Blue Ridge
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
It is - if you stop there & get the Australian guy ( I think) cant tell he might be British - awesome guide he was, oh..... and ask about the prosthetic leg if you find it
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 766
From: north Carolina
There really isnt anything on the blue ridge parkway save for a very limited number of places to stay and only 1 store that I can remember. And that's exactly why I love it so much. No trucks to deal with, no stop lights, etc. You just have to keep an eye on your fuel and plan your stops so you can hop off the parkway and find a close gas station. Me and a buddy did 2 days on the parkway last year and it was an amazing trip. I used to be on it once or twice a week but I'm married with a kid now so my free time isnt what it used to be lol
It's a beautiful place to be and a great road to ride
It's a beautiful place to be and a great road to ride
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 757
Likes: 443
From: Baltimore, MD
Speed limit on skyline is 35mph, Blue ridge parkway 45. I planned my trip on how many miles I want to do each day and which specific back roads roads I want to do. Will be traveling from South Florida to Baltimore in early July. Printed out maps for each day and spot location addresses (primarily gas stations and motels) so the GPS takes me on the route I want to go.
Based on the mileage I used google maps and earth to decide places I want to see, where I want to stay over, and stop over for gas.
PITA using google maps as every time i changed a location it would reroute me off the BRP.
After getting a few locations down I would e-mail myself the map so i could always retrieve it with all my locations and then change it.
Based on the mileage I used google maps and earth to decide places I want to see, where I want to stay over, and stop over for gas.
PITA using google maps as every time i changed a location it would reroute me off the BRP.
After getting a few locations down I would e-mail myself the map so i could always retrieve it with all my locations and then change it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 11,630
Likes: 990
From: NC
@ Fancy Gap in VA, there is gas and motels a few miles north in Hillsville
@ Blowing Rock on US321, there are motels, food and gas
@ Linville Falls on US221, there is a motel, food and gas
@ Gillespie Gap/NC226, there is food, gas and motel in Spruce Pine
@ MM-382 food, gas and motel. Also access to HD Asheville (Oteen exit)
@ US25, food, gas and motels
Be advised though; sometimes the journey to populated areas for
amenities is a LONG trip.
These I have listed are relatively close; from ˝ to 5 miles
Any further toward Maggie, I don’t know…………..
@ Blowing Rock on US321, there are motels, food and gas
@ Linville Falls on US221, there is a motel, food and gas
@ Gillespie Gap/NC226, there is food, gas and motel in Spruce Pine
@ MM-382 food, gas and motel. Also access to HD Asheville (Oteen exit)
@ US25, food, gas and motels
Be advised though; sometimes the journey to populated areas for
amenities is a LONG trip.
These I have listed are relatively close; from ˝ to 5 miles
Any further toward Maggie, I don’t know…………..
Banned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 17,008
Likes: 14,675
From: in a cave at the foothills
You already have most of the information that you have asked for, so yeah, plenty of what you seek if not on the parkway, immediately off of it. That said I will offer a couple of eatery suggestions. First stop heading south would be Tuggles gap. Get their TG pie. Next would be Stations Inn and Freebornes, both at mile marker 248 in NC. Great food at both places. So many other stop suggestions could be made but since you have 2 weeks, let us know what you took advantage of. Have a safe and awesome trip!!!
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,760
Likes: 22,959
From: North Carolina
You will really enjoy the trip!
Watch out for bear on Skyline. The wife and I rode up there last summer and saw three within an hour. One was standing on the rock wall next to the road looking at us.
We have ridden the entire BRP and living just an hour from it go up there all the time. Have never seen a bear! Go figure.
My wife loves the Northwest Trading Post in N.C. between Hwys 18 and 16. A nice place to stop and good restrooms. From the parking lot go left just a mile or so to Glendale Springs. There is a very old quaint church called the Holy Trinity. It is always open and the have a Fresco painting of the Lords supper. Really something special to see. Enter from the grave yard side and there is a button on the wall you press and a recording tells you all the details.
From there you can also ride North on 16 and see a lot of Christmas tree farms. Worth an hour or so tour.
Mabry Mill is a beautiful stop.
South of Mabry Mill is a road called Orchard Gap that is a really nice ride with lots of switch backs. It will take you down the mountain to Mt Airy (Mayberry in Andy Griffith). A nice place to visit and if you are there for lunch a Pork Chop Sandwich at Snappy Lunch is a must. Then you can just hit Hwy 52 back up the mountain and catch the parkway at Fancy Gap.
If you get in or near N.C. and have any problems reach out to me. I’ll be glad to help.
When you get to the end at Maggie Valley and Cherokee plan to spend a couple of days there. Lots to see, beautiful country, the roads are amazing and of course Wheels Through Time Museum.
Watch out for bear on Skyline. The wife and I rode up there last summer and saw three within an hour. One was standing on the rock wall next to the road looking at us.
We have ridden the entire BRP and living just an hour from it go up there all the time. Have never seen a bear! Go figure.
