Blue Ridge Park way - Massanutten Resort

THE BLuE RIDgE PARkwAY
Many visitors want to know how to have the maximum
experience on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some folks
like the first warm days of spring with ample wildflowers
in bloom while others like the crisp days of fall under the
golden canopy of tulip poplar trees. Some would maximize their
Parkway experience on motorcycles or bicycles, while others are
content with the automobile, although perhaps with the top down.
Some enjoy staying in the car as much as possible while others
venture onto the paths and trails, away from the motor road.
Without a doubt, however, the Parkway experience is a unique
one and very different from our day to day experiences. In this
day and age, people are busy and time is valuable. People are
inundated with information and want to be “connected” to their
Parkway North
Parkway South
At each Parkway entrance a directional sign indicates ‘north’ or
‘south’. North, toward the north end of the Parkway, leads to
Shenandoah National Park. South, toward the south end of the
Parkway, leads to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Outstanding scenery and recreational opportunities make
the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the most popular units of the
National Park System. “America’s Favorite Drive” winds its way
469 miles through mountain meadows and past seemingly endless
vistas. Split-rail fences, old farmsteads and historic structures
complement spectacular views of distant mountains and neighboring
valleys.
The Parkway incorporates several recreation areas, some
exceeding 6,000 acres. These parks within the Parkway have
visitor centers, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails and, in many
instances, concessioner-operated lodges, restaurants and other
facilities.
Building the Parkway through mountainous terrain was a monumental
labor. Authorized in the 1930s as a Depression-era public
works project, the Parkway was more than a half-century in the
making. It was the nation’s first, and ultimately longest, rural
parkway, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.
Enduring standards for parkway engineering and design were
pioneered here.
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sources of information as much as possible. Increasingly, people
are also satisfied with getting their experiences from secondary
sources, rather than the real thing. A Parkway experience defies all
of these trends. At its best, a Parkway experience needs to be just
the opposite… slow and relaxed, unconnected from the rest of the
world’s hectic information, and real… lots of sunshine, wind, and
close-up views of the cultural and natural world of the Blue Ridge.
This special road hugs the crest of the world’s oldest mountain
range and winds through the coves and forest slopes that make up
so much of southern Appalachia. That kind of experience tends to
stamp an impression on your mind… it should be an experience
that is unforgettable.
During your Parkway experience, keep in mind the pride,
enjoyment, and responsibility that go along with it. Your pride
in this place, whether you are a neighbor enjoying an afternoon
drive or here from outside the region for the first time, is important
and helps in protecting the Parkway. Your enjoyment may come
from the streams, trails, wildlife, and historic structures, or from the
intangible things like cool air, vistas, or the absolute serenity of the
place. Your responsibility comes in the stewardship that is required
of all visitors to all National Park sites. This place cannot stay the
way we know it without community, regional, and individual help.
It has been noted that “too many places we see in America
today look like too many places we see in America today.”
Interstates, inner cities, subdivisions… all look very much alike no
matter where you are in our country. But America’s national parks
aren’t like that. They are places where visitors have unique experiences,
remarkable experiences, and experiences that are unattainable
anywhere else.
However you choose to “maximize” your Parkway experience
this year, do it thoughtfully, do it safely, and take full advantage of
all that this special place has to offer.
gas Availability
No gasoline is available on the
parkway. Gas is available not far
off the Parkway at any of these US
or State Highway Intersections:
Virginia
US 250 — MP 0
US 60 — MP 45.6
VA 130 — MP 61.6
US 501 — MP 63.9
US 460 — MP 106
VA 24 — MP 112.2
US 220 — MP 121.4
US 58 — MP 177.7
US 52 — MP 199.4
VA 89 — MP 215.8
North Carolina
US 21 — MP 229.7
NC 18 — MP 248.1
NC 16 — MP 261.2
US 321 — MP 291.9
NC 181 — MP 312
NC 226 — MP 330.9
US 70 — MP 382.4
US 74A — MP 384.7
US 25 — MP 388.1
NC 191 — MP 393.6
US 276 — MP 411.9
US 74/23 — MP 443.1
US 19 — MP 455.7