Blue Ridge Pkwy/Skyline Drive-- Best Views? (Roanoke, Charlottesville: living in, smog)

[brattpowered]

I will be attempting to drive from Asheville, NC to Harrisburg, PA in one day and will be taking BRP and Skyline for at least part of the day. Since these are pretty slow roads to take, I probably won't be able to take them all the way and will need to use 81 sometimes.

With that said, what are the loveliest stretches of these roads, with the best photo opportunities? Thanks a lot!

[jballa]

I like Roanoke to I-64/Charlottesville on the BRP... its about a 2 hour stretch with plenty of Valleys and Views. Its definately the most convient section to your itenerary with minimal loss of travel time.

Enjoy

[CosmicWizard]

brattpowered

If you are serious about doing that drive in one day, you really don't have time to do even a short section of the BRP. If time allows, may I suggest that you take several days for your trip and drive the entire BRP along with the skyline drive thru Shenandoah NP. The entire route is very scenic, so it's hard to pick and choose a certain section, and it would merely be my opinion of what is best. Someone else is certain to have their own favorite section. So, I wouldn't put too much stock in any recommendation you receive on this forum. Drive it..you'll love it...and then you'll have your own favorite section.

For what is worth, my favorite section is from Asheville to the VA border.

Have a great drive....Franco

[brattpowered]

jballa: Thanks for the advice! I will definitely check that section out.

francowell: Thanks for your advice too. I realize I don't have enough time to appreciate the drive fully, but I have been known to drive 16 hours at a clip (with breaks) and will be leaving Asheville at 6am. I'd like to try to get in as much of the parkway before dark as I can.

And to everyone else-- if all of the Parkway is very scenic, is there at least one part that isn't really spectacular and terrible to miss?

[CosmicWizard]

brattpowered

I've done alot of those 16 hr ( and even longer ) drives myself. I'm glad it's you doing the drive and not me! I'm living in Colorado now and it's been about 6 years since I've driven on the BRP so my memory is a bit rusty on the details. I just remember the whole drive being very scenic and mostly enjoyable. I say mostly, becasue all of those turns and the 45 mph speed limit get old very quickly if you are in the slighest bit of a hurry and pressed for time.

Enjoy the drive....Franco

[VaVet96]

I concur with francowell on the Asheville to Va border section. The season is equally important. We've had better luck with clearer views in the spring and fall than in the dog days of summer - especially up in the northern part of VA. Guess it's some combination of weather (fog?) and smog that can really limit the views sometimes.