in planning » Blue Ridge Parkway in Spring (April)

I have been pretty much everywhere in the Northeast and the Right Side of Canada (East) but never much in the south (other than Texas). I plan to take a quick 4-5 days ride down to the Blue Ridge Parkway in April along with my wife and her Spyder. We plan to camp some nights and do hotel once or twice depending on route. Looking for suggestions of things to do/see along the way. I know this is one of the most popular ride for bikers so I fully expect the road will be packed with Harleys and such.

We are leaving from near Lancaster, PA so will be connecting with the Blue Ridge via the Skyline Dr., and will be going southwest as far as Kingsport, TN or Ashville, NC I have not yet planed a route as I have no idea what to expect. I know the Parkway is a slow road (<45 mph) and we might not make lots of progress every day, but the wifey and I are fully capable or riding 350 miles+ per day. Not sure if some of you are motocamper, but I've heard/red that bears might be an issue along the Blue Ridge.

Again, just looking for some ideas as I am pretty certain lots of folks here have done this in the past.

Thanks

Zitat von BoxerFan im Beitrag #1

---

I have been pretty much everywhere in the Northeast and the Right Side of Canada (East) but never much in the south (other than Texas). I plan to take a quick 4-5 days ride down to the Blue Ridge Parkway in April along with my wife and her Spyder. We plan to camp some nights and do hotel once or twice depending on route. Looking for suggestions of things to do/see along the way. I know this is one of the most popular ride for bikers so I fully expect the road will be packed with Harleys and such.

We are leaving from near Lancaster, PA so will be connecting with the Blue Ridge via the Skyline Dr., and will be going southwest as far as Kingsport, TN or Ashville, NC I have not yet planed a route as I have no idea what to expect. I know the Parkway is a slow road (<45 mph) and we might not make lots of progress every day, but the wifey and I are fully capable or riding 350 miles+ per day. Not sure if some of you are motocamper, but I've heard/red that bears might be an issue along the Blue Ridge.

Again, just looking for some ideas as I am pretty certain lots of folks here have done this in the past.

Thanks

---

Zitat von Stick Rockwell im Beitrag #2

---

If you plan to ride a lengthy portion, the exorbitant, IMHO, fee of I believe $50 per vehicle will average out over your trip. Not may years ago they charged a daily fee of $5. k

---

Zitat von BoxerFan im Beitrag #1

---

I have been pretty much everywhere in the Northeast and the Right Side of Canada (East) but never much in the south (other than Texas). I plan to take a quick 4-5 days ride down to the Blue Ridge Parkway in April along with my wife and her Spyder. We plan to camp some nights and do hotel once or twice depending on route. Looking for suggestions of things to do/see along the way. I know this is one of the most popular ride for bikers so I fully expect the road will be packed with Harleys and such.

We are leaving from near Lancaster, PA so will be connecting with the Blue Ridge via the Skyline Dr., and will be going southwest as far as Kingsport, TN or Ashville, NC I have not yet planed a route as I have no idea what to expect. I know the Parkway is a slow road (<45 mph) and we might not make lots of progress every day, but the wifey and I are fully capable or riding 350 miles+ per day. Not sure if some of you are motocamper, but I've heard/red that bears might be an issue along the Blue Ridge.

Again, just looking for some ideas as I am pretty certain lots of folks here have done this in the past.

Thanks

---

We have camped along or near the Parkway and never had a problem with bears. Just to be safe it's always a good idea to not have food in your tent.
It's possible the south end may be a little nippy because of the higher elevation.
We did the entire Parkway in March once and the weather was fine but it was warmer than normal.
Peaks Of Otter Lodge on the Parkway is a great location but the basic rooms are over priced.
https://www.peaksofotter.com/

Several times we have stayed a the Wattstull Inn a few miles off the Parkway in Buchanan. Nice owner, rooms have been updated. Several years ago he built a new building for a breakfast room and about the same time they redid the pool.
They own a little restaurant a short walk down the hill from the motel.
https://wattstullinn.com/lodging/

IMG_0066.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

P1030202.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

If you need anything for the bike Frontline BMW in Salem is a nice shop and not far from the Parkway.
https://frontlineeurosports.com/
P1030212.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Marby Mill at Mile Marker 176 is a nice stop and there's a restaurant there.
http://mabrymillrestaurant.com/
P1020444.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Thank you Lee for the tips and links to motels. The Otter Lodge seamed to be priced right if booked in advance. However, this is the reason my wife and I like to camp along the road, it can be costly if every nights are spent at hotel/motel. Last year we did a 6-day Finger Lakes tour, and camp 4 out of six night. Cut the cost down, and surprisingly, the other half likes it better.

