Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounds - Advice?

[JoanE]

My daughter and I will travel south on I-81 back to FL but I love the Blue Ridge Mtns and want to take my rig on the parkway. I have traveled the parkway a lot and rented homes in the Blowing Rock area for many years but never traveled it in a RV. Any segments that are particularly bad for an RV? Did you find a cg that you really liked along the way? I don't want to get too far off since I must be in FL by Monday. So this is a quick side trip to the BRMtns.

[Liz]

I love the Blue Ridge and have traveled it several times in my RV. Only the very southern end has tunnels you will not be able to go through. Otherwise, it's like any mountain driving....use your lower gear instead of your brakes when needed. I like to stay in the National Park cgs along the parkway. Dry camping, but very accessible even for big rigs.

[teachergal]

I live near Washington DC and consider Shenandoah & Skyline Drive my "backyard"! Skyline Drive is an extension of Blue Ridge Parkway between Front Royal in the north and Waynesboro in the south - I-66 - 1-64.

In SNP I like Loft Mt (it's in the southern part of the park) campground best! It's got big nice sites, it's away from the major services and it even has intermittent cell phone service! Matthew's Arm is my next favorite - it's at the northern end - a bit busier and not as secluded but the sites at the top of the hill have pretty conistent cell reception and it's about an hour closer to my house! The largest campground is in the middle - Big Meadows - it's nice, but there are a lot of services around and it's more populated. You can get cell reception there but you have to walk a bit to the top of the mountain. I've camped at them all and be happy in all so just because I'm choosing favorites doesn't mean that one is bad! Oh wait, there's one more - Lewis Mt - it's small and close to Big Meadows, I haven't stayed there.

The BRPW proper is quieter that SD and the mountains seem bigger - I haven't explored as much of it, but it's on the list! There are fewer services and stuff but there are still nice campgrounds It is dry camping but most will allow you to run your generator during the day and if you are driving daily you won't run the battery down anyway!

My parents drove most of the BRPW in their 36 ft class A diesel pusher - I believe it's clearance is 12'6 - so 13 ft - and I don't think they had any tunnels they couldn't get through, but maybe at the end...I wasn't with them so I can't remember.

My parents favorite campground was Julian Price - I'm not sure where it is but they still talk about how great it was!

Enjoy and post a trip report when you get back!

[avalen]

I googled Julian Price campground......
http://www.reserveamerica.com/servlet/P ... rkId=74043

[JoanE]

Melissa thanks for that report. I've traveled most of the BRPW by car but never the SD. Looking forward to experiencing it this time.