The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway features hundreds of scenic overlooks, attractions, and hiking trails. There are waterfalls, mountain peaks, and spectacular views along the trails. Where do you even begin exploring this scenic drive?
You could start at one of the 14 visitor centers.
The visitor centers stretch along the parkway from Milepost 5.8 to Milepost 451.2, making it easy to find one about every 35 miles on average. The visitor centers are places for picking up a road map, collecting a cancellation stamp, and learning about road closures.
This travel guide includes an interactive map for the Blue Ridge Parkway visitor centers along with things to do when you stop for info and restrooms.
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National Park Service App
The official National Park Service app is an all-in-one tool for planning a national park adventure and finding your way around the park. The app has information about every national park site across the country, essentially putting all the online information at your fingertips.
The free app features interactive maps, self-guided tours, amenities like restrooms, and lists of things to do. The powerful app has an offline mode – with a single tap, you can save the park for offline use to access all the information later. You’ll also have access to important information like alerts, contacts, fees, and operating hours.
Mileposts on the Blue Ridge Parkway are concrete posts etched with numbers marking the distance from Waynesboro, Virginia, at Milepost 0. The last marker is Milepost 469 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Like exit numbers on interstate highways, Mileposts are easy ways to determine the distance between attractions on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Map of Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Centers
How to use this map: Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the star beside the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.
National Park Week 2024
Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.
The first visitor center heading south from Waynesboro is a
great place to begin exploring this end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The small
visitor center has information, maps, a small gift shop, and a place to
collection your National Park Passport stamp.
Mountain Farm Exhibit
At the end of the parking a short, easy trail leads through
the Mountain Farm Exhibit. There is a large log home usually left open for
visitors to explore during business hours.
No. 2
James River Visitor Center at Milepost 63.6
At just 650 feet above sea level the bridge crossing the
James River is the lowest point on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway. The small
visitor center has restrooms and an information desk open during normal
business hours.
James River Hiking Trails
There are three trails to hike at the James River Visitor
Center. The Trail of Trees Trail is an easy 0.4-mile loop trail from the
visitor center. The 0.4-mile Canal Lock Trail includes a rather cool walk along
a pedestrian path beneath the highway bridge over the James River. On the other
side of the river the trail leads to the restored Battery Creek Lock.
The final hiking trail is more strenuous but also more
exciting. The 7-mile roundtrip Otter Creek Trail ascends from the visitor center
to Otter Lake and then along Otter Creek to the campground. The best hiking
option is just a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike from the visitor center to the end of
Otter Lake where you’ll find a nice waterfall at the dam.
No. 3
Peaks of Otter Visitor Center at Milepost 86
There is a lot to see and do while visiting the Peaks of
Otter. The visitor center is located in a small building directly beside the
Parkway within sight of Abbott Lake. The visitor center includes an information
desk, restrooms, and a small gift shop.
Peaks of Otter Picnic
Area
Located along Highway 43 about a mile from the Parkway is a
rather nice picnic area. One end of the picnic area is a parking lot where
visitors can hike the 1-mile Abbott Lake Loop Trail. The other end is a one-way
road through a dense forested area with picnic table scattered around a creek.
The 1.8-mile Johnson Farm Loop Trail takes visitors to the
historic Johnson Farm to see what life on a farm was like in the late 1800’s.
The 3.3-mile Harkening Hill Trail is a moderately strenuous hike across a ridge
to a beautiful viewing area at Balance Rock. The 1.5-mile Sharp Top Trail is a
strenuous route that challenges even the best of hikers as it ascends the side
of Sharp Top Mountain to a stunning 360-degree overlook at the summit.
Adventurous hikers can also tackle the 4.4-mile Flat Top Trail as it winds
through a beautiful area back to the Fallingwater Cascades Parking Area.
No. 4
Virginia’s Explore Park Visitor Center at Milepost 115
Explore Park is not owned or operated by the National Park
Service, but they do have a very nice visitor center with information about the
Parkway. The visitor center also includes a wonderful museum with giant 3D map
of the Parkway. There is a large gift shop with lots of items like books,
clothing, and souvenirs.
Settlement Village
Hike the 0.17-mile Journeys End Trail to discover a hidden
settlement village at Explore Park. The village includes about a dozen historic
log structures like a two-story house, grist mill, and outbuildings.
No. 5
Rocky Knob Visitor Center at Milepost 169
The Rocky Knob Visitor Center is a reminder of something
that is no longer available on the Blue Ridge Parkway: gas stations. Located
inside an old gas station complete with island where the pumps used to be, this
is a reminder that at one time visitors would have needed gas in their vehicles
just to do a short day trip on the Parkway.
The visitor center includes a small gift shop, information,
and restrooms.
No. 6
Blue Ridge Music Center at Milepost 213
Located near Galax, Virginia, the Blue Ridge Music Center is
a part of the music heritage-oriented Crooked Road. The visitor center includes
a very nice museum exploring that heritage of the surrounding area.
The biggest attraction to the Blue Ridge Music Center is the
outdoor concert venue. Throughout much of the year (excluding the winter
months) Saturday evenings are filled with music from bands playing all night
long.
National Park Week 2024
Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.
