Based on the comments and questions form our campground and motel guests at Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground, my husband and I compiled these Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) Basics to Know Before You Go to help adventurers like you plan an unforgettable trip along the 469-mile, iconic drive.  

Is the BRP a national park?

Yes, it is. Not only is the Blue Ridge Parkway a national park, it is consistently one of the most visited. The northern point of the BRP meets with Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic drive through Shenandoah National Park. The southern terminus ends at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So, National Park devotees will find that a trip here is a three-in-one jackpot.

Is the BRP in North Carolina and Virginia?

The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches from Rockfish Gap around Afton, VA (milepost 0) to Cherokee, North Carolina (milepost 469). Construction started in 1935 during the Great Depression at Cumberland Gap, which is 18 miles south of our campground.

What are the best resources to learn more about the BRP?

To familiarize yourself with the BRP, the best resource is the Blue Ridge Parkway Association website. They have an online interactive map and a downloadable app that can help you plan every element of your trip. Their resources let you filter your search by your interests such as access points, attractions, EV charging, tunnels, lodging, hiking trails and restaurants. The BRP website also has blogs and descriptions of the park by region. All of this will help you plan a trip that captures the beauty, natural resources and history that the parkway preserves. For additional information, check the National Park Service (NPS) website.

Please note, that some sections of the BRP have tunnels and steep grades. If you’re driving or pulling a camper, make sure you do your research before starting your trip.

How much does it cost to visit?

There is no fee to visit the BRP. There is no fee to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park either. There is, however, an entrance fee for Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. The details are listed on the websites of each park.

Do I need reservations?

Reservations are always recommended because the Blue Ridge Parkway is such a popular destination. Visits pick up in the spring, increase in the summer and peak in the fall during leaf-viewing season. Keep in mind that most lodging, campgrounds (including Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground), NPS facilities and other attractions close in November and don’t re-open until the spring.  

Where are the gas stations?  

Since the Blue Ridge Parkway is a national park, visitors will not find commercial establishments like gas stations along the roadway. In fact, Fancy Gap Cabins and Campgrounds is the only privately owned campground and motel directly on the BRP. The NPS has facilities like the Blue Ridge Music Center (south of us) or Mabry Mill (north of us) that has gift shops and restrooms. Some of the overlooks and picnic areas may have restrooms. You’ll need to exit the BRP where you see signs for nearby towns to fill up or grab a meal. Keep in mind, nearby can be right off the parkway or many miles away.

What’s wrong with the cell phone service?

Along the BRP cell service can be as strong as on any city block. In other locations, there are dead spots and spotty reception. This also means that GPS can go a little crazy. Again, take advantage of the resources provided at BlueRidgeParkWay.org to find out what’s near you as you drive. Also, pack a paper map. You may be glad you did.

Is the BRP open all year?

Yes, the Blue Ridge Parkway is open 365 days a year, except for the days it isn’t. Those days are usually during the winter when storms fill the roadway with snow and ice. Other seasons of the year, storms may cause temporary closings because of debris that’s fallen onto the roadway. Maintenance projects also cause closers. There are detours in place to guide visitors on and off the parkway in those cases. Again, the Blue Ridge Parkway Association and the NPS detail road closures and detours along the BRP on their websites.

Why is the speed limit so low?

The speed limit along most of the Parkway is 45 mph. The BRP crosses windy and mountainous terrain. People slow down to see the views and the wildlife. They also pull on and off at overlooks. So, maintaining slower speeds is safer and allows everyone to enjoy the Parkway safely.

Is there wildlife?

More than likely, you’ll see wildlife when you travel the parkway. Deer are prevalent and tend to spring out into the roadway. Beyond deer, keep an eye out for wild turkey, rabbits, squirrels and fox. We’ve heard reports of black bears in our area, but we’ve not seen any. The area is great for bird watchers and butterfly lovers as well. If you like to fish, you’ll enjoy throwing a line in the New River or into the trout-stocked Crooked Creek Fee Fishing Area, both not far from our campground.

Is there anything to do besides drive?

Besides the mountain views that stretch as far as the eye can see across the mountains of western North Carolina and Virginia, the BRP is full of hiking trails, waterfalls and overlooks with educational and historic information. In the region surrounding our campground, for example, visitors can fish, paddle, hike, bike, antique, taste local wine and beer, enjoy blue grass music and visit the many small towns full of unique shops and restaurants. All along the BRP, spring and summer bring multitudes of wild flowers and cooler temperatures. The fall, visitors revel in the blazing colors of changing leaves. Check out a full list of BRP attractions here.

What’s the elevation along the BRP?

Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground is at 3,100 feet in elevation. We have rolling hills and an agricultural feel with mountain views in one direction and a jaw-dropping vista of North Carolina’s Piedmont on the other. As you travel north of us, you’ll experience elevations close to 4,000 feet in the Peaks of Otter and as low as 670 feet along the James River. When you travel south into North Carolina, you’ll climb to 6,053 feet the highest point of the BRP when you reach milepost 431 at Richland Balsam.

Whether you research intensely before you travel or you prefer to wing it, my husband and I as owners of Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground hope that these Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) Basics to Know Before You Go help you achieve a memorable trip along one of the nation’s most treasured national parks.

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