Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Camping Adventures
Forum Discription: Post your camping adventures here for all to share
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14794
Printed Date: 17 Jul 2025 at 8:27am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Subject: Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2021 at 3:32pm
|
I have driven through the Shenandoah Valley a few times now and say each time I really need to come back just for here! Next month is that time! I'll be coming in from the north and will overnight once in PA before starting the run. We're going to take our sweet time driving through and around the area. Any POI's you suggest that should not be missed along this? ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Replies:
Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2021 at 3:51pm
|
We completed the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall of 2016 in a class B motorhome which was before buying our RPod in 2018. We went from South to North and had a delightful time, great scenery. If my memory serves me correctly there are 8 campgrounds within the national park system, all campgrounds had flush toilets, no showers, and no electrical power. There are many private campgrounds all along the parkway just outside the park limits. We really enjoyed the trip and the fall colors were in full color at the time. The other thing that I remembered is the road is very narrow and really winding. You wouldn't want to pull a real long RV. Hope this helps.
------------- Jay 179/2019 |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 7:09am
|
The Parkway is over 400 miles to do the whole thing, roughly 15 hours of driving. And its a slow winding road but with lots of turnouts and viewpoints, 45 mph tops. The Shenendoah Valley only goes as far south as Roanoke, after that you have higher country and other rive valleys to the west of the Parkway. There are all sorts of attractions on or nearby, including wineries and restauants if you like that sort of thing. If you get tired of the winding way you can always jog over to I81 and shoot up or down and then back over to another section, I don't think there's anywhere the interstate is more than about 30 minutes from the Parkway.
If you want to do more rustic/dispersed camping then the Blue Ridge probably isn't the place. Just west of the Shenandoah Valley/81 you get into the true Appalachians and there are numerous nice undeveloped national forest campgrounds including some dispersed camping. Depends what you want to do and how much time you have. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 7:31am
|
Southward I routed in Gaia starting in Front Royal and ending in Ravensford 590 miles of Skyline/Blue Ridge Parkway combined. As we turn north again I'l be running through the NF's (Nantahala, Smoky, Jefferson, Washington). The NF's I'm working with my Overlanding forum to work out routing, trying to stay as much off pavement as possible. Would be nice to run the whole of them on dirt! Mostly looking for POI's along the way that I should not miss. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 7:51am
|
Sounds good. For more dirt and less peeps also look further west at Monongahela NF and thereabouts. Getting further west puts you in higher country and further from the big East Coast cities. One place I really like is Dolly Sods Wilderness, nice little NF campground there, lots of hiking in the area. There are several nice dispersed camping areas in the general area around Elkins WV as well, and the altitude is around 3000 ft so it's usually nice and cool. Get paper copies of the NF maps of the area, they are very handy and there is zero cell signal in most of that country. Also WV has some very nice undeveloped state parks worth looking at. One I like is Kumbrabow SP. Plenty of dirt NF roads, but most of there run east west up and down the ridges. To make distance north south you will mostly be on two lanes in the valleys. Depends on how far West you are willing to go on your return leg. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 7:55am
|
I will look into this. Thanx. I just D/L'ed the MABDR to have a look see at what that could bring into the experience ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 8:33am
|
You can order the NF paper maps here:
https://store.usgs.gov/filter-products?categories=%5B216%5D&page=1 - usgs ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 9:01am
Thanx, yet I'm good! I use Gaia and have the latest uses plus MVUM's, Nat Geo, NF Rec, campsites, hiking trails... and it goes on. All downloadable and works off line. I can see others tracks if wanted and there current notes. Beauty is it's GPS based. Yet to have it fail on me! 3 years of travel in all types of terrain. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 11:21am
|
Whatever works for you. Call me old fashioned but I still like good ole reliable paper maps. Look for the dispersed camping areas in Monongahela NF, there are several and I've yet to find one I didn't like. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: tcj
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 1:31pm
|
Mount Mitchell, highest point east of the Mississippi. The Cradle of Forestry, the first school of forestry in the United States. You can take a tour.   ------------- 2018 R-pod 180 Hood River Edition |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 1:44pm
|
Well, I'll have to look those up! Thanx!
Edit: I have all 3 marked out! How cool! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 2:04pm
|
This Old Dawg is still learning new tricks! The amount of info I can store for offline use would amount to far too many maps, books and still have to work through cord's to determine location. I can even plot an entire trip (which I've done) and download for along the way. Years back we traveled with paper and had a backpack full of what we might need... I'm liking this part of New School! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 6:57pm
|
For sure.
