The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic drive connecting Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, and the stretch around Asheville, North Carolina is widely considered its most spectacular — rolling mountain overlooks, waterfalls, and some of the best fall foliage in the country, all without a single stoplight.
Top Things to Do on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Craggy Gardens, just north of Asheville, offers sweeping views and, in June, some of the best wild rhododendron blooms on the parkway. Mount Pisgah, with its distinctive summit visible from much of the Asheville area, has a moderately steep but short trail to a fire tower with panoramic Blue Ridge views.
The Folk Art Center showcases Southern Appalachian craft traditions just outside Asheville, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is a good first stop for maps and current overlook conditions. Asheville itself, the parkway's unofficial capital, adds a lively food and craft-brewery scene, plus the Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately owned house, just a short drive away.
What to Pack for the Blue Ridge Parkway
Mountain weather along the parkway changes fast with elevation, and overlooks are often windier and cooler than downtown Asheville. The VacationGrabs Leather Travel Backpack is a solid choice for a day of overlook-hopping and short hikes, and the VacationGrabs Leather Overnight Duffel is a great size for an Asheville weekend.
Book Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville Tours and Experiences
Scenic parkway drives, waterfall hikes, and Biltmore Estate tours are among the best ways to experience the area. Browse Asheville tours and experiences below to plan your trip.
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