Community Forums

mrsportys · 08-09-2015, 08:50 AM

Gooood morning,

Starting to plan a trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway and will parallel South on "81" . Is a good staring place Hagerstown Maryland?

Might take 2-3 weeks. Driving from Western suburbs of Chicago in our 36' 2014 Bounder with collapse able town dolly.

Any thoughts of places to stay on "81" and take day trips up to the parkway? How far South to go etc.

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated.

Cobra1 · 08-09-2015, 09:52 AM

BRP starts around Natural Bridge. Lots of places to camp there.

Tom-NC · 08-09-2015, 09:58 AM

Hi, There are campgrounds on the parkway but they don't have hookups. You can get off from time to time to fill up with water and dump but the cg's on the parkway are great and clean.

There are not many campgrounds on I-81 except at Natural Bridge and a few others.

Enjoy your trip!

Modela · 08-09-2015, 07:27 PM

Keep you eyes open on the Blue Ridge Park Way. You may be lucky enough to see one of these. We saw this one last month.

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Lloyd in S.C. · 08-09-2015, 07:46 PM

Hi!

The parkways start in Front Royale Virg.. I say parkways because that is where the Skyline Drive starts. Given you have plenty of time, you need to check it out as well. Very nice.

There are Rv parks along I 81. Check out Candy Land in Winchester, as others said Natural Bridges. And the KOA in Fancy Gap Virg is pretty nice, and very near the BRP.

L.

bpickens · 08-10-2015, 02:07 PM

be careful on the BRP. Roads are narrow with lots of blind curves and dark tunnels. The scenery is great but services are sparce.

Mississippi · 08-10-2015, 03:12 PM

The southern end of the BGP is on the Cherokee, NC side of the Smokey Mountains National Park. Another great stop on the southern end is Ashville, NC. The Biltmore Estate is worth a stop. Keep in mind that the BGP was constructed long before motorhomes so it is not designed for large coaches. The views are beautiful, but the driving speed will be very slow. I tend to stay off the parkway in the MH and just make day trips from various RV parks outside the park.

tinkerreknit · 08-10-2015, 03:30 PM

North of I64 it's called Skyline Drive (lovely drive but curvy, entrance fee, great primitive camping if you plan ahead), and south of I64 it's called Blue Ridge Parkway (no entrance fee). If you travel the BRP, check here for tunnel clearances. Tunnel Clearances - Blue Ridge Parkway

gemini5362 · 08-10-2015, 08:43 PM

I drove on the Blue Ridge parkway years and years ago. I would check the condition of the parkway. We drove for a while in our automobile and finally found the first road that would get us off of it. I was nervous doing that. Even if the road was repaired I would think long and hard about doing it in a motor home towing a vehicle.

jacwjames · 08-10-2015, 08:59 PM

Here is a map of the Blue Ridge Parkway dated 2010, not much has changed, it does show the different parks/campground.

We've traveled most of the park way over the last 18 years, there are towns all the way up and down that offer something to see. Somewhere close to mile marker 120 is a winery.

Chateau Morrisette: Virginia Winery and Restaurant on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Great food, we've been there ~4-6 times.

Tom-NC · 08-11-2015, 12:11 PM

Hi,

If you can't drive the parkway in a motorhome than you shouldn't be driving one.

The tunnels are all ok and when going through them you should stay as close to the white line as possible. The curves are really nothing and again if you can't drive the BRP then you shouldn't be driving.

One other thing is that the best time to drive the BRP is in the fall when the leaves are turning. Also stop at Linville Falls and do some hiking. The campgrounds are just fine but if you need to have hookups (which you shouldn't) then you will have to get off the parkway.

We truly enjoy the parkway and when you get to the end in Cherokee, NC make sure you go through Great Smoky Mountain National Park and then go to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. I would not recommend going to Clingmans Dome with a 40' RV and a toad.

Have fun and enjoy God's creation.

grannylrf · 08-11-2015, 12:23 PM

There is a beautiful private campground right off the parkway just south of Doughton Park. It is Miller's Campground near. Laurel Springs, NC. No internet or cable TV but nice sites and great people. Local restaurant nearby and easy float trip by Zaloos Canoes down the New River. Have a couple pull thru sites.

FormerBoater · 08-11-2015, 04:17 PM

Another vote for Chateau Morrisette and the KOA at Fancy Gap.

Parkway driving is the ultimate in relaxation ...beautiful scenery and nice and slow speed limit so all can enjoy.

hawk57 · 08-11-2015, 06:53 PM

Stayed at Mountain View RV Park on State Highway 80 about 1.5 miles south of the BRP/80 lookout. Park is great -no cell service, no tv, only wildlife. BUT 80 is at best 1.5 lanes wide, steep and switchbacks and our 32Class A was brushing trees. The slow uncertain drive is ok in daylight but don't even think about night driving. Night starts early (5 pm) because you are in valleys of the mountains even at 3,000 feet. Sleeping or sitting with the back of the coach over the brook, which becomes a great river downstream is awesome. Great people, no crowds and restful, and when you leave you are not as nearly terrified of the road as you are getting there.