Blue Ridge Parkway

[wrapperman]

So, we are thinking of planning an RV trip down most of this highway. We will try to travel most of it except for the low tunnels. Can anybody suggest nice CG along the way and when is the best time to do it. We are thinking of mid September or mid October. We have a Georgetown 378 XL and towing a Honda CRV.
Thanks

[kenandterry]

Try the search box up in the top right corner about this question on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
It’s been asked a lot!!!!!

The short story......there’s lots of scenic lookouts you won’t be able to stop at or enter because of the length of your rig. The bottom half is VERY tricky with some tunnels for your height. You won’t be able to enjoy as much as if you camp, then tour, then relocate, camp, then tour, then relocate......

Drive your CRV and enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) the way it’s meant to be.

[wrapperman]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Try the search box up in the top right corner about this question on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
It’s been asked a lot!!!!!

The short story......there’s lots of scenic lookouts you won’t be able to stop at or enter because of the length of your rig. The bottom half is VERY tricky with some tunnels for your height. You won’t be able to enjoy as much as if you camp, then tour, then relocate, camp, then tour, then relocate......

Drive your CRV and enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) the way it’s meant to be.

Thanks I believe that was our intention. I just failed to mention it.
Sounds like we'll enjoy ourselves.
I'll also do a search as well.

[Retired JSO]

The low tunnels height are measured at the fog line. With the curv, the center height is close to 15’ or better. On the short tunnels, we hugged the center. We cruised the entire parkway and skyline drive towing a 13’ 3” fiver. The lowest tunnels are in the south area.

[wrapperman]

Originally Posted by Retired JSO

The low tunnels height are measured at the fog line. With the curv, the center height is close to 15’ or better. On the short tunnels, we hugged the center. We cruised the entire parkway and skyline drive towing a 13’ 3” fiver. The lowest tunnels are in the south area.

That's good to know.
I looked up the height of the tunnels and some were saying 11' so I was worried.
I did not know what a "fog line" was, but now I do.
Were you ever worried about on coming RVs when entering a long tunnel or could you see to the other end?
Thanks for the advice.

[Retired JSO]

After the first one near Cherokee, it was a breeze.

[Windjammin]

We went through there in June. Started at the Skyline Drive and ended near Asheville. We did not pull the fiver on the parkway but stayed at Luray, Natural Bridge, Fancy Gap and Marion. At each stop we used the truck to explore the parkway in both directions. Good thing too as there were lots of trees over the road that would have hit the front AC unit.

[formerFR]

we just toured the BRP from Cherokee, where the three lowest tunnels are, to Asheville... no issues with our rig, pulling our toad. The heights are always shown at the lowest point at the very edge of the white outside line. You'll have plenty of height if you hug the middle line, or even ride the middle of the roadway - these tunnels are very short, you can almost see out the other end as you are entering.
If you feel the lowest three(#3,4,5) from Cherokee, then you can have your toad escort you thru....but riding thru these early in the morning before much traffic gets on the parkway is the easiest way to avoid any oncoming vehicles.
We left Cherokee about 8am. and had no issues with oncoming traffic by the time we drove thru these tunnels around the 9am time frame.

There are PLENTY of pull offs, viewing stops, and even a few parking areas at visitors centers along the way - don't fret it. Enjoy it. We didn't hold up traffic as pull offs are so plentiful that you rarely have much traffic behind you, as you can easily pull to the side, even without stopping, and let any traffic behind you continue.

The 'toughest' part of driving the parkway is after rains, since avoiding low hanging limbs is really what you wind up doing most of the drive. Since there's little 'traffic' on the parkway, hugging the middle is an easy way to avoid them, though at times there's little you can do - but fortunately, most of these are small branches. I found no issues with the roof when we completed our week long trip.


