Entrance fees and opening hours
- Free of charge
- Covered by the Anual Pass*
- Open 24h all year round. However, parts of the road may be closed in winter.
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
Our visits: So far 1 visit in October 2016
Blue Ridge Parkway
Description: The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469mi National Scenic Byway. It connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Construction took several decades because both World War II and financial difficulties slowed construction. Thus, construction began in 1935 and was not completed until 1987. The road is used primarily for tourist purposes. Commercial use is not allowed.
Along the road there are many viewpoints and stopping bays from which you can enjoy the great scenery. Especially in autumn, when the leaves change color, there are beautiful views.
Our rating: During our visit in October 2016, we drove part of the Parkway in North Carolina. We drove up a few miles south of Asheville and drove to the end of the Parkway in Cherokee.
We really enjoyed the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. However, we were lucky with both the foliage coloring and the beautiful weather. That definitely contributed to the great experience. Whether we would have liked it just as much in a different season is hard for us to say, but the colors are great. We can definitely recommend a trip, especially in the fall.
