It’s not that you need to hear this again, but the fall foliage in the eastern U.S. is breathtaking! And what better way to enjoy it than by going on a road trip through one of the most scenic drives on the East Coast?
With 469 miles of this iconic scenic drive between the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the stunning views with vibrant fall colors along this beautiful route are an absolutely magical experience.
And don’t just take my word for it. National Geographic has named the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the world’s best scenic drives!
Seriously, I’d say everyone needs to experience this scenic drive in America during the fall season—at least once in their lifetime!
For me, it’s the tunnels naturally decorated with deep oranges, yellow and red.
The crisp cool weather that’s almost too perfect, and the fall morning mist covering the top layers of the Great Smokies are some of the things I love the most about experiencing fall along the Parkway.
It’s also why I agree with this being one of the most scenic fall drives in America!
🛣 Cool Fact: There are 25 tunnels in the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and only 1 in Virginia. The shortest one is Rough Ridge at 182 feet long and the longest tunnel along the Parkway is Pine Mountain at 1,462 feet long.
Although a New England fall road trip itinerary seems to be a top pick for many, Blue Ridge Parkway has all the more reasons for a bucket-list fall trip or even for October road trips—since that’s my birthday month and it’s around that time that I travel to this area.
With the great number of overlooks, tunnels, and exciting things to do along your scenic drive there’s no doubt why this scenic drive is an excellent option for your fall foliage road trip.
Why Blue Ridge Parkway is One of the Best East Coast Fall Road Trips
I may be biased and don’t want to make this about how much I love Blue Ridge Parkway because every single time I go up there, I find something else to love!
However, it’s true to say that the Blue Ridge Parkway is unlike any other scenic drive on the East Coast due to its various altitudes and climate zones.
For an autumn road trip, this means you have more time to enjoy the foliage, from when the leaves start changing colors in Virginia to when they start gradually showing further south.
When is peak fall foliage along this route?
Generally, for this section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, you can see the peak fall foliage from mid-October to mid-November. However, peak fall foliage depends on many climate factors and it’s best to track a foliage map for updates.
You can check out this fall foliage color map. Click on the areas you want to explore and watch the map update with the fall foliage colors.
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, these are the 2024 peak times:
🍁 Northern -tier states out West and in the Midwest peak: late September. By October 4, the leaves in some areas will be past their prime.
🍁 New England and the Pacific Northwest: at or near peak fall color by October 11.
🍁 Blue Ridge Mountains peak fall foliage: mid-October.
Source: The Old Farmer's 2024 Almanac
This scenic drive is home to 272 overlooks managed by the National Park Service where you can get more sense of the Appalachian Highlands.
Personally, I think there aren’t views as beautiful as these anywhere else during the fall season!
The Appalachian story can also be seen firsthand in some of the interpretive wayside signs, giving an insight into the past of Indian Reservations from the valleys in the Smokies.
Waterfalls, hiking trails, secluded valleys and the incomparable Blue Ridge Mountains along the Parkway make this an incredible and magical journey.
Tips for Planning Your Road Trip to See Fall Leaves
- Timing is Key! The peak of the leaf peeping varies depending on elevation and weather, but we could say the average peak season is late September to mid-October.
- Make Reservations Early: Keep in mind that this is a very popular fall destination and accommodations closer to the Parkway may be fully booked during peak time.
🍁 Although fall color changes from one year to the next, you can check last year’s foliage reports for an estimate of this year’s peak season. This can give you an idea of how to plan your trip, but keep an eye out for current fall foliage updates.
- Pack for Varying Temperatures: Keep in mind that areas with more elevation will be much cooler and breezy than valleys. Pack layers and anything that will keep you warm.
- Carry a Physical Map: You all know how much I encourage you to carry maps, even if it’s just a printout of your routes. Network coverage can be an issue in some areas of the Parkway and it’s important to know where you are. Alternatively, you can also download the offline map from your GPS.
- Plan for a Leisurely Drive: The speed limit at the Blue Ridge Parkway is quite steady at 45 mph with a 25 to 35 mph limit in other areas along the parkway. Therefore, this is something to take into consideration when planning your road trip during the busy fall season.
- Fill Up Often: There are no gas stations at the Parkway itself, so you do need to get off at the highway or state road intersections to fill up your tank. Make sure you fill up every chance you get!
- Check for Closures: It’s very common to see some areas in the parkway being closed in fall and winter due to bad weather, construction, maintenance, or high traffic congestion. Stay updated with the National Park Service closure updates and detour map.
4-Day Fall Foliage Road Trip Itinerary: Orlando to Asheville via Blue Ridge Parkway South End
The Parkway’s south end entrance is in Cherokee, NC right by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you’re coming from Florida—like I am, this is the closest entrance you have to the Blue Ridge Parkway and it’s where you’ll see the prettiest fall foliage near Orlando.
Cherokee is also a fascinating place to visit due to its rich Native American history and culture and its proximity to the Smokies which is why I’m including it on this itinerary.
I’ve curated this itinerary from my own personal experiences road tripping to the Parkway in the fall, for three years straight and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
⛰🍁 If you plan to extend your fall foliage road trip to visit the Smokies, you can check out my Great Smoky Mountains itinerary for things to do and see during your stay.
Day 1: Orlando, FL to Toccoa Falls, GA to Cherokee, NC (530 miles)
3 AM: Leave Orlando, FL
10 AM: Arrive at Toccoa Falls, GA (approx. 7 hours on the road with 2 stops).
Visit Toccoa Falls and stay for around 1 hour enjoying the falls and taking photos. Plan to leave the falls at 11 am.
