Wanted feedback on a Blueridge ride.

[the inspector]

OK my Brothers and Sisters, my riding friends up here in Buffalo NY are wanting to ride the Blueridge this coming year. So my question is when would be the very best time to do this ride. Keep in mind, traffic, weather, temps, ralley's, club meetings and rides, I would like to miss most of all this and just enjoy the ride and be able to eat and sleep with in reason, we are not into the sight seeing, and would just like a extended ride. I need the best month to do this, early? or late? in the year. Who knows???? Any feed back would be helpful. Thanks everyone.

"the inspector"

[..]

I've always ridden it in the summer months. Keep off during public holidays and you'll be fine.

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

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

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

http://www.stationsinn.com/index-a.html

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/

http://www.virtualblueridge.com/

Alt 226 at Little Switzerland will whip yer ass if you don't pay attention. Ride clockwise.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

If you want it pretty much to yourself ....Do it now ( winter months )  
Motel rates will be much cheaper now as well .

[the inspector]

Thanks Guys

"the inspector"

ps....up here the bikes are put away for the looooong winter, so now is not a good time. Some day I hope I will be living down that way.

[FloridaValkRyder]

I love to ride that area, especially from Asheville, NC north into Virginia the first week of October. The temps are cooler, not too crowded yet, plenty of places to stay and the colors are starting to come along.

[Thunderbolt]

No bad time except like Britman said, on holidays.  Everyone is there then.  I like to go up there during the summer when it's so HOT here in Fl.  You probably have an opposite view because it is so cold early in the North.

[bentwrench]

Mid september is my favorite time for BRP riding.The kiddies are back in school so less vacation traffic and weather is much nicer than july or august.
bw

[GreenLantern57]

Sorry guys, you really don't want to ride it during the peak of fall foliage on a weekend. The road was extreamly busy. Lots of others around here (I'm new to the area) drive it during the summer. Wife and I drove up from Rock Hill, went to Asheville, and drove to Lil Switzerland along the BRP.  In the cage, during the peak of colors. That was a very busy road and it was on a Saturday.  I agree ALT 226 is quite a ride. Can't wait to hit it on the bike.

[BradValk48237]

I have run it in the past the week after Labor Day,  Dad and I and whoever else have made a trip that week for 20 years and always seem to have most roads to our selves.... INcluding the BRP0 Last time was 5 years ago. Was down with Smokin Joe and the bunch this year and we had little trafic there and back on the other roads, Did not go on the BRP though, was in Gatlinburg and there is always a HUGE car show in Pigeon Forge that weekend if you like cars....

Brad

[GreenLantern57]

I have run it in the past the week after Labor Day,  Dad and I and whoever else have made a trip that week for 20 years and always seem to have most roads to our selves.... INcluding the BRP0 Last time was 5 years ago. Was down with Smokin Joe and the bunch this year and we had little trafic there and back on the other roads, Did not go on the BRP though, was in Gatlinburg and there is always a HUGE car show in Pigeon Forge that weekend if you like cars....

Brad

Great to hear from experienced travellers.

[the inspector]

Great feed back, thanks everyone.

[jer0177]

We rode it the first week of August this past summer.  It was great - not much traffic, decent temps, and everything was still open.  Hotel rates I can't speak to - used my HHonors points that I accumulated almost living in California the first part of the summer.

Check events along the way and try to plan your trip in accordance. 

If you're open to a recommendation for somewhere to stop along the way, there's a movie theater in Winchester, VA (about 100 miles north of Waynesboro - BPR Mile 0) called the Alamo Drafthouse.  They serve food along with dinner, brew their own beer, and before the movie, instead of showing the commercial drivel, develop a set of short video clips or films that relates to the movie.  Saw the last Harry Potter movie there, and they had scoured YouTube for all of the parodies that people have come up with.  Saw "One Hour Photo" (Robin Williams) - creepy movie - at one in Texas and they had some Mork and Mindy clips along with a lot of Robin Williams' standup skits.  From Pittsburgh, it was a great "in-between" place and the food there is pretty good.

Best of luck on your journey!

[mario]

rode it the third week of sept. traffic not too bad, colors just coming in.  you're in for a treat for sure.

[alph]

we rode it this last summer, august i believe, it was excellent!!

[dragon_slayer_129]

A few years ago we rode the blue ridge from cherokee, nc almost all the way to the skyline drive in va.....short by about 45 miles.  Oh well I guess there is always next time to get it all in. 

We were there mid july and the temps weren't to bad and the traffic was moderate.  I'm guessing lot's of summer vacations going on at that time so later in the year might be better.  Later doesn't always mean better though.....to late then it's leaf watcher season.

Last year we went labor day weekend and had the whole place to ourselves.


Same trip we hit the dragon just for fun too!


Dragon Slayer 129