Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center — Attraction in Asheville

The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, conveniently located near Asheville, North Carolina (milepost 384), is more than just a pit stop on your scenic journey. This informative and engaging center serves as your gateway to fully appreciating the wonder of the Blue Ridge Parkway, making it a perfect 5-star destination.

Plan Your Adventure: Whether you're a seasoned explorer or a first-time visitor, the Visitor Center is an excellent starting point. Park rangers are available to answer your questions, help you plan your route, and provide recommendations on must-see overlooks, hiking trails, and historical landmarks along the Parkway.

Interactive Exhibits: Immerse yourself in the natural and cultural wonders of the Blue Ridge Mountains through interactive exhibits. Learn about the region's diverse plant and animal life, delve into the history of the Parkway's construction, and discover the rich cultural heritage of the Appalachian Mountains.

Breathtaking Views: The Visitor Center itself boasts stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, offering a taste of the scenic beauty that awaits you on the Parkway. Take a moment to soak up the fresh mountain air and get a glimpse of the vastness of the Blue Ridge landscape.

Gift Shop for Memories: Commemorate your visit with a unique souvenir from the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center gift shop. Find locally-made crafts, informative books about the region, and Parkway-themed apparel – the perfect way to remember your exploration.

Family-Friendly Fun: The Visitor Center caters to all ages. Interactive exhibits keep children engaged, while the park rangers can answer their curious questions about the natural world. The spacious grounds also offer a place for families to relax and have a picnic lunch before continuing their journey.

Overall, the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is a must-visit for anyone planning a trip along this scenic route. The informative exhibits, helpful park rangers, breathtaking views, and family-friendly atmosphere make it the perfect starting point for your adventure. Easily earning a 5-star rating, the Visitor Center ensures you get the most out of your Blue Ridge...

This place was great! Easy to find, and open pretty much every day except major holidays (although we went on Easter Sunday and they were open, woot!). It was clean, very well organized, and aesthetically pleasing on the inside. It looks like there is a nice, easy trail around the center too but we did not get to explore that. There are nice bathrooms on both floors.

There are two areas where very knowledgeable staff can walk you through the Parkway area and local maps. The woman we spoke with helped us plan our entire drive once we told her how much time we had and what we wanted to see! It was awesome. The Blue Ridge Parkway often has closures along the way so it's very good to stop at your nearest visitor center first. Don't let the closures dissuade you, there is still plenty of parkway to explore even when parts of it are shut down.

There is also a cute little gift shop on site, I highly recommend the printed map scarf....

Highly recommend going to the visitor center and getting a map and a waterfall map. Depending on how much time you have or what you want to see the Rangers are very helpful in telling you which direction to go.

Really nice drive. Not as difficult as some of the mountain roads we took to get other places and it’s so picturesque. The overlooks are very clearly label so you can tell when you need to pull off for a picturesque moment. There aren’t any gas stations along the route but there are plenty of exit ramps to take you to other places. Just be careful because there are times when you were going down those ramps that you lose cell reception so if you are using a GPS you’ll probably want to download your directions before you go.

There are a few rest stops on the way but not many so plan accordingly. Some of the overlooks there were little trails to take as well...