Blue Ridge Parkway

RV the Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a popular destination for vacationers who RV. Nothing beats a beautiful, wooded drive in your home-away-from-home!

Keep in mind that the Parkway was designed many decades ago and curve radiuses aren’t as regular as you find on the interstate, though the curves are sweeping and not hairpin turns.

You should know the height of your vehicle in comparison to the heights of the 26 tunnels along the Parkway. The top of each tunnel is curved, with the maximum height above the center line and the minimum height at the road shoulder. See the list of tunnel heights, lengths and locations on our Tunnels page. It is possible to travel through even the lowest tunnels in a large bus or motor home if you hug the center line and use caution. BUT some RVers opt to skip the section of the Parkway between Waynesville and Cherokee, NC, where the lowest tunnel heights are located. Or, you could use a tow vehicle to travel that section with your RV safely parked at Waterrock Knob or a nearby campground.

Some sections of the Parkway are hilly and have significant elevation gain or loss. See the list of uphill climbs while traveling either northbound or southbound at the bottom of our biking page. Use your low gear to save your brakes. If you are moving slowly and there are vehicles behind you, please pull over at an overlook to allow other vehicles to pass.

The eight NPS campgrounds along the Parkway do not have hookups. There are first come first serve sites at each of these campgrounds, so a reservation is not required. But there is usually more availability during the week than on the weekends, and the longer your vehicle, the fewer sites at the campground that will be able to accommodate your vehicle. So if you have a long RV or are traveling on the weekend or in October, reservations are recommended. Reservations are available at www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777.

Many privately owned campgrounds are located on or near the Parkway and most offer hookups and a variety of amenities. Our interactive map shows the location of many of these campgrounds. Follow the links below for more information on Tunnels and the campgrounds located on or near the Parkway.

The Parkway is surrounded on both sides by trees. After heavy rains, you may find some boughs lean above the roadway and bump the top of your rig. This isn’t a safety concern, just something visitors may be surprised to find.