There’s a reason the Blue Ridge Parkway is called America’s Favorite Drive, and you’ll realize why about ten minutes into the stretch near Asheville. All 469 miles run from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. During Autumn, the section between Mount Pisgah and Craggy Gardens is where the Parkway really shows off. Within a single day, you can hike to the summit of Mount Pisgah, watch waterfalls tumble through Graveyard Fields, and pull off at overlooks to see the Blue Ridge Parkway fall colors. Whether you’re planning a full Blue Ridge Parkway road trip or just want one unforgettable Blue Ridge Parkway scenic drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville corridor is the place to visit.
The Parkway is also just the beginning of what a trip here can hold. Hike the Craggy Gardens Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway, walk a stretch of the Mountains to Sea Trail, or spend a day touring the Biltmore Estate and its gardens in Asheville. Then come back to Saluda, where the evening is every bit as good as the drive. There are so many things to do in Saluda, including grabbing dinner at one of the best restaurants, indulging in a scoop of ice cream at Thompson’s Store, and visiting the Green River Gorge just down the road. Base yourself here, and you get the best Blue Ridge Parkway attractions by day and a small mountain town by night.
We’ve spent years sending guests up the mountain with our favorite routes, overlooks, and trailheads, and below is the advice we give often at the breakfast table. When the driving is done, our Bed and Breakfast in the NC mountains is ready to welcome you. A 1910 inn perched above Saluda, our lodging offers luxury guest suites and cottages, a spa and cedar sauna, and dinner at our on-site restaurant, Newman’s. Book your stay and begin exploring Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville.
How to Experience the Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the easiest scenic drives you’ll ever take. It’s free to enter, the speed limit tops out at 45 mph, and there are no billboards, traffic lights, or commercial development along the route. The road itself is the attraction, with overlooks, trailheads, picnic areas, and visitor centers clearly marked along the way.
If it’s your first visit, stop at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center near Asheville to pick up a map and ask a ranger for recommendations based on how much time you have. Before you head out, browse the National Park Service’s list of Blue Ridge Parkway access points and amenities to help plan your day and choose the stops that best fit your interests. Cell service comes and goes in the mountains, so having a paper map is always a good idea.
North of Asheville, Craggy Gardens is one of the Parkway’s signature stops, especially in June when the Catawba rhododendrons blanket the mountainsides in brilliant pink and purple blooms. The Craggy Pinnacle Trail is a 1.4-mile round trip to an overlook with 360-degree views, including Mount Mitchell on a clear day. South of Asheville, the road climbs past Mount Pisgah, where the summit trail is roughly 2.6 to 3 miles round trip depending on where you begin, before continuing to the Blue Ridge Parkway waterfalls at Graveyard Fields. An easy spur trail reaches Lower (Second) Falls in about 0.6 miles round trip, while longer trails continue through the valley toward Upper Falls and beyond. These are some of the best Blue Ridge Parkway hikes we recommend to our guests.
For Blue Ridge Parkway fall colors, the highest elevations around Craggy Gardens and Mount Mitchell usually begin changing in late September and early October, with color gradually moving downslope toward Asheville through October. A mid-October visit often catches peak color somewhere along the Parkway. If you’re visiting during leaf season, plan to arrive early or explore on a weekday, since the most popular overlooks and trailheads fill quickly. There are no gas stations on the Parkway itself, so fill up before you enter, and check the National Park Service road status before your trip if you’re visiting from late fall through early spring, when snow or ice can temporarily close sections of the road.
Relax at a Bed and Breakfast in the NC Mountains
Extend your Blue Ridge Parkway view with a stay at our Bed and Breakfast in the NC mountains. The best part of a Blue Ridge Parkway scenic drive from Saluda is how it ends. You spend the day above 5,000 feet, then wind down the mountain to a hot shower, dinner at Newman’s Restaurant, and a glass of wine on the porch. Most Parkway visitors drive back to a hotel hallway. Ours walk downstairs to dinner.
Our rooms, suites, and cottages come with private baths and treetop views, and the onsite spa is perfect for a post-hike massage or a session in the cedar sauna overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the morning, a full made-to-order breakfast comes with your stay, served in the glassed-in dining room where the Appalachians fill the windows. Book your stay at the best Bed and Breakfast in the NC mountains and start planning your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip today.
