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New to NC, looked at the maps and came up with this drive for the fall. Starting Friday afternoon and return by Sunday evening or maybe an extra day if needed. Drive from Raleigh to MilePost 220 , to MilePost 120 (Roanake Mountain) and back to Raleigh. Two night stay. Makes sense ?
Sure it makes sense. We've done variations of this trip many times. Book your accommodations first is my only advice. Mountains are a busy place during the fall. If you can go during the week you might have a better experience and perhaps cheaper rooms. Have a great trip.
New to NC, looked at the maps and came up with this drive for the fall. Starting Friday afternoon and return by Sunday evening or maybe an extra day if needed. Drive from Raleigh to MilePost 220 , to MilePost 120 (Roanake Mountain) and back to Raleigh. Two night stay. Makes sense ?
If you leave Fri from work and stop for dinner, it's about 5 hours to Maggies Vallie, where there are a lot of nice, reasonable BnBs and Inns,
(It's only about 45 min drive up to Asheville if you want to do that too).
Sat drive south to Cherokee (good tourstie things there), then to Fontana Dam (excellent pit stop, visitors center and leg stretcher - eye opener), then around the southern tip of the mountains for the BEST curvy driving in the entire eastern US, (http://www.taleofthedragon.com/), up and over near Gatlinburg (Pidgin Forge if you feel like it), then cut across the pass for some more great driving, with a stop over at Clingman's Dome for another stretch of the legs and a superb view from the highest point of the mountains, and back to Maggies Vally for a late dinner.
Sun I leave MV and head back to Cherokee to get onto the BR PKway and just drive it all the way up to Blowing Rock. Stopping at Linn Cove to look at the Viaduct, and stopping a bunch of other places just to look and take pics. Than a fun drive thought the countryside back to Raleigh.
Don't forget to check out the many websites about attractions, and the BRP website for attractions, events, and most-importantly, CLOSINGS! Directions - Blue Ridge Parkway
The last time I did that loop, there was a section directly north of Asheville that was closed due to a rockfall, I detoured east a bit on the interstate (booooring!) then up some back roads that turned out to be super fun too.
North and West of Asheville through the high country is best and down through Haywood County, the Waynesville area and continue on to Cherokee and down over the border into Helen, GA. Gorgeous ride. Best to get lodging either at the VA border somewhere around Abingdon VA, Damascus VA, Johnson TN etc. Jonesborough TN is another awesome quaint town to stay right IN the Smokies.
Sure it makes sense. We've done variations of this trip many times. Book your accommodations first is my only advice. Mountains are a busy place during the fall. If you can go during the week you might have a better experience and perhaps cheaper rooms. Have a great trip.
If you leave Fri from work and stop for dinner, it's about 5 hours to Maggies Vallie, where there are a lot of nice, reasonable BnBs and Inns,
(It's only about 45 min drive up to Asheville if you want to do that too).
Sat drive south to Cherokee (good tourstie things there), then to Fontana Dam (excellent pit stop, visitors center and leg stretcher - eye opener), then around the southern tip of the mountains for the BEST curvy driving in the entire eastern US, (http://www.taleofthedragon.com/), up and over near Gatlinburg (Pidgin Forge if you feel like it), then cut across the pass for some more great driving, with a stop over at Clingman's Dome for another stretch of the legs and a superb view from the highest point of the mountains, and back to Maggies Vally for a late dinner.
Sun I leave MV and head back to Cherokee to get onto the BR PKway and just drive it all the way up to Blowing Rock. Stopping at Linn Cove to look at the Viaduct, and stopping a bunch of other places just to look and take pics. Than a fun drive thought the countryside back to Raleigh.
Don't forget to check out the many websites about attractions, and the BRP website for attractions, events, and most-importantly, CLOSINGS! Directions - Blue Ridge Parkway
The last time I did that loop, there was a section directly north of Asheville that was closed due to a rockfall, I detoured east a bit on the interstate (booooring!) then up some back roads that turned out to be super fun too.
Safe driving!
Thank you very much!!!
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