pieman9155
Member
has anyone done the whole parkway in one trip. we are hoping to do both ways in june sometime . to take about 2 to weeks plus do the dragon. we be tenting and hotel with 2 bike and trailer
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blue ridge parkway
- Thread starter pieman9155
- Start date
450 miles, most of it 45mph with quite a few slower speed limits. I think the Roanoke, VA area is still closed as are a couple misc spots farther south. With some careful planning, you could probably hop off the BRP to get around those. Dusk/dawn has a lot of wildlife so I'd ride during daylight hours. I'm guessing the fastest you'd make the entire trip (if you're planning to enjoy it) is 2 days. I ride about 75 miles of it in NC most weekends (3 seasons). Bear in mind, due to funding cuts over the past few years, there are quite a few places that REALLY need to be repaved. There's one 35mph section where I ride that I take about 15mph just to save the bike.
Pennyrick
New member
We have done the entire BlueRidge/Shenandoah twice but the road has deteriorated since then. I don't think Biden's infrastructure plan will be in place in time to fix these things by June. Take care and plan to average 35 mph.
I would also skip the Dragon (overrated) and take the Chereohala Skyway from Robbinsville, NC to Tellico Plains, TN instead. Much prettier drive. There is a neat place that is Spyder friendly called the Lodge at Tellico.
Enjoy and have fun.
Hoginedgewood
Member
North to south! Little Switzerland, Mabry mill. Snappy Lunch @ Mt. Airy NC for some Andy Griffith memories
RayBJ
Well-known member
I've done the full 469mi BRP, The Rattler, Snake, Cherahola Skyway, the Dragon, and more a few times over the past 10 years. We take i78 west to i81 south down to Front Royal or Staunton. Thats an easy 1 day slab run. That's it for slab until you get back up this far north.
Skyline Drive has a toll of $30 r/t unless you have one of the Natl Park passes or other bennies like being a Vet. The northern sections of the BRP are mostly boring flat land. The further south you go, the more 'mountain riding' fun. Lots of tunnels and overlooks. No gas but many access roads to highways below. Consider jumping off to run the Rattler which is west of BRP - I think it's Rt 209?. Do the Foothills Parkway to get to the Dragon and continue south west to the Cherahola Skyway. Check out Fontana Dam too. There's no 'bad' roads down there! I have gpx routes criss-crossing that area if you are interested.
Personally, The Dragon is a "Been there, got the T-shirt" route. It's usually a circus of fast bikes, slow,bikes, and cages crossing centerline. Deal's Gap is a tourist trap but you have to stop and spend some $$. Robbinsville Quality Inn is bike friendly - as are most motels down there. There's also the Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge a couple miles from there.
Also helpful for closures, etc.: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm#14/36.4172/-81.1782
Skyline Drive has a toll of $30 r/t unless you have one of the Natl Park passes or other bennies like being a Vet. The northern sections of the BRP are mostly boring flat land. The further south you go, the more 'mountain riding' fun. Lots of tunnels and overlooks. No gas but many access roads to highways below. Consider jumping off to run the Rattler which is west of BRP - I think it's Rt 209?. Do the Foothills Parkway to get to the Dragon and continue south west to the Cherahola Skyway. Check out Fontana Dam too. There's no 'bad' roads down there! I have gpx routes criss-crossing that area if you are interested.
Personally, The Dragon is a "Been there, got the T-shirt" route. It's usually a circus of fast bikes, slow,bikes, and cages crossing centerline. Deal's Gap is a tourist trap but you have to stop and spend some $$. Robbinsville Quality Inn is bike friendly - as are most motels down there. There's also the Ironhorse Motorcycle Lodge a couple miles from there.
Also helpful for closures, etc.: https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm#14/36.4172/-81.1782
Hoginedgewood
Member
Supposed to be a federal ticket that only cost money, no points on your license! That's a lose win!
pieman9155
Member
Gwolf
Well-known member
Yeah, done the whole BRP in one trip on a Harley Sportster. Had to get off one time just before Ashville because of a rock slide. Got back on at Ashville exit. Rode it all the way from Cherokee to Front Royal. Think it was 3 days, but I did a lot of stopping and taking pictures. It was one of the most scenic rides I ever went on.
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blacklightning
Well-known member
I did the entire thing in 2017. We stayed in Maggie Valley and started the BRP just outside of Cherokee. Spent the night in Boone, after stopping at some awesome overlooks. Then from Boone, we took the rest of the BRP to Skyline Drive. The next day we did Skyline Drive to the end and back. The next day we made the trek home to Raleigh. The best parts of the BRP are south of Boone. I suggest taking one day and doing the Cherohola Skyway and Dragon, as well as visiting Fontana Dam and parts of 28. People say that the Dragon is overrated (and it is), but you will regret not doing it if you are already in the area. Also checkout Foothills Parkway. Just know that when you look at a map, there are 2, Foothill Parkways. the one that runs from Near Pigeon Forge to the Dragon area is the one that you want. The other one runs off I-40. It is beautiful too, but far away from the other.
Have done it several times, both directions. At various times, we have used a car or minivan with a pop-up camper, just the van, or motorcycles. It's all very scenic, but realise that the type of scenery changes. Someone mentioned that it's flatter in the north, more hills and tunnels in the south. The flat lands are still enjoyable. My first time through, it felt like one of the rides at Disneyland where you see the wonderful diarama, then go around a corner or over a hill and there is ANOTHER one. Always changing, always good.
TAKE YOUR TIME, enjoy the road. It's a SCENIC drive, not a racetrack. :thumbup:
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TAKE YOUR TIME, enjoy the road. It's a SCENIC drive, not a racetrack. :thumbup:
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pieman9155
Member
thanks all for the help
bikerbillone
Well-known member
Gwolf, wow, BRP on a Sportster, that would require a lot of stops. 'Florida Swamp' would that be Green Swamp?
Gwolf
Well-known member
I had pulled the 3.2 gallon tank off of it and replaced it with a 4.2 gallon custom tank. Also carried a couple of large MSR fuel bottles, but yeah, had to really watch the gas and plan the gas stops pretty close. Some of the gas is 10 miles off the parkway to the nearest one.
I am on the Suwannee River near where it runs out of the Okefenokee Swamp. The whole area is covered with lakes and swamps that don't really have a name other than the local names which they don't use on maps.
This is my back field;
bikerbillone
Well-known member
Smokin' Cool, bet some fine creatures wander out of there. Being a native Floridian, I can relate. I would like to wake up and see that in the morning light. So not hijack, I'll let it go at that. Enjoy!
pieman9155
Member
well 2 weeks before we start our trip a little nervous. starting point albany ny. not sure how many miles the first day, but no time limit ,mostly no highway
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