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VIRGINIA RIDE ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAYThe Virginia ride portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is depicted in the map below. Check the bottom of the page for the Youtube Video!
DIRECTIONS FOR THE VIRGINIA SECTION OF THE PARKWAY This Virginia ride starts on the Blue Ridge Pkwy at the Virginia/North Carolina State Line 1. Head northeast on Blue Ridge Pkwy towards Roanoke 2. Slight right to merge onto VA-24 W/E Washington Ave 3. Turn left onto By Pass Rd and merge onto Hardy Road 4. Continue on VA-24 E Virginia Ave/ Dale Ave/ Jamison Ave/ Elm Ave 5. Turn right onto S Jefferson St Arriving at Milan Tobacconists on S Jefferson St Total: 110 mi - about 3 hours 18 mins Starting from S Jefferson St 1. Head north on S Jefferson St and turn right onto Campbell Ave/ Wise Ave/ Walnut Ave 2. Turn right onto W Lee Ave 3. Turn left onto S Pollard St 4. Take the 1st right onto Washington Ave 5. Take the exit toward Parkway 6. Turn left onto Blue Ridge Pkwy This road may be seasonally closed 7. Turn Left on VA-610 toward US-250 (1/4 Mile) 8. Turn Left onto US-250 for Westbound I-64 and merge onto I-64 W 9. Take exit 94 for U.S. 340 toward Waynesboro/Stuarts Draft 10. Turn right onto US-340 N/Rosser Ave 11. Take the 1st left onto Lew Dewitt Blvd 12. Turn left onto Apple Tree Ln 13. Turn left onto Red Top Orchard Rd/State Route 1726 Arriving at Super 8 Waynesboro Total: 129 mi - about 3 hours 50 mins This Virginia ride is the conclusion of the two day/two state ride covering the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first day of the ride started at the southern end of the Parkway in North Carolina and traveled north. This portion is from the state line to Waynesboro, Virginia. It seemed more practical to divide up the rides this way. Previous portions can be found on the Road-Trip-Bikers North Carolina Page.
I was thoroughly impressed with the Blue Ridge Parkway. With a maximum posted speed of 45 mph, there is no need to rush. There are tons of scenic vistas to stop and enjoy the views. Sometimes the pullouts are lower in elevation and other times they are many thousands of feet up. Early morning fog makes it a little difficult to see everything, but it burns off later in the day. After it's gone, you can really enjoy the ride. You will notice many motorcycle touring enthusiasts as you ride the parkway and as always, striking up a conversation with one of them is no problem. There are always friendly, talkative bikers taking in the views at the pullouts. I'm a diligent road trip planner and like to know exactly where each day will take me, but the Parkway ride is easy and can be completed in 2 days with minimal planning or even just winging it. On this day, the Virginia ride portion of my trip required a detour to downtown Roanoke, Virginia to fetch some cigars. My GPS found Milan Tobacconists and guided me right to the store on Jefferson Avenue. Milan has been Roanoke's premier tobacconist for 100 years. I purchased a bundle of 20 Churchills and a couple tins of 10. While there, I visited with the friendly staff and a few customers who, like me, were escaping the heat of the day in air conditioned comfort. There was something very special about visiting a tobacco retailer in the heart of American Tobacco country, but after an enjoyable cigar break, it was back onto the Parkway for me. The parkway meanders through forest and hills and begins to climbs to an elevation of 3,950 near Apple Orchard Mountain. The temperature cools off slightly here, before rising at it's lowest point of 649 feet crossing the James River. A milestone that indicates the halfway point between Roanoke and Waynesboro, the James River is entirely within the state of Virginia and flows west to east.
It's headwaters are in the western part of Virginia near Iron Gate and empties into Chesapeake Bay some 348 miles farther. Once again, on this portion of the Parkway, there is a little bit of climbing in elevation and several gorgeous scenic pullouts and mountain lakes, before reaching the end of the parkway at the I-64 interchange. Checking into the Super 8 in Waynesboro marked end of the day and the conclusion of two days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Click Play Button In Center Of Image To Watch Video
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