Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive in One Day. Realistic? Stupid?

[SebringSilver]

I am in the early planning stages of a four-day trip in Mid September.

Day One, Friday, will be a leisurely 250 miles from Atlanta to Asheville, NC.

Day Two, Saturday, I was planning to do the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive for a total of 487 miles. MapSource is quoting over 12 hours. Is that realistic on these roads on one day? My concern is weekend traffic and whether to book a hotel in Front Royal, VA now.

Would I be better staying a few hours North of Asheville to cut down the time on Saturday? Where?

Any suggestions, personal experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Brad

 

[snikr]

We did the Blue Ridge in 2 days a couple of years ago. But then we took our time. YMMV And remember, the speed limit is 45 MPH on the Blue Ridge.

Tom

 

[Geezer]

I believe the speed limit on Skyline is a well patrolled 25MPH.

You may be able to do the Blueridge in one day if you get a very early start. Once you reach the north end you can decide if you still want to try Skyline or find a faster way around. If you want to stop at some of the overlooks and take pictures and otherwise enjoy the roads you will need two days. There are campsites on the Blueridge.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Also, the weather can affect your plans on the BRP -- namely, clouds. When clouds roll across the mountains you'll be riding in, essentially, fog. Since the BRP runs along a moutaintop ridge for much of its length, and there are drop-offs, no guardrails, tunnels, etc. -- riding in fog is a non-starter (or should be...). A better choice is to seek routing at lower altitudes -- meaning, if you really want to ride the whole BRP, you may need to try again at a later time (maybe only hours later?).

 

[SLK50]

If I REALLY try, I can ride from Front Royal to Cherokee in three days.

It takes about five hours to ride SLD alone if you don't stop, much.

If you ride from Asheville to Front Royal in 12 hours you've really missed

the whole point of riding BRP/SLD.

Doing so would be like riding on The Dragon while blind-folded in the back of a mini van.

Keep in mind you'll probably have to get off either for most amenities, like gas, and have

to contend with local traffic. Oh, and there may be some closures on the lower end of the BRP.

Either way, watch out for bicyclists, motorhomes, blue-hairs, deer, etc.

If your pressed for time, skip SLD and split BRP into two days each way. You won't be sorry.

 

[Fred W]

I'm planning on running this route either on the way to, or home from, NAFO.

If the weather looks crummy on the way down we'll postpone it and try to hit it on the way back up.

But I also definitely intend on taking the better part of 2 days to do it. I'll make up time elsewhere.

Heck, if we do get to do it on the way down and like it enough we might do it again in reverse. It'll be completely different facing the opposite direction...

 

[mr.paul]

Last year I did the lower half of the Parkway in a day. If you rush it you will miss it. It is a scenic drive with a limited speed limit. Why rush a scenic drive?

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

mr.paul from Minnesota

 

[FJRMaineiac]

Last year I did the lower half of the Parkway in a day. If you rush it you will miss it. It is a scenic drive with a limited speed limit. Why rush a scenic drive?
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

mr.paul from Minnesota

+1 - I rode the BRP and Skyline back in '04 in a couple of days and while you can certainly do it in one day, the point of going there in the first place is to enjoy the scenery. I recommend taking your time, getting off the bike from time to time, take lots of photos, and ENJOY!

 

[Geezer]

I'm planning on running this route either on the way to, or home from, NAFO. If the weather looks crummy on the way down we'll postpone it and try to hit it on the way back up.

But I also definitely intend on taking the better part of 2 days to do it. I'll make up time elsewhere.

Heck, if we do get to do it on the way down and like it enough we might do it again in reverse. It'll be completely different facing the opposite direction...

Hey Fred, I'm thinking the same thing. I'm leaving Wednesday AM, probably from north Jersey, and plan to take two days to get to Knoxville while riding Skyline and as much of the Blueridge as I can in the time available. I'll be with Thingfish from Jersey on his '08. We may do the same route on the way home, leaving Sunday morning and taking 2 days. We'll have camping gear and plan to stop somewhere along the parkway for the night.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

...I recommend taking your time, getting off the bike from time to time, take lots of photos, and ENJOY!

Don't forget about the (fresh, locally made) cobbler at the Parkway stores/restaurants....Mmmm

 

[Fred W]

I'm planning on running this route either on the way to, or home from, NAFO. If the weather looks crummy on the way down we'll postpone it and try to hit it on the way back up.

But I also definitely intend on taking the better part of 2 days to do it. I'll make up time elsewhere.

Heck, if we do get to do it on the way down and like it enough we might do it again in reverse. It'll be completely different facing the opposite direction...

