Some Parkway sections remain closed from Helene impacts and recovery projects. The landscape remains unstable, and no use is allowed in closed areas (closed to drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.) More
Closure due to impending weather or impacts from storms. Virginia closures due to fallen, hung, and hazardous trees caused by ice storms. Clearing operations ongoing.
The Blue Ridge Parkway visitor center in Asheville, NC, is open year-round.
Vicki Dameron photo
Most visitor contact stations on the Parkway are seasonal, typically open from May through October. The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384) is open year round and only closed on Thanksgiving, December 25th and January 1st.
Virginia Visitor Centers
Blue Ridge Music Center (Milepost 213)
The Blue Ridge Music Center celebrates the music and musicians of the Blue Ridge. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1997, with support from The National Council for the Traditional Arts, the Music Center includes an outdoor amphitheater, an indoor theater, and exhibits highlighting the historical significance of the region’s music.
Physical Address
700 Foothills Road Galax, VA24333
Mailing Address
Blue Ridge Parkway 199 Hemphill Knob Road Asheville, NC28803
The Blue Ridge Parkway Music Center is located at Milepost 213 on the Virginia/North Carolina state border.
Closed today
Current Hours (Closed in Winter)
November 11–May 15
Every Day:Closed
Standard Hours
Every Day:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
The Blue Ridge Music Center is open daily April 26 - November 3, 2024, from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily. Enjoy mid-day music in the breezeway from noon - 4:00 PM.
Explore the Roots of American Music at the Blue Ridge Music Center NPS Photo
Welcome to the Blue Ridge Music Center NPS Photo
Mabry Mill Visitor Center (Milepost 176)
The sights and sounds of rural life in Appalachia resonate at Mabry Mill during the summer and fall. Ed Mabry built this mill, where he and his wife ground corn, sawed lumber, and operated a blacksmith shed for their neighbors for three decades. It was a community gathering place for the folks who called Meadows of Dan their home in the early twentieth century.
Physical Address
266 Mabry Mill Road SE Meadows of Dan, VA24120
Mailing Address
Blue Ridge Parkway 199 Hemphill Knob Road Asheville, NC28803
Milepost 176 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Every Day:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Visitor center is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 2025. Visitors may take self-guiding tours the grounds from sunrise to sunset. Interiors of historic structures are closed.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Closed for Season
November 3–April 17
Every Day:Closed
The Mabry Mill Visitor Center is closed during the winter. The grounds are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
The wooden flume carries water to the waterwheel to power Mabry Mills grinding stones NPS Photo
Peaks of Otter Visitor Center (Milepost 85.6)
Visitors of the Peaks of Otter gain a sense of both the history of community and tourism in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The long history of visiting the mountains for health and relaxation is told in the visitor center. An extensive trail system is available with the hike to Sharp Top being a long-standing tradition. Dining and lodging is available, along with fishing in Abbot Lake, camping, and picnicking.
Physical Address
85919 Blue Ridge Parkway Bedford, VA24523
Mailing Address
85919 Blue Ridge Parkway Bedford, VA24523
Sunday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Monday-Thursday:Closed
Friday and Saturday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Visitor Center including exhibits and an America's National Park store is available during listed hours of operation.
A great starting point for your day in the mountains. NPS Photo
A hike to the top of Sharp Top provides views of Peaks of Otter NPS Photo
Humpback Rocks Visitor Center (milepost 5.8)
Travelers heading south from the northern end of the Parkway experience a scenic drive through an Appalachian hardwood forest with ridge top views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west and Rockfish Valley to the east. The rock outcroppings on the mountain and the relocated collection of 1890s farm buildings where settlers scratched out a living in the rocky soil makes Humpback Rocks perhaps the best representation of the varied combination of natural and cultural features anywhere along the Parkway corridor.
Physical Address
5846 Blue Ridge Parkway Waynesboro, VA22980
Mailing Address
Ridge Interpretation Office 29132 Blue Ridge Parkway Vesuvius, VA24483
Sunday and Monday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Tuesday and Wednesday:Closed
Thursday-Saturday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Visitors may take self-guided tours of the mountain farm grounds. Parkway information and America's National Park Store is available during regular operating hours.
Phone is only operational during normal business hours from May-October. No voice mail is available. Please consider emailing your message to blri_info@nps.gov.
