Blue Ridge Parkway

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
02/24/2015 at 22:14 • Filed to: None

So I am driving with my girlfriend down to Florida in April this year in my miata! Should be a fun trip! Anyways our first day of travel is going from DC to the Charlotte, NC area. Since we want to take our time in getting down there, we definitely want to do some scenic driving. Original plan was to do the entirety of skyline drive (or just parts of it) but after further research, I found a potentially better option!

Basically the plan is to drive a ~175 mile section of blue Ridge Parkway from the 64 to the 77. From what I have looked into, that should be pretty scenic, is free to drive, and is a little more drive worthy since it is mostly 45mph instead of the 35mph skyline drive. Now I don't plan on hooning the road in either case, but I think BRP is a little more of a driving road. I will be there on a Thursday from around 9am-3ish so traffic should not be a concern. Anyone have an opinion on that area?

DISCUSSION (18)

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 22:24

So, from near Waynesboro down to Cumberland knob? I've hardly ever been out that end, but the section further down that I'm familiar with through Julian Price and passing through Craggy Gardens (and stopping by Mitchell) is better, I suspect.

Linville falls:

Kinja'd!!!

Julian Price:

Kinja'd!!!

Mt. Mitchell:

Kinja'd!!!

Craggy Gardens:

Kinja'd!!!

Funktheduck > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 22:25

I was recently on a small section near Asheville. Been on it in the past too. Can be some good scenery. Almost got pulled over. Speed limit went from 45 to 35. I was still coasting at 45 and went around a bend to see a cop. He slammed on his brakes but luckily he didn't pull a u turn. I did see him post up sorta hidden after I had turned around.

Don't speed and don't expect super awesome curves (at least around Asheville).

Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 22:26

Beautiful road, enjoy it!

I went to school in Lexington for 3 years (along that route, by intersection of BRP and 60 in Buena Vista). I never drove too much on the BRP itself, just cause of the 45mph limits and the tourists, but occasionally I'd cruise along and stop at one of the many scenic overlooks and watch the sun set over the mountains.

The roads leading to and from the BRP were the real treat though—light traffic, great bends, and 55mph speed limits. In many places it'd be damn near impossible to hit 55. I used to make up excuses to drive from Lexington up to and across the BRP all the way to Lynchburg, and then turn around and drive back. Great stress reliever after a long week.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 22:27

Kinja'd!!!

Aha - I thought this was a section I'd been on. Linn Cove area near Grandfather Mountain.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 22:47

My In-laws live on the south side of Charlotte and whenever we go down from NoVA we take 29 as much as possible and then pick up 85 in Greensboro. Its so much less of headache than 66-81-77 and you can jump on and off 29 to break up the trip if you want. Its about a 7 hour drive this way but most of 29 is 65 when you get on the far side of Charlottesville since there isn't much between there and Lynchburg or Danville for that matter.

Katsumoto > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 23:00

Could always check out the areas mention/as seen in the Top Gear UK eastern America special.

wantafuncar > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 23:02

It is a beautiful road and area. Something about those mountains is just peaceful in my opinion.

Did you see Top Gear when they drove this? That about sums it up - beautiful but worthless in a real performance car b/c speed limit is low and enforced heavily. VA isn't the place to get caught speed, as has been documented

I personally would rather do Tail of the Dragon, though I hear it has become too well-known. Then again, I used to do BRP one-three times / year.

I'll take 911 RS for $5000 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 23:16

Make sure to download a map of the hiking trails around there! I can't think of a better way to stretch your legs (which you'll need to do, as it's a not a short drive).

That being said, I'd take 29 down from DC, take 64 west (or even better, 250 - it's prettier and not much slower) then take the BRP down. You should hit the parkway ~3-3.5 hours after leaving DC.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/24/2015 at 23:55

+1 for mt Mitchell. The road up to it will break you lol (rt 80 I think). The section of the parkway through Asheville is a relaxing drive with some nice views of the mountains and plenty of good spots to hike.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > wantafuncar
02/25/2015 at 06:30

Well I'm driving my miata so its kinda the opposite of a high powered car lol. I figure it is a little more at home here than those cars. I just watched that special during a flight a couple weeks ago.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Funktheduck
02/25/2015 at 06:33

Yeah I'm more interested in views on this trip than speed. I'm thinking BRP can offer similar views to skyline drive without the cost and with less tourists. Although at that time of the year, it may be a moot point.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > I'll take 911 RS for $5000
02/25/2015 at 06:36

Yeah we have all day to make it Charlotte and are starting at 7am in DC so that should give us plenty of time to avoid the major roads and stop a few times for short hikes and scenic overlooks.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull
02/25/2015 at 06:38

Yeah this was just one of the first google image results that came up lol. Nice to know where it is now!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop
02/25/2015 at 06:41

Via the 501 or the 60?

Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/25/2015 at 10:07

Usually 60, but you really can't go wrong.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Officer Jim Lahey is not a real cop
02/25/2015 at 10:54

Thanks, I will be sure to see if can fit that in to the route!

wantafuncar > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/25/2015 at 12:22

A Miata would probably be great fun. Good luck on the trip and watch out for the fuzz

Proving once again that the answer is always Miata.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > wantafuncar
02/25/2015 at 13:48

Aside from fitting four people in the car, I have not found anything my Miata can't do as well as any other car for normal car usage.