Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Centers
Virginia Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Centers
Humpback Rocks Visitor Center – Milepost 5.8
The visitor center and mountain farm exhibit include a single-room log cabin and a few outbuildings that represent elements of regional architecture of the late 19th century. Early Parkway designers collected buildings from nearby and assembled them here in an arrangement that allows for an easy stroll along the pathway. Costume interpreters provide demonstrations of weaving, basket making and gardening. There is also a picnic area and comfort station which all is wheelchair accessible.
From the visitor center there are a few hiking trails. Mountain Farm Trail (easy .25 mi.), a section of the Appalachian Trail (strenuous 2 mi.), Catoctin Loop Trail (moderate .3 mi.), Greenstone Trail (moderate .2 mi.)
Humpback Rocks Visitor Center phone: (540) 943-4716
James River Visitor Center – Milepost 63.6
The James River Visitor Center have exhibits of the canal and display the entire story. There are two trails at the James River Visitor Center. The James River Canal Trail leads you to the remaining locks of the Kanawha Canal. The Trail of Trees is a nature educational trail loop about the local types of trees growing in the area. The visitor center is a great place to stop use the restrooms, and have a snack at the on-site picnic tables with views of the James River.
Peaks of Otter Visitor Center and Nature Center – Milepost 85.9
A major developed area of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter features a living history farm, camping, hiking, restaurant, lodging, and plenty of natural beauty.
Explore Park – Milepost 115
Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 115, Explore Park features hundreds of acres of rolling hills, pristine woodlands, hiking trails, river frontage, historical buildings and a visitor information center. Whether you’re looking to bike, hike, canoe, picnic, or learn more about all Roanoke County has to offer, Explore Park is your destination for exploration!
Rocky Knob Contact Center (open weekends only) – Milepost 169
Rocky Knob Visitor Center is open during the season from May to Oct on weekends only. Stop by to ask a question or pick up a map. Brown-bag it and grab a table at the 72-site picnic area. The picnic area offers tables, charcoal grills, and comfort stations.
Blue Ridge Music Center – Milepost 213
Learn about traditional mountain music at the Blue Ridge Music Center and enjoy live performances during the summer. The Blue Ridge Music Center at milepost 213 off the Blue Ridge Parkway calls you closer with the sounds of the fiddle, banjo, and guitar performing on stage. Experience the region’s musical traditions through live performances. Past performances include Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury and Ralph Stanley. The Blue Ridge Music Center features local, regional, and national touring performers and bands, and are presented most Saturday evenings from late May through September.
North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Centers
Cumberland Knob Visitor Center – Milepost 217.5
In 1935, Cumberland Knob was the site where construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway began.
Doughton Park Visitor Center – Milepost 241.1
The open meadows of this park are some of the best locations along the Parkway for viewing wildlife, and the area is rich in preserved Appalachian history.
Moses Cone Manor House and Visitor Center – Milepost 294
Linn Cove Visitor Center – Milepost 304.4
Recognized internationally as an engineering marvel, the Linn Cove Viaduct preserved the beauty of Grandfather Mountain by curving naturally with the Mountain’s contours.
Linville Falls Visitor Center – Milepost 316.4
Linville Falls is a beautiful series of dramatic falls that drop to a deep gorge, accessed by a trail lined with rare virgin stands of white pine and hemlock.
Museum of North Carolina Minerals – Milepost 331
See educational and exciting exhibits about the geology of the region and the history of mining in the Spruce Pine, NC area.
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center – Milepost 364.5
June and July are the months to visit this spectacular showplace of Catawba rhododendron and other late-blooming wildflowers.
Folk Art Center (Craft Guild information) – Milepost 382
This extensive building contains exhibits, an informative visitor center, a library, an auditorium, and a variety of crafts, jewelry, and art.
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center – Milepost 384.5
The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, located at milepost 384 near Asheville, opened in 2008. In this newest of the Parkway’s Visitors Centers, high-tech and innovative exhibits entertain and inform.
Waterrock Knob Visitor Center – Milepost 451.2
An ideal spot for watching sunrises and sunsets across the rugged mountains, Waterrock Knob Visitor Center sits at almost 6,000 feet elevation.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center – Milepost 462.9
This area was the ancestral home of the Cherokee, and it s Visitor Center has a Pioneer Homestead exhibit, which includes a farm house, barns, and a mill.