Bottom line for anyone considering traveling the BRP in their RV is this: the 'lowest' tunnels that everyone seems to be concerned with are at the VERY end of the parkway, within 3 miles of Cherokee NC. There's no reason to be concerned about any of the others, for sure, but if you just can't 'stomach' the idea of a few low ones, divert off near there, but be warned, some of the 'diversion' roads that connect to the BRP are actually worse drives than just staying on the parkway.


enjoy! the parkway was built for YOU!

[fella10]

Originally Posted by wrapperman

... when is the best time to do it. We are thinking of mid September or mid October. ...

keep in mind, because of the beauty of the leaves changing color, Oct. is the busiest time of the yr. for the BRP ... all the motel prices along that route go up and I would imagine campgrounds are affected in someway as well, maybe with being full and not having vacancies, ...

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by fella10

keep in mind, because of the beauty of the leaves changing color, Oct. is the busiest time of the yr. for the BRP ... all the motel prices along that route go and I would imagine campgrounds are affected in someway as well, maybe with being full and not having vacancies, ...

X2 depending the elevation the Fall, Sept / Oct are the nicest time to travel the parkway. But as it was mentioned the busiest. It can be bumper to bumper in places.

There are a few campgrounds along the way just off the parkway, like Meadows of Dan VA right at Rt 58 (Sites are not level) and a few others. There is a Walmart just off the parkway at Rt 220 south at Roanoke VA (When leaves are off you can see it from the Parkway (Do not know if they allow camping) but an easy stop for supplies.

[ependydad]

Thanks for asking. I’m hoping to drive Skyline Parkway this October and maybe a bit of the BRP. This was good info.

[Retired JSO]

From the top of Devils Courthouse looking back at our rig in the parking lot.

[Flybob]

You may be too late for this year if you go in Sept/Oct as campgrounds book up very early by leaf peepers.

[5er_tom]

You might call the KOA in Fancy Gap, VA. I think you could get in there on a week day. But pretty much forget weekends.

[Retired JSO]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

You might call the KOA in Fancy Gap, VA. I think you could get in there on a week day. But pretty much forget weekends.

We stayed at fancy gap in 2006, easy on and off the Parkway. Not far away 20 miles south of Fancy Gap and a great day trip is Mount Airy NC. The home town of Andy Griffith and model for Mayberry. They also have a nice campground. http://www.mayberrycampground.com/hi...tractions.html

[asquared]

I have never done the blue ridge parkway but I have stayed at a great little gem of a campground just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. misty mountain camp resort in Greenwood, Va (there is a blue ridge parkway entrance at Rockfish Gap/Afton mountain) but again having not done the blue ridge parkway I do not know RV accessibility at this point.

[Wandering]

Ditto all the above comments. BRP is amazing! We may be on the BRP this fall too!

We have driven it several times in the fall. We stay on and off the parkway with no reservations and never had a problem.

Your timing will be great too. Varies from yr to yr of course but October is best for amazing fall colors. Great Smoky Mountain and Shenandoah National Parks on each end of the Parkway are also great.

In the fall you can get fall color reports at:

https://www.foliagenetwork.com/
Or
https://weather.com/maps/fall-foliage

[Smokyroo]

I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway on my bicycle end to end last August....469 miles and 49,000 feet of climbing. I suspect it is much easier to drive it with a RV. Lol. There are a handful of campgrounds on the road itself like Peaks of Otter and Mt. Pisgah. We did not camp doing the ride. It took us 8 days.

I would suggest going in September. I live just minutes from the BRP near Balsam.i have seen it snow the first weekend in October above 5,000 feet. If it snows along the route they close it to auto traffic.

I will tell you the best sections of the BRP are from Cherokee to Blowing Rock, hands down. It is the high country and most likely to snow. September has less traffic and good days before the cold fronts set in.

[Egalt]

Can recommend Jenny Wiley State Park (https://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/jenny-wiley/). Jad a great time, people their are wonderful. Recommend the "B" section as it has the most level spots, and the best shading!