rfield54

I'm planning a bike trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway - the 470 or so miles in six or maybe seven days - in May, with my wife driving a sag rental, and staying in hotels/motels. I'm likely going north to south, and I'll be up for the task, as I live at elevation and am use to climbing and multi-day trips (I'm in CO at 8600').

I have the "Bicycling the Blue Ridge" book, but it seems to be catered way more toward the touring/camping cyclist. I'll be riding a fairly light road bike with one small frame pack below the top tube. I'll carry enough calories and water for three or four hours, and then meet my wife each day at an agreed upon sag lunch stop mid ride, so my main interests right now are lodging, and dinner restaurants which have healthier food.

I'm hoping to get some suggestions, as I'm not finding a lot online...most is related to camping.

Thanks, Roy

Flintshooter

I did it years ago before the viaduct around Grandfather Mountain was finished.
Without checking my log, I think I did it in eleven days. However, seven or eight would have been very doable. I thought it would be harder and only planned 35 to 40 miles a day. A lot of days I reached the planned stopping point by noon. The last day was about sixty miles from Mt Pisgah campground to Cherokee.
I was self supported. With a sag wagon there shouldn't be any problems at all. I'm sure that some of the motels I stayed at are gone (in particular, the really awful one in Tuggle Gap) but with support, you could settle for lodging a little further from the Parkway. Just decide each morning where your stopping point will be. That way you can do your thing all day while your wife can explore some of the things that are near, but not on the Parkway.
I really enjoyed that trip. The second or third night I stayed at an Appalachian Trail shelter near the Parkway. There were, I think, two other nights I camped, and all other nights were in motels.
Plan for a few diversions along the way. The Parkway has more to offer than just scenery.

Flintshooter

Another thing.
Before you start, check with the NPS about any closed sections/detours. The last time I was on the Parkway (in a car) there was a bridge being replaced that forced a twenty or thirty mile detour. A lot of which was on roads I would not have wanted to bike ride on.
Logic says that someone on a bicycle could just dismount and carry the bike around construction, but there is always the chance that some self-important individual could stop you from doing it.

indyfabz

Have you tried searching Google Maps for something like "motels near [name of town]"? Works for restaurants, too.

pdlamb

The Parkway is out in the middle of the mountains, so there's not a lot of services. Fine dining, aka "dinner restaurants which have healthier food," may be a challenge. There's not a lot of options in Waynesboro, and it's a fair drive to Lexington from where the BRP crosses the James River. Lots of options in Roanoke (I assume your wife can ferry you a few miles in either direction). Around Fancy Gap there's a Hardee's, IIRC, and I don't remember much more in Mt. Airy. (It's only 30 miles from Mt. Airy to Winston-Salem, though!)


Boone and Blowing Rock are tourist towns, so there's lots of dining (and lodging) options. There are a couple motels at Little Switzerland, and the Swiss Inn used to have a nice restaurant (with appropriate prices), though I haven't been there for several years. Crabtree Falls sometimes has an open cafeteria at lunch; it's food, and that's the most I can say about it. Lots of options in Asheville, though if you can make it up to Mt. Pisgah (and get a reservation), the lodge again has a good restaurant, with fair prices.


Waynesville has lots of motels, Cherokee only a few. There are dining options there, but none stand out in my mind. If you go over Newfound Gap to Gatlinburg, some nice restaurants are there.

thumpism 

What pdlamb said. I'll add that almost everything near the Parkway is off the Parkway and almost always downhill, usually about three miles to the nearest anything and you are looking for something specific. Expect to coast downhill for meals and, unless you purely love climbing, have your wife ferry you back up to resume your ride. It's a great ride but expect to revise your gastronomic requirements for most of it; chili dogs are fine dining in much of the surrounding area.

There are restaurants. In Virginia, Peaks of Otter near Bedford, and Mabry Mill near Roanoke are a couple right beside the road, but are probably seasonal may not be timed right for a given break.

hagak

Chateau Morrisette Restaurant is right along the Parkway. I have not been there in years but it was good when I went. Added bonus is it is also a Winery.

rm -rf

I'm thinking of visiting Staunton VA (pronounced "stanton") near the northern end of the BRP. It has an interesting historic downtown, and a bunch of restaurants. Stay there overnight, and start the BRP in the morning, with a 12 mile climb!