Start here for the self-guided short trail to a 19th century reconstructed farmstead. NPS Photo
Rain is common in the mountains so grab your raincoat and come visit us. NPS Photo/J. Lamm
North Carolina Visitor Centers
Waterrock Knob Visitor Center (Milepost 451.2)
Waterrock Knob is our highest elevation visitor center on the Parkway. Known for its beautiful long-range views of several major mountain chains in the Appalachians, Waterrock Knob is uniquely suited for viewing sunrises and sunsets. The small visitor center introduces visitors to the area's rugged terrain and tremendous scenic resources, including the Great Smoky Mountains that are visible from here.
Physical Address
Milepost 451.2 Blue Ridge Parkway Scott Creek, NC28779
Mailing Address
Balsam Gap Maintenance Area, MP 443.8 Hwy 23/74, 7 Miles South of Waynesville Balsam Gap, NC28707
From Balsam Gap (MP 443), 7 miles south of Waynesville, NC or 12 miles north of Sylva, NC, on US-23/75, enter onto the Parkway, heading Parkway south, for about 8 miles. Turn right on the access road (MP 451). If you are coming from the south, near Maggie Valley or Cherokee, Waterrock Knob is about 4 miles north of Soco Gap (MP 455).
Every Day:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Open daily, April 18, 2025, through October 31, 2025, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Then November 1, 2025, through November 16, 2025, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Waterrock Knob's stunning views are a perfect picnic spot NPS Photo / Gail Fox
Parkway exhibit highlights the stunning western view NPS Photo / Gail Fox
Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (Milepost 384)
The visitor center features exhibits that showcase the natural and cultural history of the area, as well as the recreational opportunities offered by the region. You are able to watch the Parkway film at this location as well. Open year-round, the visitor center features National Park Service information desk, and America's National Parks store.
Physical Address
195 Hemphill Knob Rd Asheville, NC28803
Mailing Address
195 Hemphill Knob Rd Asheville, NC28803
From I-40, exit at #53 and follow the signs, heading east on US 74A toward Lake Lure and turn right on the Parkway on-ramp. Make a right to head north on the Parkway and turn left up the driveway for the visitor center in less than a mile. If you entered the Parkway from US-25/Hendersonville Rd or NC-191/Brevard Rd, continue north for 10-15 minutes, and turn when you see the visitor center sign. From US-70/Tunnel Rd, drive south about 5 minutes, and turn when you see the visitor center sign.
Every Day:9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Open year-round, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Subject to temporary closures during periods of inclement weather.
The Asheville Visitor Center is staffed year-round. Come in for a visit. NPS photo/L Marois
The attractive interior of the visitor center has lots to see and do. NPS Photo / Dennis McCarthy
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center (Milepost 364)
The small, historic visitor center and America's National Parks store is nestled in the gap between the rocky, Craggy Mountains. At over 5,000 feet elevation, harsh weather often invades these exposed ridges, resulting in the gnarled forests of beech, birch, and buckeye. These summits have been home to some of the most spectacular rhododendron displays along the Parkway corridor. For generations, visitors have headed up to the Craggies in mid to late June to view the pink and purple blooms.
Craggy Gardens is located 20 miles north of our Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384) and 18 miles north of the Folk Art Center (MP 382), with the drive taking about a half hour. If you take Ox Creek Rd (MP 375) up from Weaverville it takes about 15 minutes on the Parkway.Craggy Gardens is about a half hour drive south of Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain in eastern North America. Mount Mitchell's access road (NC-128) turns off the Parkway at MP 355.
Closed today
Current Hours (Hurricane Helene Closure)
September 29–September 28
Every Day:Closed
This facility is closed as a result of road damage sustained during Hurricane Helene. There is currently no scheduled date for reopening.
Standard Hours
Every Day:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
2025 Operating Dates TBD
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Hurricane Helene Closure
September 29–September 28
Every Day:Closed
This facility is closed as a result of road damage sustained during Hurricane Helene. There is currently no scheduled date for reopening.
Close to Asheville this is a popular spot for a stop. NPS Photo/L Marois
The craftsmanship of the Parkway's engineers and laborers is on display in this stone Nretaining wall NPS Photo
While there is plenty of parking in the summer and fall mornings this place will be bustling by mid day and on into sunset. NPS Photo
Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals highlights the rich mineral resources & the mining heritage of this portion of the Blue Ridge. The museum has interactive & experiential exhibits for children & adults. This area, called Gillespie Gap, was also significant in the American Revolution, where frontiersmen from the mountains known as the "Overmountain Men" crossed the Blue Ridge on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain. The Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce has an information desk.
