Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia
Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia is a National Parkway in Virginia. Within Virginia it covers roughly 220 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Virginia half of the Blue Ridge Parkway begins where Skyline Drive ends near Waynesboro and follows the mountain crest south toward the North Carolina line. It passes the Peaks of Otter, the James River at the parkway's lowest point, and Mabry Mill, a photogenic water-powered grist mill that is among the most photographed spots on the whole route. Built as a Depression-era public works project, the parkway was designed purely for unhurried scenic driving.
- Mabry Mill
- Peaks of Otter
- James River
- ridge-top overlooks
- no commercial traffic
Designated for its cultural and recreational qualities
Plan a drive on Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia → Drive this route in Road SortiesTurn-by-turn on iPhone · App Store
Places to stop along Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia
Peaks of Otter
Three peaks around a mountain lake at milepost 86, with a lodge, a restored 1930s farm, and a steep trail to the boulders atop Sharp Top.
Roanoke Star
A 100-foot neon star on Mill Mountain, reached by a spur road, overlooking the city of Roanoke from the parkway's largest nearby town.
Blue Ridge Farm Museum
A re-created early-1800s Virginia-German farmstead in Ferrum with costumed interpreters and heritage livestock.
WebsiteRocky Knob
A parkway recreation area with a campground, rental cabins, and trails down into the Rock Castle Gorge.
Mabry Mill
The parkway's most photographed spot, a 1910 water-powered gristmill and sawmill on a millpond, with buckwheat pancakes at the restaurant next door.
Blue Ridge Music Center
An outdoor amphitheater and museum near the North Carolina line, with free midday old-time and bluegrass jams.
Website
Where to Stay along Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia
17 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia.
Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.
Photos of Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia
What is a National Parkway?
National Parkways are scenic roads managed by the National Park Service and protected as parkland along their length. They're built for an unhurried recreational drive, not for getting anywhere fast.