Blue Ridge Parkway 

Meandering 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway, also known as "America's Favorite Drive," follows the Appalachian Mountains and boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

A hundred species of trees, a variety of flowering shrubs and wildflowers as well 54 different mammals and 59 species of birds live along the Parkway - more than the entire European continent!

Skyline Drive connects to the northernmost section of the Parkway, winding along the crest of the mountains from Waynesboro northward 105 miles to Front Royal.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and developed sites like picnic and parking areas along the Parkway make it easy to stop, visit restrooms and exhibits, and get a bite to eat. Lodging and campgrounds are available with opportunities to fish and view wildlife, and hiking trails offer opportunities to get out of the car and experience scenic beauty on foot.  

Know Before You Go:

Short sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway around Roanoke are temporarily closed to thru-travelers due to repairs, but this fantastic alternate route through the most charming neighborhoods in the Roanoke area allows you to get off the beaten path and follow your WanderLove!