This past spring, I had the opportunity to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway in its entirety. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of America’s greatest drives, and stretches from the valleys of Shenandoah National Park, through North Carolina’s High Country and the Great Smokey Mountains. Some of my favorite cities included Winchester, VA and Roanoke, VA; as well as Asheville, NC. Other highlights include the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC, moonshine tasting in Gatlinburg, TN, The Natural Bridge, Grandfather Mountain and Skyline Caverns. The parkway offers a variety of activities for various types of travelers.
For many, this is a bucket list drive-here are a few tips to ensure you make the most out of your Blue Ridge Parkway journey:
- Plan ahead for your Blue Ridge Parkway trip! There are endless activities, museums and natural wonders that you can stop at. Publications like the Blue Ridge Parkway travel planner, the national park guide, and our AAA Tourbooks are all great planning resources
- Familiarize yourself with general driving safety tips. Steep grades, limited sight distances, curves and unforgiving road shoulders are all things you will have to watch out for in the parkway
- While traveling, you will come across visitor centers along the parkway and in the city centers. The visitor and welcome centers are filled with great information, interactive displays and native employees that are excited and ready to inform you about the local area
- Take your time! To drive on the parkway itself is a journey- but with all of the fabulous museums, towns, restaurants and history along the way I would take as much time as you can to ensure you are enjoying all that you can on your Blue Ridge Parkway trip
- Lastly, while traveling along the parkway make sure to ask for an AAA discount wherever you go- you never know which store, museum, restaurant, accommodation or attraction may offer one!
For trips of any size, contact a AAA agent for additional information to ensure your trip is both safe and enjoyable.