Experience one of the most scenic and historic road trips imaginable as you drive both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Linking the states of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, a road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway takes you from Shenandoah National Park in Northern Virginia to the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains and stunning Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. This mid-South road trip features colonial settlements and Civil War sites, spectacular scenery, and fun experiences all along the way.
All of our road trips are fully customisable and can be tailor-made to suit your own individual requirements. Please let your Discover North America travel specialist know if you would like to start in a different destination, use specific hotel accommodation or simply want to add an excursion or two. Do you have more or less than 13 days for your road trip? No problem, we can add extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
As we can offer you such a extensive choice of flights & car rental and prices vary per departure date, we don’t include these elements as standard within the headline fare displayed on our website, unless stated otherwise in the `What’s Included’ section. When requesting your initial quote, your Discover North America Travel Specialist will take the time to understand your own individual requirements with regards to international flights and car rental and will tailor the quote specifically to your needs.
Find out more about the process we follow here.
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Start your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip with a 3 night stay in America's capital city, Washington DC. The city offers attractions and activities for everyone - from the memorials and monuments along the National Mall to The White House, Smithsonian Museums and National Zoo. You may also want to visit Arlington National Cemetery just across the Potomac River from Washington DC.
On Day 4, you will collect your rental car and take a drive into the countryside to Shenandoah National Park. Located just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore during your 2 night stay.
Today spend your day driving along two of America’s very best roads today. The first half of the day will be spent on Skyline Drive as you cruise through Shenandoah National Park, and the second half of the drive will be spent weaving your way south on the epic Blue Ridge Parkway.
Spend the night at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Located at milepost 86 on the Parkway, the lodge is set into a beautiful bend of the iconic national scenic byway, with rooms providing views of tranquil Abbott Lake.
Continue your cruise south along the amazing Blue Ridge Parkway through the Plateau and Highlands Regions and crossing the border from Virginia to North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway is littered with beautiful villages that all have a musical connection and is home to scenic rivers, streams, lakes. wineries and craft breweries.
Your next two nights will be in the lively mountain town of Asheville. Visit the main street which is full of chocolate shops, microbreweries and stylish eateries. A must do is the magnificent Biltmore Estate. This French Renaissance castle in the heart of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains is an architectural jewel. The home features 250 rooms, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. In addition to the house, the 8,000-acre estate is home to forested trails and beautiful gardens, which include one of the country’s most complete collections of azaleas. Biltmore is also where you’ll find the nation’s most-visited winery. As you explore the estate, enjoy shopping, dining and luxury accommodations.
Complete the Blue Ridge Parkway on your drive to Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a 2 night stay - the most visited National Park in the USA which has a natural fog hanging over the range giving it the Smoky name!
Cycling, ziplining and white water rafting are just some of the activities on offer in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you have the extra time for your trip, speak with your Discover North America Travel Specialist about adding a visit to Pigeon Forge and Dollywood for a fun day out whilst you are in the area.
Continue south to the city of Chattanooga which is located along the Tennessee River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain. Chattanooga offers an incredible combination of breathtaking scenic beauty, a 13-mile paved Riverwalk scattered with attractions, parks, restaurants, and riverboats; outdoor adventures, rich history and a thriving arts scene
Continue South to Atlanta. Typically, the flight from Atlanta to the UK doesn't depart until the early evening allowing you a full day to explore.
Alternatively, speak with your Discover North America Travel Specialist about extending your trip.