1 PM: Arrive at Cherokee, NC (approx. 2 hour drive, no stops).
Visit the Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Great Smoky Mountains National Park). Give yourself about 1 hour to look around the exhibits and explore the Mountain Farm Museum.
Grab lunch in Cherokee before starting your scenic drive along the Parkway.
3 PM: Begin your Blue Ridge Parkway drive and make these stops:
- Oconaluftee River Overlook: On clear days, this is a great overlook for a view of the Smoky Mountains and a must-stop on foggy days for a breathtaking experience of seeing first-hand why these incredible mountains are called the Smokies!
- Big Witch Overlook and Tunnel: This is the third tunnel you will pass through coming from the south end (the first one is Sherrill Cove Tunnel). Big Witch Overlook is one of the most beautiful overlooks to stop for fall foliage and mountain views.
- Lickstone Ridge Overlook: Stunning panoramic views and historical facts.
6 PM: Arrive in Asheville, NC. Grab dinner and stay the night.
Recommended Places to Stay in Asheville
🛌 The Omni Grove Park Inn, impressively beautiful sitting on the hills' edge, is just 2 miles away from Asheville's Botanical Gardens and close to the Biltmore Estate.
🛌 Treehouse in Asheville, a beautiful vacation rental near the canopy-covered streets and includes a Biltmore Pass with your stay.
Day 2: Explore Asheville, NC and Surroundings
7 AM: Grab breakfast in Asheville and start your drive.
9 AM: Arrive at Looking Glass Falls
This is a spectacular waterfall located in the Pisgah National Forest near Asheville (about 45 minutes from Asheville).
Plan to stay for about 1.5 hours and then have lunch at a local restaurant in Asheville.
1 PM: Continue the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway and plan to make these stops:
- Waterrock Knob: If you plan to hike, this is a must for beautiful scenery while hiking.
- Richland Balsam Overlook: This is the spot at the peak of the Parkway with the most breathtaking circling views.
- Graveyard Fields: You can check out this area by walking through the short trail—mostly boardwalk, which leads to Yellowstone Falls.
- Looking Glass Rock Overlook: Make your way to this location and see the natural rock formation that’s popular among hikers and frequent visitors to the area.
6 PM: Drive back to Asheville (approx. 55-minute drive) for dinner and stay the night.
Day 3: Asheville, NC to Savannah, GA (275 miles)
6 AM: Grab breakfast and leave Asheville, NC
1 PM: Arrive in Savannah, GA (approximately 6 hours)
- Explore Savannah’s Historic District, Forsyth Park, and the River Street area.
- Have dinner at a local favorite like The Olde Pink House and stay the night.
- Recommended stays:
Day 4: Savannah, GA to Orlando, FL (250 miles)
7 AM: Time to go back home (sadly!).
Head out for breakfast in Savannah and start your drive back to Orlando.
1 PM: Make a stop in Jacksonville, FL (approx. 4 hours) to stretch and grab coffee.
3 PM: Arrive back in Orlando, FL (approximately 2 hours from Jacksonville).
🏞 Do you have the National Park Passport Book? Here are the stamp locations on this route:
📍 Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Cherokee, NC (Milepost 469)
📍 Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, Sylva, NC (Milepost 451)
📍 Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, Asheville, NC (Milepost 384)
📍 Folk Art Center, Asheville, NC (MP 382)
📍 Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Black Mountain, NC (MP 364)
Best Sunrise Spots on Blue Ridge Parkway
If you’re adventurous like me, chances are you already have a sunrise hike in mind! Here are a few recommendations for catching the sunrise along the Parkway.
1. Waterrock Knob
Elevation: 6,292 feet, milepost 451.2
- Parking? Yes, a large parking area is available and it’s open 24 hours
- Best time: Arrive 30-45 minutes before sunrise
2. Craggy Pinnacle
Elevation: 5,892 feet, at Craggy Gardens, near Milepost 364
- Parking? Yes, at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center
- Best time: Arrive 1 hour before sunrise to allow time for the hike
- The trail to the summit is about 0.7 miles round trip and moderately steep
Mount Pisgah
Elevation: 5,721 feet, milepost 407.6
- Parking?: Yes, in the Mount Pisgah parking area
- Best time: Arrive 45 minutes to 1 hour before sunrise
- The summit trail is about 1.5 miles round trip and moderately strenuous
🌅 PRO TIP: Check sunrise times for your specific dates and arrive early enough to set up before the sun appears. During peak fall season (Mid-September to mid-October) sunrise times in the Blue Ridge Parkway may range between 7:07 AM and 7:32 AM. However, this will change based on your exact location and the date.
If you’re planning sunrise hikes, pack warm layers and gloves as temperatures can be very chilly at these elevations in the early morning, especially during autumn. Also, don’t forget your flashlight or headlamp to navigate the hiking trails!
Always practice the Leave No Trace principles and be respectful of wildlife and others who are enjoying the sunrise experience just as you are.
Final Thoughts
If you have more than 4 days for your fall road trip, I recommend you make the full scenic drive up to Shenandoah National Park.
Depending on which day you depart and where you’re coming from, the Blue Ridge Parkway will reward you on this scenic autumn drive.
You’ll have both foggy days and sunny days, and it will be much colder once you pass Asheville but it’s definitely worth it because this is one of the best road trips for fall foliage on the East Coast of the U.S. Enjoy your trip and happy leaf-peeping! 🍁
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Yanitza Ninett
Yanitza is an avid adventurer with 15+ years of hiking experience and outdoor travel. As a PADI-certified scuba diver, she's also passionate about ocean conservation. When she's not exploring the great outdoors, Yanitza obsesses over The Vampire Diaries and dreams of traveling to Mallorca, Spain.