My wife loves the Northwest Trading Post in N.C. between Hwys 18 and 16. A nice place to stop and good restrooms. From the parking lot go left just a mile or so to Glendale Springs. There is a very old quaint church called the Holy Trinity. It is always open and the have a Fresco painting of the Lords supper. Really something special to see. Enter from the grave yard side and there is a button on the wall you press and a recording tells you all the details.
From there you can also ride North on 16 and see a lot of Christmas tree farms. Worth an hour or so tour.
Mabry Mill is a beautiful stop.
South of Mabry Mill is a road called Orchard Gap that is a really nice ride with lots of switch backs. It will take you down the mountain to Mt Airy (Mayberry in Andy Griffith). A nice place to visit and if you are there for lunch a Pork Chop Sandwich at Snappy Lunch is a must. Then you can just hit Hwy 52 back up the mountain and catch the parkway at Fancy Gap.
If you get in or near N.C. and have any problems reach out to me. I’ll be glad to help.
When you get to the end at Maggie Valley and Cherokee plan to spend a couple of days there. Lots to see, beautiful country, the roads are amazing and of course Wheels Through Time Museum.
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,625
From: along the shore of Mishigami
Exit BRP at Fancy Gap, drive 12 miles south to Mt. Airy, home of Andy Griffith. Then town is also known as Mayberry. Hotels and food joints. Leaving town back to BRP is the Hungry Farmer, local restaurant. Had a good breakfast buffet.
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
From: Roanoke, VA
I am in Roanoke, VA. There are two exits to Roanoke. One is in the town of Vinton onto Rt 24. There are some gas stations and food along that road if you head towards Roanoke. Its probably best to take Milepost 121 onto Rt 220 towards Roanoke. There is gas and food within a mile or two from the exit. Hotels are plenty along this exit as well if you go down Rt 220 to the Electric Rd exit onto Rt 419.
As a side note, Milepost 120 for Mill Mountain is a few mile ride up the mountain to the Star that lends the nickname for our city as the "Star City". Pretty neat views from the overlook up that way.
Roanoke mountain overlook is right before the 120 milepost on the left heading south. I went through there a couple weeks ago and the entrance was closed, but if its open, its definitely worth the ride up for the scenery at the top.
As a side note, Milepost 120 for Mill Mountain is a few mile ride up the mountain to the Star that lends the nickname for our city as the "Star City". Pretty neat views from the overlook up that way.
Roanoke mountain overlook is right before the 120 milepost on the left heading south. I went through there a couple weeks ago and the entrance was closed, but if its open, its definitely worth the ride up for the scenery at the top.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,618
Likes: 290
From: Johnstown, PA
I just did some riding on there BRP. With the slow speed limit, and wanting to stop to check things out, you need to give yourself plenty of time. To run the entire parkway, it is some 400+ miles long, DID NOT REALIZE THAT!!! We mostly road in VA, and it took much more time than we were expecting, so we jumped off and ran 81 down to TN. We stayed in Gatlinburg, which I was surprised that almost everything shuts down around 11 pm.
We did jump back on the BRP to ride to Maggie Valley, and stopped at Wheels Through time, and went to a pretty cool waterfall in that area. From there we rode over to Cherokee, and stopped at the HD shop, but again, ran out of time, so we didn’t get to the reservation.
Some beautiful riding on rte 441 through the smokies.
Enjoy your trip, It will be great! Seeing you have 2 weeks, you should be able to check out a lot of stuff. We were only there for a 4 day weekend, over Memorial Day. - Gatlinburg had some pretty serious traffic for the holiday weekend. - that really slowed us down too.
If you venture over to Gatlinburg, I would Highly recommend the Doubletree, it is a fantastic place.
We plan to go back and plan more time for the BRP. Lots to see and do,especially if you like to hike, and site see.
We did jump back on the BRP to ride to Maggie Valley, and stopped at Wheels Through time, and went to a pretty cool waterfall in that area. From there we rode over to Cherokee, and stopped at the HD shop, but again, ran out of time, so we didn’t get to the reservation.
Some beautiful riding on rte 441 through the smokies.
Enjoy your trip, It will be great! Seeing you have 2 weeks, you should be able to check out a lot of stuff. We were only there for a 4 day weekend, over Memorial Day. - Gatlinburg had some pretty serious traffic for the holiday weekend. - that really slowed us down too.
If you venture over to Gatlinburg, I would Highly recommend the Doubletree, it is a fantastic place.
We plan to go back and plan more time for the BRP. Lots to see and do,especially if you like to hike, and site see.
Last edited by steelerdude1; Jun 11, 2019 at 10:47 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 1,229
From: Depends on where I am
From Front Royal down to I-64 is Skyline Drive, then it turn into the Blue Ridge Parkway. As mentioned, the Skyline Drive has an entry fee, the BRP does not. I haven’t ridden the entire BRP but the parts that I did all of the services (gas, hotels) were off the actual parkway.
If you are eating lunch or dinner in Front Royal, Spelunkers has a good burger and shake.
If you are eating lunch or dinner in Front Royal, Spelunkers has a good burger and shake.
