Blue Ridge Parkway is a national Parkway (NPS scenic drive) in Asheville, Buncombe County, in North Carolina's Asheville & Foothills. Admission: see below. Hours: Road open year-round, but sections may close for weather or maintenance; check the NPS road-status page; Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Folk Art Center (near Asheville) open year-round; Most other facilities (visitor centers, campgrounds, picnic areas) open spring through fall. Facts read from the official site on October 27, 2026.
- HoursSee hoursofficial hours below
- AdmissionSee below
- WhereAshevilleBuncombe County, Asheville & Foothills
- DogsAllowed, rules below
About Blue Ridge Parkway
A scenic road for slow travel through the Appalachian highlands, with overlooks, trails, campgrounds and visitor centers.
- Designed for slow travel, 45 mph or less
- Eight designated camping areas; all but Crabtree Falls take recreation.gov reservations
- Picnicking, hiking, bicycling and concerts listed
- Overnight sleeping in a vehicle at an overlook is not allowed
Plan It in Three Lines
Getting In
Admission: see below.
See hoursBring The Dog?
Pets allowed on a leash not to exceed six feet and under physical control; dogs on hiking trails must stay leashed. (NPS FAQ; visitor-center rule not
Full rule belowMake It a Day
WNC Nature Center is about 1 mile away (straight line).
5 places within 30 miles
Blue Ridge Parkway Hours
- Road open year-round, but sections may close for weather or maintenance; check the NPS road-status page.
- Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Folk Art Center (near Asheville) open year-round.
- Most other facilities (visitor centers, campgrounds, picnic areas) open spring through fall.
Hours source: official site, read October 27, 2026.
Admission and Parking
- "No fee is charged to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway."
- An entrance pass is not required.
- Camping fees apply in the campgrounds; Senior/Access pass holders get reduced camping fees (50% off the occupied site).
Directions and Contact
- Address: 199 Hemphill Knob Rd (NPS headquarters)
- Phone: 828 348-3400
- Map point: 35.56495,-82.48977, from the US Census geocoder on the official address. Directions in Google Maps
- Official site: nps.gov/blri
Dogs and Accessibility
- Dogs: Pets allowed on a leash not to exceed six feet and under physical control; dogs on hiking trails must stay leashed. (NPS FAQ; visitor-center rule not read.)
- Accessibility: Not described on the FAQ page; NPS accessibility page linked.
Near Blue Ridge Parkway
- 1WNC Nature CenterZoo and Wildlife Parkunder 1 mi
- 2Biltmore EstateHistoric House, Gardens and Wineryabout 3 mi
- 3Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State ParkState Park Attraction With Elevator, Trails and Waterfallabout 16 mi
- 4Chimney Rock State ParkState Parkabout 16 mi
- 5Mount Mitchell State ParkState Parkabout 18 mi
Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.
Coming Up in Asheville
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WNC Nature Center | Oct 24-Mar 31, 2027 (not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | Adults $16.95 plus tax ($11.95 City of Asheville residents); seniors 65+ $15.95 ($10.95); more prices on the event page |
| Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore | Nov 3-Jan 9, 2027 (not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| UNC Asheville Bulldogs Men's Basketball vs Western Carolina | Sat, Nov 7 (5:30 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Stephen Lynch: The Me Tour | Wed, Nov 11 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Hudson Westbrook: The Hits Me Tour | Fri, Nov 13 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum | Nov 13-Jan 3, 2027 (Gates open 6:00 PM, last entry 9:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| A Magical Cirque Christmas | Sun, Nov 15 (Doors 5:00 PM; show 6:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| National Gingerbread House Display at The Omni Grove Park Inn Our guide | Nov 17-Jan 3, 2027 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Hiss Golden Messenger: I'm People Tour | Thu, Nov 19 (Show 8 PM; doors not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Ingles Southern Conference Women's Volleyball Championships | Nov 19-22 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| 80th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade | Sat, Nov 21 (11:00 AM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Rock N Roll Rewind: 4th Annual Black Friday Show | Fri, Nov 27 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Fireside Collective's Family Jamboree | Sat, Nov 28 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| UNC Asheville Bulldogs Men's Basketball vs Georgia Southern | Sat, Nov 28 (2:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Get the LED Out: A Celebration of The Mighty Zep | Thu, Dec 3 (Time not published) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| The Big Crafty | Dec 5-6 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | Saturday $10; Sunday free to the public (online may add processing fees) |
| NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet | Mon, Dec 7 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Matthew West: Come Home for Christmas Live on Tour | Thu, Dec 10 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam Our guide | Sat, Dec 12 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Thievery Corporation 30th Anniversary Tour | Dec 13-14 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM both nights) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Grahame Lesh & Friends | Fri, Dec 18 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| New Year's Eve: Hot in Herre 2000s Dance Party | Thu, Dec 31 (Doors 9 PM; show 10 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| The Avett Brothers New Year's Eve | Thu, Dec 31 (Doors 7:00 PM; show 8:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| The Gala 2027 Women's Gymnastics Competition | Jan 8-10 (Doors 7:00 AM daily) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | Tickets only at the door, cash only: adult $25 (weekend $40); more prices on the event page |
| Sons of Cream | Fri, Jan 15 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Marc Maron: Yammering Into The Void Tour | Thu, Jan 21 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Braxton Keith with Wild Bill and The Bruisers | Sat, Jan 30 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Carmina Burana with Immersive Projection Art | Sat, Jan 30 (Doors 7:00 PM; show 8:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Billy Strings Winter 2027 Tour (five nights) | Feb 4-9 | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience | Sun, Feb 7 (Doors 7 PM; show 8 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Taylor Tomlinson: Nobody Asked You to Do That | Fri, Feb 19 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Cory Wong featuring dodie with special guest PREP | Wed, Feb 24 (Doors 5:30 PM; show 6:30 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| Wizard of Oz on Ice | Sun, Feb 28 (Doors 2:00 PM; show 3:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
| NEEDTOBREATHE: The Long Surrender Tour | Thu, Mar 11 (Doors 6:00 PM; show 7:00 PM) | Asheville · Asheville & Foothills | See event page |
From our checked events calendar, matched by venue name and town; times and tickets are on each organizer’s page.
Also see Asheville & Foothills events.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Blue Ridge Parkway cost?
See the admission list. "No fee is charged to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway."; An entrance pass is not required.; Camping fees apply in the campgrounds; Senior/Access pass holders get reduced camping fees (50% off the occupied site).
What are the hours at Blue Ridge Parkway?
Road open year-round, but sections may close for weather or maintenance; check the NPS road-status page.; Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Folk Art Center (near Asheville) open year-round..
Can I bring a dog to Blue Ridge Parkway?
Pets allowed on a leash not to exceed six feet and under physical control; dogs on hiking trails must stay leashed. (NPS FAQ; visitor-center rule not read.)
What We Could Not Verify
- Parkway length (469 miles) and North Carolina mileposts not stated on the NPS pages read (appears only in a search excerpt of an NPS biking page); left blank.
- Parking and accessibility not stated.
- Basic-info page content was blank, so no formal hours table.
- Hours and prices change; check the official site the day you go.
Sources
- Blue Ridge Parkway: hours (read 2026-10-27)
- Blue Ridge Parkway: admission (read 2026-10-27)
- Blue Ridge Parkway: official site (read 2026-10-27)
- OpenStreetMap (map point)
Last checked October 27, 2026 by the It’s North Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Blue Ridge Parkway”, itsnorthcarolina.com/places-to-go-in-north-carolina/blue-ridge-parkway/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.