north america · 4 days · 12 stops

Blue Ridge Parkway & Shenandoah

Virginia to the Smokies along America's favourite scenic byway: 469 miles of ridge-top road, log cabins, caverns and mountain music, best in late spring or October.

Days
4
Stops
12
Driving
378 km
Behind the wheel
6h 12m

Driving figures are measured road distances between the stops listed for each day, not straight lines. The transfer from wherever you sleep to the first stop of the day is not included.

Daylight on this route, by season

The single number that decides whether a self-drive day works. Almost every guide tells you to "check the daylight hours"; here they are for this route, on the solstices and equinoxes.

Day Driving 21 Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar
Shenandoah & Skyline Drive 0h 33m 14h 54m 12h 12m 9h 26m 12h 11m
Blue Ridge Plateau 1h 55m 14h 44m 12h 12m 9h 36m 12h 10m
North Carolina High Country 2h 38m 14h 36m 12h 11m 9h 43m 12h 10m
Great Smoky Mountains 1h 6m 14h 34m 12h 11m 9h 45m 12h 10m

Measured at the midpoint of each day's stops. "Midnight sun" means the sun does not set; "polar night" means it does not rise.

Day by day

Day 1: Shenandoah & Skyline Drive

3 stops · 42 km · 0h 33m driving · 5h 45m at stops

In winter: About 0h 33m of driving inside 9h 26m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Front Royal

    North entrance; buy the pass and fill the tank — speed limit is 35 mph.

    Allow about 0h 45m

  2. 2

    Skyline Drive

    75 overlooks in 105 miles; stop at Hogback and Marys Rock Tunnel.

    Allow about 3h

  3. 3

    Luray Caverns

    Enormous commercial cave with the Great Stalacpipe Organ.

    Allow about 2h

Legs and times
  • Front Royal → Skyline Drive: 9 km, 0h 8m
  • Skyline Drive → Luray Caverns: 34 km, 0h 25m

Day 2: Blue Ridge Plateau

3 stops · 139 km · 1h 55m driving · 4h 45m at stops

In winter: About 1h 55m of driving inside 9h 36m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Peaks of Otter

    Lake, lodge and the Sharp Top trail.

    Allow about 2h

  2. 2

    Roanoke

    Mill Mountain Star, the last city before the road empties out.

    Allow about 2h

  3. 3

    Mabry Mill

    The most photographed spot on the Parkway — a mill, a pond, a queue.

    Allow about 0h 45m

Legs and times
  • Peaks of Otter → Roanoke: 47 km, 0h 42m
  • Roanoke → Mabry Mill: 92 km, 1h 13m

Day 3: North Carolina High Country

3 stops · 150 km · 2h 38m driving · 8h at stops

In winter: About 2h 38m of driving inside 9h 43m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Blowing Rock & Grandfather Mountain

    The Mile-High Swinging Bridge, and the Linville Viaduct further down.

    Allow about 3h

  2. 2

    Linville Gorge (Wiseman's View)

    Short gravel road to a ledge over a 1,500-foot gorge.

    Allow about 1h

  3. 3

    Asheville

    Biltmore Estate, breweries and the end of the Parkway proper.

    Allow about 4h

Legs and times
  • Blowing Rock & Grandfather Mountain → Linville Gorge (Wiseman's View): 52 km, 1h 7m
  • Linville Gorge (Wiseman's View) → Asheville: 98 km, 1h 31m

Day 4: Great Smoky Mountains

3 stops · 46 km · 1h 6m driving · 4h 15m at stops

In winter: About 1h 6m of driving inside 9h 45m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Newfound Gap

    The Tennessee line and the start of the Smokies climb.

    Allow about 0h 45m

  2. 2

    Clingmans Dome

    Highest point on the drive — the last half mile is on foot.

    Allow about 1h 30m

  3. 3

    Gatlinburg

    Gateway town; Cherokee is the quieter exit.

    Allow about 2h

Legs and times
  • Newfound Gap → Clingmans Dome: 11 km, 0h 19m
  • Clingmans Dome → Gatlinburg: 36 km, 0h 47m

When to drive it

21 Jun

14h 42m

of daylight

21 Sep

12h 12m

of daylight

21 Dec

9h 38m

of daylight

21 Mar

12h 10m

of daylight

Longest days are around 21 June, shortest around 21 December. On this route the swing is large enough that the same day's driving can be comfortable in June and entirely after dark in December — which is why the table above is per day.

Plan this route with the daylight in view

Tseril builds the multi-day route on a map, warns you about the legs you would drive at night, and shows the snow and weather at every stop. Free to use.

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