Hey Fred, I'm thinking the same thing. I'm leaving Wednesday AM, probably from north Jersey, and plan to take two days to get to Knoxville while riding Skyline and as much of the Blueridge as I can in the time available. I'll be with Thingfish from Jersey on his '08. We may do the same route on the way home, leaving Sunday morning and taking 2 days. We'll have camping gear and plan to stop somewhere along the parkway for the night.

Per current plans, we will be one day behind you in both directions, so please lay off the beans.

We'll also be leaving on Weds, but not getting to the parkway till Thurs AM and arriving in Knoxville on Fri late afternoon. Then we're not leaving TN until Monday AM (I hate weekend traffic) and getting home on Weds.

 

[ALDAWG]

We did the BRP in 07. one of the best rides we ever did! And I agree with everyone else take your time and enjoy the beauty, it's like driving in a park for hundreds of miles. Bring rain gear and a good camera.

 

[SLK50]

I just thought of one more thing to consider: In mid-September there

will only be about 12 hours total daylight. Subtract an hour for early

morning fog to clear and this leaves you with at best 11 hours of riding time.

I can't emphasize enough how dangerous it is to ride these roads at night.

They become fur-covered slaloms after the sun sets.

Get caught on SLD after the sun sets and you'll have one very lonely

and scary ride to the end at Front Royal because there are few exits along

it's length. I speak from personal experience.

Plan accordingly.

 

[trimmantom]

I've ridden the BRP & skyline drive in 3 days from FrontRoyal down to the end of BRP at 441.

I ride the southern end quite a bit, I'm in N. Ga. area. IMHO if you have limited time just ride the southern end up past Mt. Mitchell to Little Switzerland.

Stay there and if you can arrange it to stay at Little Switerland on a friday night they have a killer seafood buffet on that night.

The best views are on the southern end in the higher elevations above 5000 ft. saying you rode the whole thing is cool but the best part is the southern part.

Of course that's a matter of opinion but there are many roads that intersect the parkway that are great also, notably around the Boone, N.C. area and above into Western Virginia & Tenn. There are many good 1 day rides from N. Ga into Tenn. & N.C.

You might also want to consider riding the Cherohala Skyway from Telico Plains Tenn. to Robbisville N.C. over to Cherokee where you can jump on the BRP and stay friday night at the BRP motorcycle campground, they've got 1 room cabins for around $45 a night.

 

[SebringSilver]

You guys are echoed and confirming what I have been thinking as I'm planning this trip.

It's not a race. It's four days with no timetable and no wives or any of the women that work for me and are always bitching.

Trimmantom; I am actually booked into Little Switzerland on Friday. So, I may be too full after the Buffet to get up early and ride.

The fog was something I have encountered when attempting to ride Cherohola too early; NO FUN. I didn't factor that into my plan.

I think I will just plan the first night at Lil Swiss and then wing the rest.

I have used this Forum, MapSource and MotorcycleRoads.US to find great roads all over NC, VA and WV, many that bisect the Parkway and I have a feeling I am going to be giving my Zumo and FJR quite a workout. Can't wait..............

Thanks for all your help.

 

[fljab]

Day Two, Saturday, I was planning to do the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive for a total of 487 miles. MapSource is quoting over 12 hours. Is that realistic on these roads on one day? <snip>

I think that's optimistic; more of a 2 day run IMO.

Of course, it all depends. You could do it in one day IF the weather cooperated and IF the traffic cooperated and IF you ran full tanks, but that's hard to do all that.

YMMV, but if it were me and I only had one day to do BRP, I'd research and do as much as I could reasonably and get off at a good spot to get on with the rest of my trip...

 

[Doug-InNC]

I believe the speed limit on Skyline is a well patrolled 25MPH.
You may be able to do the Blueridge in one day if you get a very early start. Once you reach the north end you can decide if you still want to try Skyline or find a faster way around. If you want to stop at some of the overlooks and take pictures and otherwise enjoy the roads you will need two days. There are campsites on the Blueridge.

Just to set the record straight... the speed limit on most of the Blue Ridge Parkway is 45 mph. Traffic is usually not bad. I don't recommend speeding as it's pretty well patrolled, and I was told this past weekend that the fines and points are higher because it's a Govt. road.

Doug in NC

 

[Mr Bill]

I believe the speed limit on Skyline is a well patrolled 25MPH.

[SIZE=12pt][/SIZE]

35 SLD speed limit due to the deer population.

45 BRP

Lots of corners marked 25 but are easily doubled on both roads.

Keep an eye out for deer and watch out because they kick!

I usually camp at Big Meadows. There is a campground and lodge with restaurant. A gas station with a cafeteria and store also.

 

[vabrzn]

The Parkway can be ridden in a day, especially during the winter when no one is up there for the most part. Problem is, you'll want to take a few pictures