A long time dream finally became a reality. Me and a friend each on motorcycles traveled from North Atlanta to Cherokee, NC to start our ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Rode the entire Parkway (except for the 22 mile detour near Sparta NC) north then the Skyline to Luray, Va in 2 days. Turned around and made the exact same trip south on the Skyline and Blue Parkway except on the return we were able to ride the complete 469 miles on Parkway without the detour. What an incredible journey. We are so fortunate to be able to enjoy something like this which is truly an national treasure.
This was actually our second end to end trip on the BRP. We camped along the way the first time in 2007 and during that trip thought it would be cool to drive the length in a convertible someday. During these 4 days on the BRP we had temps in the mid 90s and as low as 59.... which wasn't expected at all. We are proud to say that the top never went up until we got to where we were staying at night. We took the Auto Train from Florida to Virginia and completed Skyline Drive before hitting the Parkway. It was a great week and we hope to do this every year.
Started in Front Royal, VA on a beautiful sunny day and headed South. The weather became colder and windy as I went. By the time I hit the Asheville area I had my heated jacket liner and gloves turned on high! And while there was a lot of color still in the leaves in VA they were all nearly gone at the South end in NC. Want to to do this trip again but a little earlier in the Fall!
Several friends and I rode the Parkway from end to end in July 1987, but the section around Grandfather Mountain was unfinished and we had to use the 221 detour. The section was to open after the Dedication ceremonies on Sept.11, 1987. I rode my Trumph Bonneville to work at Steelcase the day before the opening, and after work I rode to Grandfather Mtn. It began to rain when I got there and began to get dark....
I take a motorcycle trip every spring from my home in Maryland to NC ,TN, Georgia. The BRP is my favorite road in the USA and I have been on many coast to coast.I have stayed in Asheville NC the last 2 trips which is a wonderful town full of charm. I am doing this trip again in 3 weeks with a MC buddy from Albany NY.We are staying in Helen Georgia for a week this time.
Started at Front Royal Virginia , took three days to Cherokee NC, first day was hot but rained late afternoon, so many scene roes to see, could spend lot more time, first dat ended at end of Skyline Dr.Rained off and on next two days, but enjoyed the entire trip, will do again in future
Have traveled the Skyline Drive to Great Smokey Mountains every year since 1972. I fell in love with the Parkway and the people along the way. People say that I am crazy, but to me it is like going home.
We have traveled from one end to the other on our motorcycles, and also traveled it the opposite way in 2008. The most exciting day was while on my motorcycle, a bear came out of the woods on the side of the Parkway. I've been up and down the East coast, and up to the falls in Canada, but the Parkway is by far the most beautiful ride we have taken.
I love to ride my motorcycle and I've been blessed to travel many great motorcycle roads from Utah to Colorado to Arkansas to Tennessee to Virginia's Skyline Drive, and there is not anything quite like the diverse beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway.Each Parkway section is different and from one end to the other I have never been bored. I have my favorite sections but I will say I've brought many motorcycle enthusiasts to the Parkway and no one has ever been disappointed. I recently moved from Roanoke Virginia where I lived just off the Blue Ride Parkway. Other than friends I miss the Parkway the most. What a gem.
