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The US National Parks Service just released its 2023 visitor data, and one place in particular was the most visited in the entire United States.
Blue Ridge Parkway was the most popular national park site in the US in 2023, with a total of 16.7 million visitors.
This scenic route stretches 469 miles between North Carolina and Virginia and passes through the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains.
Here’s why so many travelers visited the Blue Ridge Parkway last year and why it’s the perfect road trip:
Explore America’s most visited national park
The Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee with Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, with more than 13.2 million visitors last year.
It’s the perfect place to start your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip. Spend a day or two exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and camping.
Then hit the road and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Beautiful views and stops along the way
Theoretically, you could drive the entire 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway in about 12 hours if you didn’t make any stops, but the beauty of a road trip is that you stop along the way!
One reason why so many travelers love the Blue Ridge Parkway is because of the scenic mountain views you’ll enjoy during the drive, and the great stops you can make along the way.
The three best stops I recommend when driving the Blue Ridge Parkway are:
Asheville, North Carolina: This trendy city is known for its restaurants, breweries and art galleries. It’s also worth stopping at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, the largest private home in the United States built by the Vanderbilt family in the late 1800s.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina: Blowing Rock, a charming small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is another great stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The main highlight here is hiking to Blowing Rock, a rock formation with breathtaking views of the mountains.
Roanoke, VA: Another popular place to stop on a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is Roanoke. This vibrant little city is a great place to explore with many museums and attractions.
Finish in an underrated national park
The Blue Ridge Parkway ends at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Although Shenandoah is not as popular or heavily visited as Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this underrated national park is definitely still worth a stop!
This is another national park with beautiful mountain scenery and lots of great walks and scenic viewpoints. It’s the perfect place to end your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip.
Road trips are affordable
Road tripping on the Blue Ridge Parkway was so popular last year because it is a very affordable vacation!
With many destinations becoming increasingly expensive, you can still save money on a road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Your main costs will be a rental car (if you don’t have your own car for the trip), gas, and food. Accommodation is something you can save a lot of money on by camping or even sleeping in your car!
Of course, you can also spend money on hotels, with plenty of options for every budget along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I would recommend a minimum of 5 days for a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, but you can easily drive it for 7 to 10 days depending on how many stops you want to make.
The best time for a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip is late spring through fall – it’s one of the best fall destinations in the United States!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
