Blue Ridge Parkway
Road Captain
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 505
Likes: 117
From: Nj
And if you do it on the weekends then the cagers can make it dicey.
I have ridden it many times, I am local though. At 35 MPH and with all the cars that will double park on the sides of the roads and lookouts and not watch what they are doing you spend more time watching your six then gawking at the beauty! I would do the southern part south of Luray caverns down into the Carolinas into Little Switzerland. You also have a slew of other great rides right of the Parkway worth doing.
If you want a ride less traveled then Deals Gap and Tail of the Dragon, check out the Rattler
https://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com is a great resource for rides in the area....
The Skyline drive is also $25 I think now for a bike when we went last summer.
I have ridden it many times, I am local though. At 35 MPH and with all the cars that will double park on the sides of the roads and lookouts and not watch what they are doing you spend more time watching your six then gawking at the beauty! I would do the southern part south of Luray caverns down into the Carolinas into Little Switzerland. You also have a slew of other great rides right of the Parkway worth doing.
If you want a ride less traveled then Deals Gap and Tail of the Dragon, check out the Rattler
https://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com is a great resource for rides in the area....
The Skyline drive is also $25 I think now for a bike when we went last summer.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 505
Likes: 117
From: Nj
And if you do it on the weekends then the cagers can make it dicey.
I have ridden it many times, I am local though. At 35 MPH and with all the cars that will double park on the sides of the roads and lookouts and not watch what they are doing you spend more time watching your six then gawking at the beauty! I would do the southern part south of Luray caverns down into the Carolinas into Little Switzerland. You also have a slew of other great rides right of the Parkway worth doing.
If you want a ride less traveled then Deals Gap and Tail of the Dragon, check out the Rattler
https://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com is a great resource for rides in the area....
The Skyline drive is also $25 I think now for a bike when we went last summer.
I have ridden it many times, I am local though. At 35 MPH and with all the cars that will double park on the sides of the roads and lookouts and not watch what they are doing you spend more time watching your six then gawking at the beauty! I would do the southern part south of Luray caverns down into the Carolinas into Little Switzerland. You also have a slew of other great rides right of the Parkway worth doing.
If you want a ride less traveled then Deals Gap and Tail of the Dragon, check out the Rattler
https://www.blueridgemotorcycling.com is a great resource for rides in the area....
The Skyline drive is also $25 I think now for a bike when we went last summer.
OP if you have the time check out the Rattler and Maggie Valley
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 607
From: Raleigh NC
So me and some friends are doing a birthday ride and we're doing the whole parkway.. The plan is to do it in 2 days so time is valuable..
Obviously we can't stop at every lookout so was needing some help from anyone that has ridden the whole thing..
What would you consider must stop points of interest??
Thanks
Obviously we can't stop at every lookout so was needing some help from anyone that has ridden the whole thing..
What would you consider must stop points of interest??
Thanks
the Blue Ridge Parkway is about slowing down, and enjoying....you're talking about 469 miles, divided in two day, at the speed limit 7 hours a day, without stop, or fuel or food....
Last time we did it, we took 3 days, and we didn't do half of what we'd liked....
A don't miss is (for me) the D-day memorial in Bedford VA, 20 miles +/- south of the BRP.... but you wouldn't have the time
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,524
Likes: 57,080
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Stopping at every turnout / overlook will get tiresome ... Something to remember is that some of turnouts will give a false sense of level when stopping and getting off the scooter, I've seen several riders loose balance ... As many have mentioned it's a long ride ... I've done it Top to Bottom, Bottom to Top several times over the years and with time it usually is a bit different with trees growing and changing views ... Seasons will definitely change the views too
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,764
Likes: 22,965
From: North Carolina
So me and some friends are doing a birthday ride and we're doing the whole parkway.. The plan is to do it in 2 days so time is valuable..
Obviously we can't stop at every lookout so was needing some help from anyone that has ridden the whole thing..
What would you consider must stop points of interest??
Thanks
Obviously we can't stop at every lookout so was needing some help from anyone that has ridden the whole thing..
What would you consider must stop points of interest??
Thanks
I see you are in Tennessee. The best areas of the Parkway are Cherokee to Asheville. The elevations and views are awesome! This section as a great photo opportunity at the highest roadway elevation. North of Asheville through Craggy Gardens, Mt. Mitchell which is the highest point east of the Mississippi are awesome. Little Switzerland is a quaint stop and Linville Falls and the Linville Viaduct are a must see. Beyond that its just 45 mph cruise and the elevations continue to decrease. Boone / Blowing Rock at Hwy 321 are about as far as I would go in your time frame. There are some great roads south off the Parkway that bring you back down to I-40. One is Hwy 80 from Mt. Mitchell to Marion. The other is Diamondback 226 from Little Switzerland.
Hope this helps some with your planning.
Enjoy the ride!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 2,410
From: Jackson, OH
I can vouch for the Parkway going either way out of Asheville. I suppose the amount of time to ride it depends on whether you want to enjoy the scenery and the parkway itself, or whether it’s about the bike and road....laying down miles. I personally would NOT recommend it for the latter. Speed limits, traffic and plenty of distractions make that less enjoyable. Ride it to enjoy the park, and that takes extra time.
And by the way, The Rattler is west of Asheville and in my book it’s one of the twistiest roads you’ll ever ride. Loads of hairpins and switchbacks. Quite scenic but often shaded in woods or having dappled sunlight. It’s not a road to take for granted.
And by the way, The Rattler is west of Asheville and in my book it’s one of the twistiest roads you’ll ever ride. Loads of hairpins and switchbacks. Quite scenic but often shaded in woods or having dappled sunlight. It’s not a road to take for granted.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 580
Likes: 341
From: Too far east
Tagging into this thread as my bro and I are headed to the general vicinity the weekend of May 22 and 23....actually a long (4day weekend). We’ve ridden the area several times but not in a few years. Looking forward to heading back. I agree with comments about enforced speed limits and such on the BRP/Skyline Pkwy. I remember one of our rides just wanting to get off of it so we could twist the throttle a bit and run some twistIes.
Not a fan of the dragon although I’ve ridden it a couple time - prefer sweepers and twistIes to switchbacks . I don’t think I’ve (knowingly) been on the rattler so might look for it...but it sounds like the dragon. Idk.
At any rate, y’all be safe and if we take enough pics I’ll post on a separate thread.
Not a fan of the dragon although I’ve ridden it a couple time - prefer sweepers and twistIes to switchbacks . I don’t think I’ve (knowingly) been on the rattler so might look for it...but it sounds like the dragon. Idk.
At any rate, y’all be safe and if we take enough pics I’ll post on a separate thread.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1,281
From: Ky
Skyline drive too? It's like 45 MPH on the parkway. Two days isn't a whole lot of time to really enjoy it. I've done it twice and both times it took 3-4 days with random stops. I know you didn't ask, just sayin.
Anyway....maybe at least stop at Linville falls, Little Switzerland, do the Diamond head and then haul *** to Cherokee or Front Royal (whatever way you're heading)
Note: the best part of the BRP is Boone, NC to Cherokee. If you can only do two days... My opinion anyway.
Anyway....maybe at least stop at Linville falls, Little Switzerland, do the Diamond head and then haul *** to Cherokee or Front Royal (whatever way you're heading)
Note: the best part of the BRP is Boone, NC to Cherokee. If you can only do two days... My opinion anyway.