Blue Ridge Parkway North of Asheville | Travel Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway By Sections – North of Asheville

The Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville is the next section to be described. The entire Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles long. Of those 469 miles, 253 miles are in North Carolina. The section of Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville alone is about 168 miles long. Driving at a speed limit of 45 miles per hour will result in a long trip. Being familiar with the different sections of the parkway will make it easier to plan your adventure. Part One of the Blue Ridge Parkway By Sections covered Virginia. Now let’s concentrate on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina north of Asheville and I-40.

The Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina starts at MP 216.9 at the NC/VA state line. This section may be the most well-known section of the parkway. Just after crossing the state line Cumberland Knob Recreation Area is the first large park. Cumberland Knob Recreation Area is located at MP 217.5. Traveling further south is Doughton Park, another large and popular park area. Doughton Park is at MP 238.5. Located here are a Visitor Center and Park Store, the newly renovated Bluffs Restaurant, hiking trails, a campground, and a picnic area.

Grandfather Mountain and Linn Cove Viaduct

Flat Top Manor and Estate at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park

One of the most widely known sections of the parkway is near the towns of Boone, Blowing Rock, and Linville. Moses H. Cone Memorial Park is located at MP 294. Stop here to explore Flat Top Manor and Estate (also called the Moses Cone Manor). The manor has 23 rooms and was built as a Colonial Revival summer mansion in 1901. The estate covers 3,500-acres. Trails are available for horse-drawn carriage rides, horseback riding, and hiking. The Craftsman’s Trail is a 20-minute loop walk around the manor.

At MP 302.8 is Rough Ridge. It has beautiful mountain views of nearby Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct. Keep on the parkway to MP 304.4 and you are driving across the Linn Cove Viaduct that you just viewed from Rough Ridge. Stop at the nearby Linn Cove Visitor Center for information about the construction of the famous viaduct.

Continuing south on the parkway at MP 328.3 is the Orchard at Altapass. It’s another one of the most visited locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The apple orchard grows and sells heirloom apples. There is also a bee habitat, U-Pick, storytelling, “heyrides”, music, mountain heritage information, and of course spectacular views. The Orchard at Altapass is a great place to stop for a snack. They have hand-scooped ice cream, hot apple pie, and homemade fudge.

Mount Mitchell and Craggy Gardens

Mount Mitchell
Yancey County, NC

Mount Mitchell is located at MP 355.4 on the parkway. Mount Mitchell has the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountain Range. It is also the highest point east of the Mississippi River with an elevation of 6684 feet. Mount Mitchell State Park can be accessed by the parkway at MP 355.4. The entrance to Mount Mitchell State Park is marked on the parkway. It is a 4.5-mile drive to the summit. MMSP has 1,946 acres to enjoy. The park is free to visit with no admission fee.

Craggy Gardens and the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center are located at MP364.4. At MP 364.1 there is a trail that leads to panoramic views from Craggy Pinnacle. With an elevation of 5,892 ft, this is one of the first areas on the parkway to display fall foliage. Craggy Gardens trails and a picnic area are at MP 367.6. Visitors also flock here in June to view the colorful flowering blooms of the Catawba rhododendrons.

Asheville

The Blue Ridge Parkway crosses I-40 at MP 384. Take I-49 west and Asheville is a short drive away. At MP 382 is the Folk Art Center. The center is a museum of Appalachian arts and crafts. It houses the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s Allanstand Craft Shop, exhibitions in three galleries, a library, an auditorium, a book store, and a parkway information desk.

Areas of Interest on The Blue Ridge Parkway North of Asheville

MP 216.9 Virginia/ North Carolina State Line
MP 217.5 Cumberland Knob – 1000 acres, picnic area, comfort station, short loop trail
MP 238.5 Doughton Park – 7000 acres, picnic area, campground, comfort station, trails,. Brinegar Cabin
MP 241 Bluffs Lodge and Bluffs Restaurant – a 24‑acre landscape set within Doughton Park with views of the roadway, the lodge, Wildcat Rocks Overlook, and the water tower. Bluffs Restaurant with recent renovations and a new menu. A great place to stop for a break ad grab something to eat.
MP 259 Northwest Trading Post – located in Ashe County. The trading post has crafts, snacks, jams, jelly, and other gift items.
MP 276 Deep Gap – Junction with US 421. Boone is 11 miles away
MP 292 and MP 294 – Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Moses H. Cone built this 23 room summer retreat in 1901. Now listed on the Register of Historic Places. Visit Flat Top Manor and estate, now known as the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Carriage trails, historic manor, and the Southern Highland Craft Guild craft shop.
MP 297 Julian Price Memorial Park – Over 4000 acres including picnic areas, lake, boating, fishing, and hiking trail. Also has a campground.
MP 304 Linn Cove Viaduct Information Center – visitor information, publications, maps, pamphlets. Trail access to the viaduct. A great place to take pictures.
MP 304.4 Linn Cove Viaduct – a 1,243 feet long, concrete segmental bridge that winds around Grandfather Mountain. The combination of landscape, bridge architect, and engineering results in beauty and functionality. The viaduct is the most photographed site on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
MP 305.2 Junction with US 221. Located near Grandfather Mountain. Take US 221 south to Linnville. Take US 221 north to Blowing Rock. In Linville on US 221 take US 105 north to Sugar Mountain, Banner Elk and Valle Crucis.
MP 316.3 Linville Falls Vistors Center – Parking area at Linville River. Stone arch bridge. Fish, picnic, campgrounds
MP 320.7 Chestoa View – great view of the cliffs on Humpback Mountains
MP 355.4 Mt. Mitchell exit. The highest peak east of the Missippissi at an elevation of 6,684 feet. Mt. Mitchell is located in the 1,855-acre Mt. Mitchell State Park. Mt. Mitchell State Park is only accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway by taking NC 128 at Milepost 355.4 to the summit.
MP 339.5 Crabtree Falls – 250 acres with hiking, camping, picnic area, comfort station, information, and WI-Fi
MP 364 Craggy Gardens – visitors center and views of the Great Craggy Mountains, commonly called the Craggies. Jagged rocky “crags” with high elevation summits. In spring Craggies is covered with beautiful floral blooms. In fall this area is one of the first areas on the parkway to display fall foliage.
MP 382 – Folk Art Center – museum of Appalachian arts and crafts. It houses the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s
MP 384 Blue Ridge Parkway Visitors Center – information desk, exhibits, 22″ interactive map, 24-minute parkway film. Also where RBRP junctions with I-40.