I use gps and mapping apps all the time, starting in the mid 90s for aviation use, where gps was a game changer. But I still like paper backup for the boondocks. My place for example is improperly georeferenced on most mapping software. It's amazing how many folks these days can't even follow step by step directions, regardless of what you say they still just put in the address and end up one ridge over on the wrong road, and with no cell signal so now they have no idea what to do. I've gotten to where I try not to give the address at all so they have to pay attention to the directions.  ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Colonel Podder
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2021 at 7:25pm
|
There are many places on or close to the Parkway that we enjoy; General area around Floyd, VA. Chateau Morrisette Winery Mabry Mill Natural bridge Town of Floyd - Bluegrass music on most weekends Almost endless possibilities to see/do within a reasonable drive from the Parkway- Linville falls, Mt. Mitchell, Biltmore, Original Mast General store, etc. We will be in the area of Boone, NC all next week exploring as well. Enjoy! ------------- 2021 R-pod 196 |
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2021 at 7:23am
|
Thank you! I had Linville Falls CG marked out, yet now see where the fans are! ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2021 at 9:27am
|
I like to use both downloaded maps and paper maps depending. When you're realtime, driving down the road, it's hard to beat the maps/gps/nav that comes with the electronic form. However, when we're sitting at a campsite, and looking around/exploring/planning, the paper maps are a lot more fun. Especially when you're planning with your travel partner(s). As for the Blueridge Parkway. The last time I went there was back in 1976. It was very, very nice. My only regret is that I did not have a lot of time to explore. We did go rafting down the Shenandoah though, and that was a blast.
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: tcj
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2021 at 10:36am
|
For offgrid and other paper map lovers. Thanks for the link to the NF maps offgrid. I just now used it to order a new Naches Ranger District map. Mine is about 20 years old and getting pretty tattered. Here's a photo of the map I used for 32 days while working on the Hellroaring fire in the Absaroka Wilderness north of Yellowstone park during the Yellowstone fires in 1988. I still get it out now and then to study, read the notes I made, and reminisce. You can tell I love paper maps.  ------------- 2018 R-pod 180 Hood River Edition |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2021 at 9:52pm
|
hello Oldguysrule we have a cabin near Bryson City, NC-which is near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. the actual end is just north of Cherokee. here are lots of things to see and do near this terminus. Just at the end of the BRP, you are on the edge of the Great smoky Mountain National Park.The visitor center is about 3 miles away-lots of info and occasionally see herds of elk grazing in the adjacent fields. Cherokee is about 2 miles away and has a great outdoor drama named "Unto these Hills" that tells their story. there are lots of crafts there as well as too many people and junk shops. Bryson City is a small vacation town about 10 miles west with a tourist train that is fun to ride for a half day. It also has a great access to the National Park at Deep Creek, a campground, hiking, picnicing, waterfalls and tubing. Fontana Lake is a huge TVA lake daming the Nantahala, Tuckaseegee and Little Tennessee rivers. There is whitewater rafting, mountain biking trails, hiking trails and lake activities in the area. About 45 minutes northwest of Bryson City(near Robbinsville, NC) is Joyce Kilmer National Forest which has the largest trees east of the Mississippi. Old growth poplars that 5 people can't reach around can be seen with a 45 minte hike in the deep woods. In that same area is the Cherohala Skyway-another beautiful mountain top drive that terminates in Tennessee. You are literally driving at the ridges and the views are outstanding. Feel free to privately email if you are interested in that area-we have been going there there since 1982. there is a huge amount of activities and sites to be enjoyed. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
|
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2021 at 9:54pm
|
sorry, I had the wrong name-it should be Olddawgsrule My apologies Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
|
Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2021 at 7:58am
|
Ahh... WOW! I chased this a bit and found some .gpx files for the Dual Sport folks! Most of my best routes comes from these folks. This Dragons Tail ride sounds too Cool not to do! Thank you for this! Looks like you extended our Skyline discovery drive!  ------------- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways 2017 Tacoma http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build 2004 F150 My Overlander |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2021 at 10:36am
The forum allows you to go back an "fix" (AKA edit) your posts. I do this as I frequently have keyboard malfunctions (I would never "mistype"). ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2021 at 10:19pm
|
unfortunately, most of my malfunctions are brain oriented. what is the process for editing? Thanks Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
|
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2021 at 4:45am
|
Go to the top right of one of your posts. Select post options>edit post. When finished editing, click update post. It's good etiquette to show your edits if they are significant unless you correct them immediately. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |