Blue Ridge Parkway

Spanning up to 469 miles, the Blue Ridge Parkway runs through North Carolina and western Virginia.

Both a National Parkway and All-American Road, the road cuts through the Blue Ridge Mountains – a scenic spot within the Appalachian Mountains.

Established in 1936, the parkway is operated by the National Park Service – and draws over 17 million annual visitors to the ridge.

Virginia visitors traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway are encouraged to stop for Humpback Rock, Sherando Lake, James River and Kanawha Canal, and Peaks of Otter – most of which can be seen with a quick trek down a short nature trail.