Why This Scenic Route Is The Most Popular Road Trip In The U.S. Right Now
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The U.S. Nationwide Parks Service simply launched its 2023 customer information, and one place particularly was probably the most visited in the complete United States.
Blue Ridge Parkway was the primary hottest Nationwide Parks Web site within the U.S. for 2023, with a complete of 16.7 million guests.
This scenic route stretches for 469 miles between North Carolina and Virginia, operating by the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains.
This is why so many vacationers visited the Blue Ridge Parkway final yr and why it is the right highway journey:
Discover America’s Most Visited Nationwide Park
The Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park on the border of North Carolina & Tennessee with Shenandoah Nationwide Park in Virginia.
Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park is the most visited national park within the nation, with over 13.2 million guests final yr.
It is the right place to begin your Blue Ridge Parkway highway journey. Spend a day or two exploring Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park and having fun with outside actions like mountaineering, fishing, and tenting.
Then hit the highway and begin driving the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Scenic Views And Stops Alongside The Means
You could possibly theoretically drive the complete 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway in about 12 hours for those who did not make any stops, however the great thing about a highway journey is stopping alongside the best way!
One purpose so many vacationers love the Blue Ridge Parkway is due to the scenic mountain views you may take pleasure in as you drive, and the good stops you can also make alongside the best way.
The highest three stops I like to recommend making as you drive the Blue Ridge Parkway are:
Asheville, North Carolina: This trendy town is understood for its eating places, breweries, and artwork galleries. It is also price stopping on the Biltmore Property in Asheville, the biggest non-public residence in america constructed by the Vanderbilt household within the late nineteenth century.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina: A captivating small city within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blowing Rock is one other nice cease on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The principle spotlight right here is mountaineering as much as the Blowing Rock, a rock formation with sweeping views over the mountains.
Roanoke, Virginia: One other fashionable place to cease on a Blue Ridge Parkway highway journey is Roanoke. This vibrant small metropolis is a good place to discover with a lot of museums and points of interest.
End In An Underrated Nationwide Park
The Blue Ridge Parkway ends at Shenandoah Nationwide Park in Virginia. Though Shenandoah is just not as fashionable or extensively visited as Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, this underrated national park is certainly nonetheless price a cease!
That is one other nationwide park with lovely mountain surroundings and many nice hikes and scenic viewpoints. It is the right place to finish your Blue Ridge Parkway highway journey.
Street Journeys Are Reasonably priced
Road tripping on the Blue Ridge Parkway was so fashionable final yr as a result of it is a very reasonably priced trip!
With many locations getting an increasing number of costly, you’ll be able to nonetheless lower your expenses on a highway journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Your essential prices can be a rental automotive (if you do not have your individual automobile for the journey), gasoline, and meals. Lodging is one thing it can save you some huge cash on by tenting and even sleeping in your automotive!
After all, you may also spend cash on motels, with loads of choices for each finances alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I’d suggest not less than 5 days for a Blue Ridge Parkway highway journey, however you could possibly simply spend 7 to 10 days driving it relying on what number of stops you need to make.
The most effective time for a Blue Ridge Parkway highway journey is late spring by fall — it is probably the greatest fall foliage locations in america!
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Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.