Linn Cove Viaduct
The Blue Ridge Parkway is expecting a robust fall visitor season along the 469-mile linear national park which offers breathtaking scenic beauty and a wide variety of educational and cultural experiences. October is historically one of the Parkway’s highest visitation months and park managers anticipate that tradition to continue.
Visitors can find helpful information as they plan for their Parkway experience from a variety of sources. Both Virtual Blue Ridge and Blue Ridge Parkway Daily have full 360 degree panoramic tours of the Parkway. On our blog, you can find a link to the National Park Service’s real-time Parkway Road Closure Map. Annual facility opening & closing dates as well as operating hours can be found at Virtual Blue Ridge. The Blue Ridge Bookstore offers a great selection of Blue Ridge Parkway maps & guidebooks. Going to brave some of the cool evenings on a motorcycle? Check out Blue Ridge Motorcycling’s website. Recorded late season wildflower blooming and fall foliage information is available in our online wildflower color reports and fall color reports and on the Blue Ridge Parkway hotline at 828.298.0398.
Park visitors are encouraged to plan visits carefully to avoid unexpected road or weather conditions. Considering its unique design and changes in elevation, the Parkway drive is different than most and visitors are encouraged to pay extra attention when driving. The safest way to enjoy fall color is by parking at overlooks available along the motor road at regular intervals. In addition, park staff remind visitors that the Parkway is a living and fragile resource. Visitors can help protect it by following park regulations while in the park.
Parkway staff has begun making preparations for seasonal facility closures. The full listing of facilities, with 2014 closing dates if applicable, is available below.
2014 FALL/WINTER FACILITY SCHEDULE
CAMPGROUNDS
Reservations before Oct. 24, 2014 visit recreation.gov. Camping on walk-in basis between Oct. 26 – Nov. 1, 2014
| MILEPOST | CAMPGROUND | OPEN THROUGH | NOTES |
|
60.8 |
Otter Creek Campground | 2-Nov | Full services available through the evening of November 1, 2014. |
|
85.6 |
Peaks of Otter Campground | 2-Nov | Full services available through the evening of November 1, 2014. |
|
167.1 |
Rocky Knob Campground | 2-Nov | Two loops open for season; Full services available through the evening of November 1, 2014. |
|
239.2 |
Doughton Park Campground | 2-Nov | RV loop and one tent camping loop open for season; Full services available through the evening of November 1, 2014. |
|
296.9 |
Price Park Campground | 2-Nov | Full services available through the evening of November 1, 2014. |
|
316.4 |
Linville Falls Campground | 2-Nov | Full services available through the evening of November 1, 2014. |
|
408.8 |
Mt. Pisgah Campground | 2-Nov | Full services available through the evening of November 1, 2014. |
CONCESSION FACILITIES
| MILEPOST | CONCESSION | OPEN THROUGH | NOTES |
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Lodge | 30-Nov | Open through lunch on Sun., November 30, 2014; Open weekends & holidays through the winter; visit Click here for more information. |
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Country Store | 31-Oct | Open Wednesday through Sun., 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| 176.2 | Mabry Mill Restaurant & Gift Shop | 2-Nov | Click here for more information. |
| 258.7 | Northwest Trading Post | 31-Oct | Click here for more information |
| 294 | Parkway Craft Center at the Moses Cone Manor | 30-Nov | Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., weather permitting. Closed Thanksgiving Day. Click here for more information. |
| 296.9 | Price Park Boat Rental | Staggered beginning Sept. 30 | Open daily 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. through September 30, 2014. Open weekends, weather permitting, Fri. through Sun. through October 26, 2014; Click here for more information. |
| 382.2 | Folk Art Center | Open Year Round | Click here for seasonal hours, special events, and more information. |
| 408.8 | Pisgah Inn & Restaurant | 2-Nov | Open through breakfast on Sun., November 2, 2014; Click here for more information. |
PICNIC AREAS
Restrooms available at all picnic areas. Picnic Areas close for the season at dusk on Sun., November 2, 2014.
| MILEPOST | PICNIC AREA | OPEN THROUGH | NOTES |
| 8.5 | Humpback Rocks Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 63.6 | James River Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 120.4 | Roanoke Mtn. Day Use Area | 2-Nov | Last concert of the season on Sunday, September 28, 2014. |
| 154.5 | Smart View Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 169 | Rocky Knob Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 188.8 | Groundhog Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 217.5 | Cumberland Knob Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 241.1 | Doughton Park Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 271.9 | Jeffress Park Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 296.4 | Price Park Picnic Area | Open Year Round | Portable toilets only after November 2, 2014. Open year round. |
| 316.4 | Linville Falls Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 367.6 | Craggy Gardens Picnic Area | 2-Nov | |
| 407.8 | Mt. Pisgah Picnic Area | 2-Nov |
VISITOR CONTACT STATIONS & AREAS OF INTEREST
| MILEPOST | VISITOR CTR/ AREA | OPEN THROUGH | NOTES |
| 6 | Humpback Rocks Visitor Center | 2-Nov | Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 6 | Humpback Rocks Farm | 26-Oct | Seasonal cultural and farm life demonstrations daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. After Oct. 26, grounds open year round for self-guided tour. |
| 63.6 | James River Visitor Center | 2-Nov | Open Wed. – Sun., 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 85.6 | Peaks of Otter Visitor Center | 2-Nov at 4:00 p.m. | Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 85.6 | Johnson Farm | 6-Oct | Open Th. – Mon., 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Grounds open year round for self-guided tour. |
| 169 | Rocky Knob Visitor Center | 26-Oct | Weekends only, Sat. – Sun., 10:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. |
| 176.2 | Mabry Mill Exhibits | Cultural demonstrations through Oct. 26, 2014 | Grounds open year round for self-guided tour. |
| 213 | Blue Ridge Music Center | 2-Nov | Visitor Center & Roots of American Music Exhibit close November 2, 2014. Mid Day Music also concludes Nov. 2. Last outdoor concert of the season Sat., October 11, 2014; Click here for more information. |
| 238.5 | Brinegar Cabin | 26-Oct | Open Sat. & Sun. only, 10:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m. |
| 294 | Moses Cone Manor House | 2-Nov | Visitor Center open daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. Manor House Tours conclude for the seaon on October 19, 2014. Estate grounds open year round for self-guided tour. |
| 304.4 | Linn Cove Visitor Center | 2-Nov | Open daily, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 316.4 | Linville Falls Visitor Center | 11-Nov | Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with full utilities through Nov. 2, 2014, Portable toilets on site from November 3 – 11, 2014. |
| 330.9 | North Carolina Museum of Minerals | Open Year Round | Open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Closed daily for lunch from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. beginning November 2, 2014. |
| 364.5 | Craggy Gardens Visitor Center | 11-Nov | Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with full utilities through Nov. 2, 2014, Portable toilets on site from November 3 – 11, 2014. |
| 382.2 | Folk Art Center | Open Year Round | Seasonal hours: Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m through December; Open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. January through March. |
| 384.5 | Asheville Visitor Center | Open Year Round | Open Daily, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 451.2 | Waterrock Knob Visitor Center | 2-Nov | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
* Please note, schedule subject to change.
The Blue Ridge Parkway, in linking the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks, is dedicated to enhancing the outstanding scenic and recreational qualities of the corridor that it traverses; conserving unimpaired its significant natural and cultural resources, and promoting in perpetuity the public enjoyment and appreciation of the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Learn more about the Parkway at Virtual Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Parkway Daily and the Blue Ridge Parkway NPS websites.