want to continue into the Smokies.
Book the 4 nights
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Blue Ridge Parkway
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
What we actually learned on the Parkway.
Drive by milepost, not by exit
The Blue Ridge Parkway is measured by mileposts (MP) from 0 in the north near Waynesboro, Virginia, to 469 in the south near Cherokee, North Carolina. Trailheads, overlooks, and visitor centers are all signed by milepost, so track the small concrete markers as you go.
Always check road closures first
Sections of the Parkway close every winter for ice and snow, and weather, rockfall, or construction can shut stretches at any time of year. Check the live road-closure map at nps.gov/blri before and during your trip, and keep a detour onto nearby highways in mind.
There is no entrance fee
Unlike most national parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway has no entrance fee and needs no pass. You only pay for things like campgrounds, the Pisgah Inn, or guided activities, which keeps a road trip here refreshingly cheap.
Camping along the Parkway books up
The NPS runs several campgrounds right on the road, including Julian Price, Linville Falls, and Mount Pisgah. They are seasonal and reserve through recreation.gov, and they fill fast on fall weekends, so book camping along the Blue Ridge Parkway well ahead.
Plan gas, food, and slow speeds
There is no commercial development on the Parkway itself, just a handful of seasonal concessions like Mabry Mill and the Pisgah Inn. Fill up and grab food in gateway towns, and budget extra time: the 45 mph limit and curves make 469 miles a multi-day drive.
Go in October, but expect company
October brings the famous fall foliage and the best weather, but also the heaviest crowds, slow traffic, and full parking lots at popular hikes like Graveyard Fields. Start early, and consider a spring or early-fall midweek trip for a quieter road.
Beat the Graveyard Fields lot at first light
The Graveyard Fields lot (MP 418) is tiny, and in peak October foliage it can fill by around 7:30 in the morning, which snarls the two-lane road for hours. Arrive at first light, pack a headlamp for the first half-mile of stairs, and you will have the trail largely to yourself as the light hits the Lower Falls and the fog clears.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Blue Ridge Parkway hikes: the questions people ask most.
The Graveyard Fields Loop on the Blue Ridge Parkway (MP 418) is about 3.2 miles round trip and rated moderate. The loop runs through an open high-elevation valley and reaches both an Upper Falls and a Lower Falls on the Yadkin Fork. It is one of the most popular hikes on the Parkway, especially in fall, so its small parking lot fills very early in the day.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 4 nights, sites along the route
4 × $15$60
- 4 nights, rooms along the route
from $86 a nightfrom $344
Yulia, ExplorOFF founder★★★★★5.0 from 20+ guided tripsGoogleAirbnbFrom$3,6102 people, 4 nights- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide
- Airport pickup, every drive, all the gear
- Weather turns, they rewrite the day
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Booking Blue Ridge Parkway
Everything below is booked with the operators direct. We earn a commission on some of them, which is what keeps the itineraries free to read.
Top rated near Blue Ridge Parkway
Privately Guided Half Day Hike5 on Viator · 148 reviews
Explore Asheville on E Bike5 on Viator · 43 reviews
Historic Music Scene Walking Tour in Asheville5 on Viator · 28 reviewsYou might also love these
More itineraries and hiking guides across the parks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Where the Parkway ends: the most-visited national park, with Clingmans Dome, waterfalls, and the best Smokies hikes.
Shenandoah National Park
The Parkway's northern neighbor: Skyline Drive, waterfall hikes, and Appalachian Trail overlooks above the valley.
New England Fall Road Trip
More peak foliage: covered bridges, mountain notches, and the best leaf-peeping drives in the Northeast.
What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
What other travelers are saying
Be the first to leave a tip or question for the next traveler.
Was this helpful?
One tap. It goes straight to Yulia and Margarita.
You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
The best hikes in America run on lotteries that open once a year and sell out in minutes. Every trail runs on its own calendar. Pick the ones you want and we do the watching.
Denali Road LotteryDenali NP · AKActivityReservationfair odds
El Tovar HotelGrand Canyon South Rim · ArizonaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Grand Canyon BackcountryGrand Canyon NP · ArizonaBackcountryReservationfair odds
Grand Canyon raftingColorado River · ArizonaActivityLotterybrutal odds
Havasu FallsHavasu Canyon · ArizonaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Phantom RanchGrand Canyon NP · ArizonaLodgeLotterybrutal odds
The WaveCoyote Buttes North · Arizona / UtahPermitLotterybrutal odds
Half Dome CablesYosemite NP · CaliforniaPermitOpens Mar 1fair odds
Lost Coast TrailKing Range NCA · CaliforniaBackcountryReservationtough odds
Mt. WhitneyInyo NF · CaliforniaPermitOpens Feb 1tough odds- The Ahwahnee, YosemiteYosemite NP · CaliforniaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Conundrum Hot SpringsMaroon Bells-Snowmass · ColoradoBackcountryOpens Feb 15brutal odds
Kalalau TrailNa Pali Coast SWP · HIBackcountryReservationbrutal odds
Glacier NP BackcountryGlacier NP · MontanaBackcountryLotterytough odds
Lake McDonald LodgeGlacier NP · MontanaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Many Glacier HotelGlacier NP · MontanaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Sperry & Granite Park ChaletsGlacier NP · MontanaLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Crater Lake LodgeCrater Lake NP · ORLodgeReservationbrutal odds
LeConte LodgeGreat Smoky Mountains NP · TNLodgeOpens Oct 1brutal odds
Angels LandingZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds
The Narrows Through-HikeZion NP · UtahBackcountryReservationtough odds
The SubwayZion NP · UtahPermitLotterytough odds- Zion LodgeZion Canyon · UtahLodgeReservationbrutal odds
Mount St. Helens Summit ClimbGifford Pinchot NF · WashingtonPermitReservationtough odds
Paradise InnMount Rainier NP · WashingtonLodgeReservationbrutal odds
The EnchantmentsAlpine Lakes Wilderness · WashingtonBackcountryOpens Feb 15brutal odds- Wonderland TrailMount Rainier NP · WashingtonBackcountryLotterybrutal odds
- Cougar Rock CampgroundWashington · WashingtonBackcountryOpens Jan 15tough odds
Old Faithful InnYellowstone NP · WYLodgeReservationbrutal odds
How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”