Blue Ridge Parkway
United States, north-america
755 km
1,845 m
easy
May-October, peak fall color mid-October
The Blue Ridge Parkway is America's longest linear park, stretching 755 kilometers through the Appalachian Highlands from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Often called "America's Favorite Drive," the parkway was designed as a scenic leisure road with no commercial vehicles allowed, a 45 mph speed limit, and countless overlooks along its length.
The route traverses some of the oldest mountains on Earth, offering sweeping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains that appear to glow blue from the natural isoprene released by the vast forests. Highlights include the Linn Cove Viaduct, a stunning engineering feat hugging the side of Grandfather Mountain, and the folk music heritage of the Appalachian communities along the way. Fall foliage season transforms the parkway into a kaleidoscope of color that attracts millions of visitors.
Where is it?
Blue Ridge Parkway is located in Virginia / North Carolina, United States (north-america). Coordinates: 36.0000, -79.8000
Driving Tips
October is peak foliage season but extremely busy. Check the parkway closure map before heading out as sections close for weather or maintenance. Fuel stations are scarce on the parkway itself, so fill up at nearby towns. Plan for slow driving and frequent photo stops.
Road Surface
Paved, well-maintained two-lane road
Road Details
- Country
- United States
- Continent
- north-america
- Region
- Virginia / North Carolina
- Length
- 755 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,845 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Surface
- Paved, well-maintained two-lane road
- Best Season
- May-October, peak fall color mid-October
- Coordinates
- 36.0000, -79.8000
Related Roads in north-america
Million Dollar Highway
🇺🇸 United States
The Million Dollar Highway is a 40-kilometer section of U.S. Route 550 between Silverton and Ouray in southwestern Colorado, forming part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway. The road traverses three mountain passes - Coal Bank Pass (3,145 m), Molas Pass (3,300 m), and Red Mountain Pass (3,358 m) - while carving through the spectacular San Juan Mountains. Several theories explain the name: the gold ore in the gravel used for construction, the million-dollar views, or the commonly heard phrase "I wouldn't drive that road again for a million dollars." The road was originally built in the 1880s during the Colorado silver mining boom and has been improved multiple times since. The most dramatic section runs between Ouray and Red Mountain Pass, where the road clings to the cliff face with sheer drops of hundreds of meters and notably lacks guardrails in many sections. The route passes through a landscape of vivid red, orange, and yellow mineral-stained mountains, abandoned mining structures, and dense alpine forests. In autumn, the aspen trees turn brilliant gold, making this one of the premier fall color drives in North America. Despite its reputation, the road is well-maintained and paved, though it can be treacherous in winter when ice and snow accumulate on the steep grades and tight turns. The town of Ouray, known as the "Switzerland of America," sits at the northern end in a natural amphitheater of mountains, while Silverton, a former mining town at 2,836 meters, retains much of its Victorian-era character. The highway is open year-round but chains or snow tires may be required in winter.
Route 66 Historic Highway
🇺🇸 United States
Route 66, the legendary "Mother Road," originally spanned 3,940 kilometers from Chicago to Santa Monica, crossing eight states and three time zones. While it was officially decommissioned in 1985 when the Interstate Highway System was completed, much of the original road survives as a patchwork of state highways, county roads, and abandoned alignments. Driving the surviving sections is a journey through the heart of American pop culture and roadside history. The route passes through the varied landscapes of the American heartland, from the flat farmlands of Illinois and Oklahoma, through the red mesa country of the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico, to the Mojave Desert of California. Along the way, vintage motels with neon signs, classic diners, quirky roadside attractions, and ghost towns tell the story of America's love affair with the open road. Towns like Amarillo, Tucumcari, Gallup, and Kingman have preserved their Route 66 heritage as living museums of mid-century Americana.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
🇺🇸 United States
Going-to-the-Sun Road is a 80-kilometer mountain road that bisects Glacier National Park in Montana, crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (2,026 m). Completed in 1932 after eleven years of construction, the road is considered one of the most difficult engineering feats in American highway history and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985. It is the only road that crosses the park, threading through some of the most dramatic glacially carved terrain in the Rocky Mountains. The road climbs from the shores of Lake McDonald on the west side through dense cedar-hemlock forests, past tumbling waterfalls, and along narrow ledges carved into near-vertical cliff faces. The Garden Wall section, where the road was cut directly into a sheer cliff, offers heart-stopping views of the valley thousands of feet below. At Logan Pass, alpine meadows explode with wildflowers in July, and mountain goats frequently graze near the visitor center. The eastern descent passes through a more open landscape of glacial lakes and wind-sculpted terrain. Vehicle restrictions apply due to the road's narrow width and tight curves: vehicles over 6.4 meters long or 2.4 meters wide (including mirrors) are prohibited on certain sections. The road is typically open from mid-June to mid-October, with the exact opening date depending on how quickly snowplows can clear the massive snowdrifts that accumulate at higher elevations. A vehicle reservation system has been implemented in recent years to manage the millions of visitors who come to experience what many consider America's most beautiful drive.
Skyline Drive
🇺🇸 United States
Skyline Drive is a 169-kilometer road running the entire length of Shenandoah National Park along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Built during the Great Depression as a public works project, the road features 75 overlooks offering sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the rolling Piedmont to the east. The drive connects to over 800 kilometers of hiking trails, including 160 kilometers of the Appalachian Trail which crosses the road at numerous points. The road meanders through dense hardwood forests that explode with color each autumn, and past rocky outcrops where peregrine falcons have been successfully reintroduced. Whitetail deer are so abundant that they are a constant roadside presence, and black bears are regularly spotted in the park's backcountry. At its southern end, Skyline Drive connects directly to the Blue Ridge Parkway, allowing drivers to continue the mountain crest journey into North Carolina.