Great photos, and nice looking K13S.

Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #3

---

Zitat von Stick Rockwell im Beitrag #2

---

If you plan to ride a lengthy portion, the exorbitant, IMHO, fee of I believe $50 per vehicle will average out over your trip. Not may years ago they charged a daily fee of $5. k

---

Are you talking about a fee to travel the BRP?
There is not a fee for BRP but there is a fee for Skyline Drive which starts near DC.

---

Zitat von Stick Rockwell im Beitrag #7

---

Lee, yes you are correct. Sorry for the confusion. From the entrance at Front Royal, Va to the next exit, Rte 211, is where the fee is charged. I noticed your photo from outside Frontline. That's where I bought my '16 Granite Gray. Great folks! Stick

---

Mabry Mill is part of my regular route on and around the BRP in VA. Probably a mile or 2 from there you hit 58 (Meadows of Dan). Which puts you at the top of Squirrel Spur, a wonderful piece of pavement outside the confines of the Parkway. Coming through Stuart, up 8 towards the BRP, take a turn on RT 40, in Woolwine. Basically a roundabout way of saying the BRP has just as much great roads surrounding it, as the area is full of twisty bits

Thank you crazydave, I'll put this on my list.

Zitat von duccrazydave im Beitrag #9

---

Mabry Mill is part of my regular route on and around the BRP in VA. Probably a mile or 2 from there you hit 58 (Meadows of Dan). Which puts you at the top of Squirrel Spur, a wonderful piece of pavement outside the confines of the Parkway. Coming through Stuart, up 8 towards the BRP, take a turn on RT 40, in Woolwine. Basically a roundabout way of saying the BRP has just as much great roads surrounding it, as the area is full of twisty bits

---

Looks like there is several motorcycle campground near the BRP.
https://www.google.com/search?client=fir...nly+campgrounds

I stayed at the High Country Motorcycle Camp in Ferguson, NC years ago... for the Buzzard Bottom Rally in May 2014. It was a great spot with open field camping and they have a few cabins to rent also. I had tried to find the place 2 years earlier when doing the BRP in 2012 and the GPS won't take me there but said I had "arrived"---but there was nothing there but an old farm. The good news in that the GPS worked fine to get me there in 2014. Never saw a bear. I also camped in a National Park in VA and never had a bear problem.

I did see someone with their child under their arm heading toward a bear cub to get a picture....ya' can't fix stupid so I left before the mother arrived! Our tent was mauled, during the night, by a brown bear in Banff National Park when I was a child. His claws left huge holes in the canvas (yup it was that long ago!) before the Rangers chased it off. That does makes me a wee bit bear-phobic but I don't worry about black bears too much. Spring can be tricky depending on when they've emerged from hibernation as they can be very, very Hangry then!

Yes the speed limit is slow on the BRP but liberties can, and have been, taken. Thanks to tourists feeding the deer they are not afraid of vehicles and sometimes are just standing in the road waiting for their next meal to come along--be careful on blind corners. If you're lucky maybe the Rhododendrons will be blooming, in some places there are walls of them right next to the road.

There's a reason it's called "America's favorite drive"--it is spectacular! I'd go back in a heart-beat!

Hey Lee, Willville is the name of the motorcycle campground closest to that area. And Marilyn, speaking of deer and the Parkway, years ago my brother and I both had a few days off during the Christmas break. He had never been on the BRP before and asked if I wanted to ride up. With a high of 35F that day and still snow on the middle and sides of the road in that area, we headed out. On the short stretch between 8 & 58, on the BRP, a deer jumped across our path. Fortunately for my brother, I was leading. Despite hard braking, I still managed to bump the deer in his/her hind quarters with the front of my Ducati. Fortunately for me I didn't go down and after rolling to a stop, turned around to see the deer hop up from the ditch it fell in and run off. Had a decent size crack in the fairing with a big clump of fur sticking out. Fun times for all, lol.

Zitat von Lee im Beitrag #12

---

Looks like there is several motorcycle campground near the BRP.
https://www.google.com/search?client=fir...nly+campgrounds

---