Southwest Virginia’s Scenic Blue Ridge Parkway

Southwest Virginia is full of natural beauty, no matter where you choose to look. We offer everything from camping, hiking, music, and so much more. Another great feature of our region is our scenic drives. Each year, motorcycle enthusiasts, bicycle riders, and more come to drive our scenic roads and soak in the Southwest Virginia landscape. One of these notable drives is on the infamous Blue Ridge Parkway.

Image provided by Blue Ridge Parkway Association

The Parkway stretches from Cherokee, North Carolina all the way to the Afton, Virginia just between Charlottesville and Staunton. Our portion of the parkway runs parallel with communities such as Galax, Hillsville, and Floyd, Virginia.

There are many things you can see and do while traveling along the parkway, a few of those things include:

• Camping
• Picnics
• Photo opportunities
• Hiking
• Boating
• Golfing
• Biking
• Scenic Drives
• and Weddings

A few locations you may want to visit while traveling the parkway include:

• Fancy Gap – Camping, Golfing, and more
• Floyd – Home of the Floyd Country Store, Handmade Music School, and County Sales
• Galax – Offers many great things to see and do
• Hillsville – Home to the annual Hillsville Flea Market
• Patrick County – Primland Resort & Golf, The Reynolds Homestead, and more

Golfing on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Golf lovers rejoice! The Blue Ridge Parkway is home to many beautiful courses to get in a few swings and enjoy some time with friends. Golf is such a big impact on the Parkway, they have their own Blue Ridge Parkway Golf Trail! These courses are held to quite the standards and feature natural beauty and landscape you won’t see anywhere else. By visiting the link, you’ll be able to choose courses in either Virginia or North Carolina, find package deals, and even places to stay.

Camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway

There are many camping options available both on and off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Everything from tents, luxury cabins & lodges, as well as RV sites. To get a better idea of where to camp and what amenities are available at campsites, the parkway has an interactive map. With this map, you can also search for things to do, places to go, and look for other area attractions.

Planning a Parkway Trip is so easy!

The Blue Ridge Parkway has done a great job at putting together ideas for things to do, and customized itineraries based on activities you might enjoy. With so many options and so many miles to cover, it’s nice to have a plan in mind before you go. The parkway provides a true escape into the great outdoors. In fact, some areas of cell phone service and GPS are unavailable. For some, this is a wondrous thing, but for others, it’s something you might want to think about. Although you might not always get up to date reception, there are markers and information sites throughout the parkway.

The Best Times to Visit the Blue Ridge Parkway

Although no time is a bad time, there are some ideal times to visit the parkway depending on what you’re wanting to do or see. Here’s a list of ideas and times you might want to visit the parkway.

• Early mornings and evenings – this is a great time if you’re wanting to dive into some beautiful landscape photography, catch the sunrise or sunset.
• Late Spring – catch the landscape as it comes into bloom in the late Spring season. Flowers, trees, and greenery start coming back to life.
• Summer – Summer is when everything is in full swing. This is a great time for camping, hiking, biking, and more.
• Fall – possibly one of the most popular and magical times of year is in the fall. Being surrounded by all the trees and the changing of the colors of the leaves is truly a spectacle to see.

There are a few times when you might want to plan another trip to the parkway. During and after some rains, the fog can be a major issue. On a recent trip, I took the parkway, just after a hefty rainstorm. The fog was very dense and limited my sight distance. Instead of being able to see the majestic views and landscapes, I was instead greeted with thick fog.

Although we did encounter the fog, we were still greeted with a beautiful landscape, wildlife, and a few hidden gems as seen below:

No matter when you choose to go or what you choose to see, the Blue Ridge Parkway is an amazing location to visit. Plan to spend some time here so you can really soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of this wonderful place. Sometimes our busy lifestyles is something we need to take a break from.

Coming out here and enjoying some time in nature not only gives you a chance to slow down and enjoy the small things in life, but also provides great relaxation. Life out here is simple. Come out to clear your mind, enjoy some time with loved ones, and create some memories that will last forever.