I've stayed in Galax VA, but there's not much variety in their restaurants.

There's a restaurant in Mt Mitchell State Park near the top of the park road to the Mt Mitchell (It's north of Asheville on the BRP). The climb is 1500 feet in 4 miles, 8-10% at times near the bottom, and an easier grade near the top. Recommended.

Stop at the Pisgah Inn, south of Asheville, right on the parkway, for a meal, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's informal and inexpensive, and has a great view overlooking a wide valley. Their rooms are spartan, and no TV, phone or internet--and usually booked up well in advance.

Traffic
Traffic is usually very light, and the speed limit is 45 mph. The busiest parts I've ridden were the climbs out of Asheville, both north and south. I'd try to avoid weekends for the climb up from Asheville if possible--fairly heavy traffic, with lots of curves, so the cars take chances with blind passing on corners.

Water
I've done lots of longer day rides, out and back on the BRP. These need some good route planning to have enough water available. For instance: my favorite BRP day ride: Licklog Gap to the Pisgah Inn.

You'll have a lot more flexibility with a driver meeting you along the way.

pdlamb

Forgot about those two, though Peaks of Otter was closed the last time we went through. Isn't there another place south (west) of Mabry Mill that's supposed to have good pancakes? And another nice country restaurant near Glendale Springs, NC.

thumpism 

Staunton to Waynesboro on U.S 250 is mostly rolling, and the climb from Waynesboro to the Parkway is only about three miles. You'll get your 12 mile climb on the Parkway once you cross the James River near Big Island and start the climb to Thunder Ridge. The gravity bike guys from the Lynchburg shop made weekly treks to that stretch for a while.

Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant at 250 and I-81 has good home cooking. And pie!

wardie

Bicycling the Blue Ridge "a guide to the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway" by Elizabeth & Charlie Skinner

is a very good source I have the fourth edition their may be newer ones.

Cougrrcj

As noted above, Peaks of Otter has a lodge and restaurant near Bedford VA (BRP milepost 86), as DID Bluffs Lodge in Doughton Park NC (BRP milepost 240) but Bluffs closed in 2010. We've stayed at both in years past.

We always traveled from South to North so the sun is behind us, and not in our eyes. Cherokee NC at the south end of the BRP has built a number of new hotels/motels to support/augment the new Casino/resort.

Lots of resources for BRP lodging by doing a quick Google search...

DropBarFan

I've only done the Buena Vista-Peaks of Otter section. Peaks of Otter lodge/restaurant opens full-time in mid-March. Restaurant was nice country-style; was surprised to see lots of folks driving up for the Friday seafood buffet. Stayed at the campground but I see now that the lodge has been renovated & includes WiFi & TV. A bit pricey but reasonable considering the great location. Anyway sounds like a fun plan esp since you have the mountain legs already installed. ;^) I rode in late November after leaf season & was amazed at the light traffic. Didn't see any other bicyclists & sometimes 15 minutes between passing cars.

Doug64

Sometimes it pays to believe the signs; it is a long story The 2013 floods near Calgary, AB

Flintshooter

Even there you could probably find a fording place.
However, most of the time the bridges on the BRP are over roads.

rm -rf

Cold
I've ridden the high BRP, 5000 foot elevation or higher, in May, and it's often quite cold. It could easily be 40F or even lower in the morning. (Temperatures drop about 3.3F per 1000 feet of elevation.)

So, bring some warm layers, and perhaps ride later in the day if it's very cold. Climbing in the cold isn't bad, but descending the long downhills could be very chilly.

Maybe 12 years ago, I encountered a "Road Closed, 4 miles ahead" sign on the BRP. I took a chance, and kept riding. They had removed the deck of a bridge over a creek, but the new concrete was in place, just curing for a few days before they reopened. Sweet! I saw two walkers along the whole 4 miles.

I guess I could have waded the creek if the bridge wasn't passable.

tarwheel 

I've ridden many sections of the BRP and driven the entire way. Your schedule and plan are doable but you need to prepare for contingencies related to food, water and weather. As others stated, places to get food are few and far between directly on the parkway. You should plan to carry enough food to get you through a day if food stops aren't open or conveniently located. Riding off the BRP for food means a steep slog back up to it. Water is more available but you should carry at least two bottles and refill at any opportunity.