Physical Address
Milepost 331 Blue Ridge Parkway Spruce Pine, NC28777
Mailing Address
214 Parkway Maintenance Road Spruce Pine, NC28777
The Mineral Museum (MP 331) is located at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and NC-226, about 6 miles east of Spruce Pine and 15 miles west of Marion, NC. It is approximately an hour and a half north of Asheville via the Parkway, or and hour south of Blowing Rock, via the Parkway.
Sunday-Tuesday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Wednesday and Thursday:Closed
Friday and Saturday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Museum of North Carolina Minerals is open Fridays through Tuesdays from 10 am to 5 pm. The museum is currently closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Be sure to explore the exhibits at the Mineral Museum. NPS Photo
Open year-round, the museum holds a collection of local minerals and gems NPS Photo/ L Marois
Linville Falls Visitor Center (Milepost 316)
This facility was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene and is closed for 2025.
The Linville River flows from its headwaters high on the steep slopes of Grandfather Mountain and cascades through two falls as it begins a nearly 2,000-foot descent through this rugged and spectacularly beautiful gorge, carved out by the tall Linville Falls. Towering hemlocks, dense stands of rhododendron, and native wildflowers grow along the trails that begin at the visitor center and encircle the falls.
Physical Address
Milepost 317 Blue Ridge Parkway Linville Falls, NC28647
Mailing Address
Gillespie Gap Maintenance Area 214 Parkway Maintenance Rd Spruce Pine, NC28777
The visitor center is just north of the intersection of the Parkway with US 221 in the Linville Falls area, about 25 miles north of Marion, NC. Turn right and follow the access road for about a mile. Linville Falls is about 45 minutes south of Blowing Rock.
Closed today
Current Hours (Hurricane Helene Closure)
October 30–October 29
Every Day:Closed
This facility is closed as a result of damage sustained during Hurricane Helene. There is currently no scheduled date for reopening.
Standard Hours
Every Day:Closed
HELENE CLOSURE
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Hurricane Helene Closure
October 30–October 29
Every Day:Closed
This facility is closed as a result of damage sustained during Hurricane Helene. There is currently no scheduled date for reopening.
Moses Cone Manor House and Visitor Center (Milepost 294)
This visitor center information desk, America's National Parks store and Southern Highland Craft Guild craft shop share a grand, historic estate house. The visitor information desk is open from May through October. The America's National Parks store and the Southern Highland Craft Guild craft shop is open from early April through November. The estate grounds have 25 miles of carriage roads for strolling, small lakes and other historic structures.
From Blowing Rock/Boone, NC, enter the Parkway at Milepost 291.8, where US-321/221 intersect with the Parkway. Boone is 8 Miles away on US-321 south, Blowing Rock is 2 miles away on US-321/221 north.
Go south on the Parkway about 2 miles to the Moses H. Cone Estate. If you are driving Parkway North from Asheville, expect to take 2.5 hours to reach the Moses H. Cone Estate.
Current Hours (May Hours)
May 1–May 31
Sunday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Monday and Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday-Saturday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Open Wednesday through Sunday in May.
Standard Hours
Every Day:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
The first floor of the house, including the Southern Highlands Craft Guild store and America's National Parks store are open daily 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, May 1, 2025 - October 30, 2025. The remainder of house is open for touring during the summer. Please see website calendar for tour and open house times or call 828-295-3782.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
April Hours
April 16–April 30
Sunday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Monday and Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday-Saturday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
May Hours
May 1–May 31
Sunday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Monday and Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday-Saturday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Open Wednesday through Sunday in May.
November Hours
November 1–November 30
Sunday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Monday and Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday-Saturday:10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Closed in Winter
November 15–April 15
Every Day:Closed
The Moses Cone Manor House is currently closed for winter. Reopening date is scheduled for April 16, 2025.
Numerous hiking options are available in the Doughton Park area and nearby Brinegar Cabin offers insights into mountain living in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Physical Address
Doughton Park Visitor Center 49800 Blue Ridge Parkway Laurel Springs, NC28644
Mailing Address
Rocky Knob Office 1670 Blue Ridge Parkway Floyd, VA24091
Located near Milepost 240 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, approximately 20 miles south of the VA-NC state line.
Sunday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Monday and Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday-Saturday:10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
