Asheville NC to Washington DC......BRP or better alternatives??

[gordorad]

Planning for a BRP in about a month.  I've the first half planned out, but wondering about the Asheville to DC area.....Of course I can take the BRP all the way to end, and continue on Skyline Dr.....

But I"ve noticed several roads, 16, 221, etc seems to parallel the BRP.  Better?  Worse?  I understand the Parkway System, as I've traveled the Natchez Trace Parkway.  (very boring IMHO)....Of course, very limited access is a huge plus.....But what are the negatives?  Lower speed?  How does the scenery compare on the BRP to the nearby roads??   I don't mind going through small towns (actually I quite enjoying seeing the small towns..always finding interesting things to photograph)...  if some of the paralleling roads are just as nice.  

Sometimes the lack of any commercialization can get a bit monotonous too!!


Anyone have experience on both??  I've read the further east/north you get on the Parkway, the less interesting it becomes.  Is that accurate?

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Planning for a BRP in about a month.  I've the first half planned out, but wondering about the Asheville to DC area.....Of course I can take the BRP all the way to end, and continue on Skyline Dr.....

But I"ve noticed several roads, 16, 221, etc seems to parallel the BRP.  Better?  Worse?  I understand the Parkway System, as I've traveled the Natchez Trace Parkway.  (very boring IMHO)....Of course, very limited access is a huge plus.....But what are the negatives?  Lower speed?  How does the scenery compare?  I don't mind going through small towns, if some of the paralleling roads are just as nice.


Anyone have experience on both??  I've read the further east/north you get on the Parkway, the less interesting it becomes.  Is that accurate?

The Blue Ridge Parkway IS NOT The Natchez Trace I've rode both ....That will be one of the most beautiful rides of your life. I've done the 469 miles of the BRP many times and it never get's old . In the dead of summer heat you can go up there and its like ridin' in God's air conditioning 

[Jess from VA]

Take the BRP and Skyine Drive.   It will cost you 10 bux to get on Skyline, and the ticket is good for several days.

Stay at least 40 miles away from Sodom on the Potomac (diseased pestilence).

You can return further West down WVa and have a beautiful ride as well at higher speeds.

[..]

Ride the BRP, it's beautiful.

Plenty of gas and food just a few miles away most of the time.

It's different going the other way 

http://www.ncnatural.com/Parkway/MilebyMile.html

http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway_tour/overlooks/00011.asp

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php

http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/camping-on-the-blue-ridge-parkway.htm

http://www.thegalaxsmokehouse.com/menu.pdf

[3fan4life]

If you're not pressed for time Ride the BRP.



You should allow 2 days to make the ride frome Asheville to DC.

Roanoke, VA is a reasonable halfway point for this route.

Most of the "parallel" roads that you mentioned are OK but the BRP is better and not much slower.

If you don't want to ride the Skyline Dr.  US 340 from Waynesboro, VA to Front Royal, VA is a pretty good alternative route.   

[gordorad]

If you don't want to ride the Skyline Dr.  US 340 from Waynesboro, VA to Front Royal, VA is a pretty good alternative route.



Thanks for the tips.....After doing the entire BRP, 340 Sounds like a great choice.....

[LandElephant]

Although I agree with all the others, I think what I liked about the BRP (as with the Nachez Trace) was the amount of history that you can learn along the way. I'm a roadside highway history buff and I have the tendancy when I'm riding alone to soak up as much of the history as I can.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[Billinva]

I've ridden the parkway and Skyline Drive at least  three times and would do it again. The other roads you mentioned are good roads, but I would take the BRP.

[bludragon]

Ride the Blue Ridge and Skyline Drive.  Nothing like it.  I have ridden it 4 times and will do it again. Lots of motels in Front Royal at the North end of the Skyline.  Beautiful place called Little Switzerland also .  Great hotel there also.  Lots to see and do. Pisgah Inn is not shabby either

[gordorad]

Oh, I'll be pulling the trailer with all my camping stuff......

Now the trip might be going further NorthEast.....possibly up to Amherst, MA.....If I make it there, I'd really have to drive to Maine, just so I can say I was there!!  (and NH, VT, RI)...

Guessing the traffic heading East will be quite busy.  Hopefully I can find some nice out of the way backroads......

G.

[Jess from VA]

Whatever you do, DO NOT take 95 North of DC.

Unless you really enjoy pure combat riding.

From NoVA, most going to New England will head North into PA, then turn East with some nice long zigs and zags thru NY.    (Skip DC, Baltimore, Philly, Newark, NYC at all costs)

[..]

Williamstown, MA is a college town with a great art museum.
http://www.clarkart.edu/

I saw this painting there in the late fall of 1993. It has stuck in my mind since then
http://www.clarkart.edu/museum/collections/amer_paintings/content.cfm?ID=146&marker=1&start=1

Then there's the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA

http://www.nrm.org/

[gordorad]

Ride the BRP, it's beautiful.

Plenty of gas and food just a few miles away most of the time.

It's different going the other way 

http://www.ncnatural.com/Parkway/MilebyMile.html

http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway_tour/overlooks/00011.asp

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php

http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/camping-on-the-blue-ridge-parkway.htm

http://www.thegalaxsmokehouse.com/menu.pdf

thanks for the great links!! 

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Oh, I'll be pulling the trailer with all my camping stuff......

Now the trip might be going further NorthEast.....possibly up to Amherst, MA.....If I make it there, I'd really have to drive to Maine, just so I can say I was there!!  (and NH, VT, RI)...

Guessing the traffic heading East will be quite busy.  Hopefully I can find some nice out of the way backroads......

G.

If you make it to Maine, Go to Cadillac Mtn in Acadia National Park. Purty

[Oss]

Well a good way to see the lower hudson valley and skip NYC is to take 78 to 287
If its not rush hours you can go the length of 287 to the NYS Thruway (east toward Nyack-Tappan Zee Bridge) at 65 plus

The Palisades Parkway (exit 13 N) on the Thruway will take you to Harriman Park Bear MTN and lots of fun roads that have no traffic and of course no trucks on any Parkway in NY.  PM me for more info

its only 1.50 across the Bear Mtn or Rt 84 (Newburgh Beacon) bridges and you will be from 50 to 75 miles north of NYC when you cross the Hudson  If you have 3 not just 2 axles it will be more but the GW Bridge would be well over 10 bux and TZ almost that  Also trailers not supposed to be on most parkways but send a query to the state police and if you get a friendly response carry it with you so if you get pulled over....you have a free pass.

If you dont want to chance the ticket take 81 to 84 and then no issues with trailers at all, high speed and nice views on all roads, you can take 17 south to 6 and enjoy the crossing to Bear Mtn circle, ride the 7 lakes and still see lots of fun stuff in an afternoon you wont forget

84 thru CT, into Mass is a great way to go to VT then up 100 across 2 into NH maybe hit Mt Washington  and east from bottom of WInnepasauki into Maine

Just food for thought and if free I would be happy to spend an afternoon riding around with you

Will be unavailable for the tour fathers day for 3 weeks though

Oss