Moses H. Cone Manor and Visitor Center at Milepost 294.1
Also known as the Parkway Craft Center and Flat Top Manor,
this gorgeous mansion is a destination all on its own. The visitor center has
information like maps, brochures, and a place to collect your National Park
Passport stamp. The restrooms are located in a separate building near the
parking lot.
Parkway Craft Center
Explore a couple of rooms of arts and crafts from local
artisans. These crafts include paintings, photography, clothing, and jewelry.
Moses H. Cone Hiking Trails
The 5.2-mile roundtrip hike to Rich Mountain is a strenuous
adventure with a pretty nice view from the top. The longer 6.8-mile roundtrip
hike to Flat Top Tower is a bit more strenuous but is one of the most popular
hikes in the area. An easy hike is the 0.8-mile Bass Lake Loop Trail. Visitors
can walk down a connecting 2.5-mile trail from the Parkway Craft Center or
drive down to a parking area beside the lake.
No. 8
Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center at Milepost 304.4
The iconic Linn Cove Viaduct just might be the most
recognizable landmark on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Located just off the south end
of the bridge is the Linn Cove Viaduct Visitor Center. The small center has
information, a gift shop, and a nice diorama depicting the construction of the
viaduct. The restrooms are located outside at the edge of the parking lot.
Tanawha Trail
One of the neatest things about this stop is the Tanawha
Trail. At the far end of the parking lot a trail leads underneath viaduct
before zigzagging to an elevation above the bridge. The trail connects Julian
Price Memorial Park with the Stack Rock Overlook for an exciting hike, but the
portion under the viaduct is only about two miles roundtrip.
No. 9
Linville Falls Visitor Center at Milepost 316.4
Linville Falls is one of the most-visited destinations on
the Blue Ridge Parkway. The small visitor center includes information, brochures,
a gift shop, and restrooms in a separate, connected building.
There are two different trails leading to a total of five ways
to view Linville Falls. Visitors can hike the 4-mile roundtrip Linville Falls
Trail to three different overlooks for views of the waterfall. For a little
more adventure the strenuous 2.4-mile roundtrip Plunge Basin Trail leads to the
bottom of the waterfall.
Dugger’s Creek Falls
This small waterfall is a hidden gem I overlooked for years
before finally discovering it. Hike the 0.2-mile trail at the end of the parking
lot to find the waterfall in a narrow ravine. The trail crosses a rustic bridge
and on the other end you can climb down the easy path to the creek’s edge.
No. 10
Museum of North Carolina Minerals at Milepost 331
This visitor center is located inside the Museum of North
Carolina Minerals. The museum is free to explore where you will learn the
fascinating geological history of minerals found in the North Carolina
mountains. The small visitor center includes information, a gift shop, and restrooms.
No. 11
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center at Milepost 364.6
Craggy Gardens is a beautiful place to explore about forty minutes from Asheville. At the heart of the active area is the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center on the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The small visitor center includes information, a gift shop, and restrooms in the basement level. These restrooms are not handicap accessible.
The parking lot on the other side of the Craggy Pinnacle
Tunnel has access to a trail leading to two overlooks at the top of Craggy
Pinnacle. The 0.7-mile trail ascends about 230’ and is moderately strenuous,
mostly because of the rugged terrain along the trail. The views from the top at
the scenic overlooks surrounded by stone walls are amazing.
Hiking Craggy Knob
A much easier hike is along the 0.3-mile Craggy Gardens
Trail to the bald-topped Craggy Knob. This trail passes beneath the shade of a
dense rhododendron forest to a covered shelter before coming out on the bald
mountain top.
No. 12
Folk Art Center at Milepost 382
The Folk Art Center is mostly about arts and crafts from
local artisans, but it also has a rather nice information desk and small gift
shop. Be sure to walk through the museum/shop and check out all the wonderful
art.
No. 13
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Milepost 384
Located just outside Asheville this is the visitor center for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The headquarters for
the Parkway is located next door.
This visitor center is the largest on the Parkway. They have
several exhibits about the wildlife, construction of the Parkway, and a giant,
wall-sized map. The gift shop has clothing, bags, books, and souvenir items to
collect. The restrooms are also located inside.
No. 14
Waterrock Knob Visitor Center at Milepost 451.2
This small visitor center if the first one you’ll reach coming
from Cherokee, North Carolina and the southern end of the Parkway. It’s about
15 miles to the end of the Parkway from this visitor center.
The small building has an information desk with maps of the
Parkway and a small gift shop to explore. The restrooms are located in a
separate building in the loop of the parking lot.
Hike to Waterrock
Knob
The 1.2-mile Waterrock Knob Trail begins at the parking lot
and lead to the summit of Waterrock Knob. It is a strenuous hike with a 400’ ascent
to the top. The first ¼-mile of the trail is paved, though, and leads to a
scenic overlook just above the parking lot.
Jason started a career in travel photography in 2009. In 2015, he began his first blog to showcase his photography. Posts included writing for the first time about his adventures to pair with the photos. In 2019, Jason rebranded as Road Trips & Coffee and began sharing his passion for road trips. In 2024, he rebranded once again as Road Trips of America to signify his neverending road trip quest.