America's favorite drive
Stretching 469 stunning miles from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is known as "America's Favorite Drive." Completed over 52 years and designated a National Parkway, this engineering marvel traces the crest of the ancient Blue Ridge mountains, offering season-round beauty — from spring wildflowers and summer green canopies to blazing fall foliage and quiet winter mist.
Over 260 designated overlooks line the Parkway, each offering a different perspective of the ancient Appalachian ridgelines. The elevated views stretch across rolling blue-hazed mountains as far as the eye can see.
September through November transforms the Parkway into a living canvas of crimson, amber, and gold. Peak color typically runs from late September in the north to mid-October at higher elevations — among the best foliage drives in America.