Weather is the big wildcard. It can be surprisingly cold on the parkway in May and snow, sleet and ice would not be out of the question. Fog is the most likely problem and frequently occurs in mornings and sometimes for days on end. It rains a lot in the mountains and you should prepare for that, particularly for riding in cold rain. Winds can get very strong on the ridge tops when fronts are moving through.

You will need good front and rear lights for the tunnels and poor weather conditions. The park service requires cyclists to have lights and it would be foolish to go without.

Regarding lodging, the hotels on the parkway are great but make reservations. I've stayed at Peaks of Otter and the Pisgah Inn. Both are very basic but clean, right on the parkway and have restaurants.

raybo

This page has 6 links to information about riding the Blue Ridge Parkway.

While not all of them will be of value to you, several of them contain the kind of information you are looking for.

rfield54

thanks for all the replies.

this is my basic itinerary (subject to revisions):

day 1: rockfish gap to peaks of otter lodge (86 miles, 8800' gain)
day 2: peaks of otter lodge to stonewall b&b (74 miles / 6800 ' gain)
day 3: stonewall b&b to glade valley b&b (69 miles, 5000' gain)
day 4: glade valley b&b to linville falls lodge & cottages (91 miles / 8300' gain)
day 5: linville falls lodge to quality inn biltmore asheville (67 miles / 6900' gain...which includes mt mitchell )
. . . . . one or two days off (asheville).
day 6: quality inn biltmore asheville to balsam mountain inn (63 miles / 7100" gain?)
day 7: balsam mountain inn to cherokee (29 miles / 4900' gain)...drive to atlanta airport hotel

. . . essentially 6.5 days of riding

rfield54

The possibility of thick fog is probably my main concern, though snow and ice would certainly suck. I'll add a second BRIGHT rear light in case of fog. I can't imagine ice being an issue on the BRP in the middle of May (between 10am and 4pm), but I'm only assuming based on Colorado weather patterns.

I read on another forum that the prevailing winds in that area are out of the southwest, which would translate into headwinds going north to south. Is this prevailing wind direction a popular opinion?

bwgride

Without doubt it is from the southwest. Below is a map showing wind history. Select May and you can see it is from the southwest both to the east and west of the Appalachian mountains. However, the wind pattern in the mountains is not consistent with the pattern found in areas east and west of the mountains most likely because wind pattern will be locally affected by the mountains themselves.

Wind history map

shelbyfv

Another thumbs up for the Pisgah Inn.

rfield54

My new plan, now riding south to north:

day 1: cherokee to pisgah inn (63 miles, 9800' gain)
day 2: pisgah inn to alpine inn-little switzerland...including mt mitchell (86 miles / 9800' gain)
day 3: alpine inn, little switzerland to doughton hall b&b (90 miles, 8200' gain)
day 4: doughton hall b&b to stonewall b&b (89 miles / 6500' gain)
day 5: stonewall b&b to peaks of otter lodge (74 miles / 6700' gain)
day 6: peaks of otter lodge to rockfish gap (86 miles / 8000' gain)...drive to dc

pdlamb

IME there's not much in the way of either a straight tailwind or headwind on the Parkway. The wind is usually sheltered by the ridges, except in a few places where the road is actually on top of the ridge -- Ridgeland Balsam, going up to Craggy Garden, etc. You'll have some impressive cross winds at the gaps, though.


Middle of May can be warm or chilly, especially on the higher ridges. 35-40 degrees, pea soup fog, and you're coasting 40 mph downhill for 15 miles, that will cool you right down from the last hour of climbing.

rm -rf

North or South

I don't think that wind direction should affect your travel plans.

Here's the weatherspark.com averages for Elizabethton, TN (This is the station data shown for Mt Mitchell, but it uses the closest station. Elizabethton is elevation 1500, so Mt Mitchell is 5000 feet higher, so it's likely to be 15-20 degrees colder up there.)

April-May averages more sunny days and drier than mid summer.

From the averages page. You can see that winds are most often either E & NE or W & SW, with some NW & N. Rarely S or SE.


This BRP map shows the route is SW to NE. (The official paper map is oriented to make the BRP vertical on the narrow map page.)


Wind directions from the weatherspark.com averages for Elizabethton.
And below that, the winds for Roanoke VA, near the northern end of the BRP. It's interesting that the wind patterns are quite different up there--more N & NW winds, and way more S & SE winds, for example.