Scott Shinn - Founder & CEO

Blacktop Candy’s
American Classic

Auto Tours

322 Village Loop Dr

Apex, NC 27502

866.437.4077 Toll Free

919.439.8733 x301

866.370.2189 Fax

8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST

You want stunning autumn beauty? Come on out to the Blue Ridge Parkway, 469 miles of scenic highway that winds through the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

The vivid colors of fall are on full display—a mix of bright yellow, red and orange leaves and blue skies that draws 17 million visitors annually. While not an official part of the National Park Service, land on either side is owned by the National Park System, making the Parkway the most visited stretch of National Park in the country.

With its wide ranging elevation – 650 feet at its lowest and 6,000 feet at its peak—the Blue Ridge Parkway offers plenty of opportunity to catch nature in all its glory and the changing elevation is perfect for a one-, two- or three-day road trip.

Some “leaf peepers” take a few hours one day and hope to catch one of those famously breathtaking views. Often, they leave disappointed. Sometimes, catching the perfect view is a matter of distance, rather than time.

That’s because the foliage can vary between higher and lower elevations, so it’s a much better idea to drive for miles, winding your way through the different types of trees, and experiencing more of the parkway.

What makes the leaves change?

Variations in precipitation, temperature changes and sunlight can vary from spot to spot. Oak, hickory, flowering tulip and ash – abundant along the parkway – each have a different genetic makeup and respond differently to environmental factors. The shorter days of autumn combined with cooler nights add to the intensity of their colors. Too much rain or temperatures that are below freezing, however, makes for a less intense color change.

Is there anything else to do?

Lots.

The Parkway offers plenty of accommodations and activities. Take in the splendor of the scenery by day and head back to your cabin or camping spot for night. Make it a romantic getaway for two and stay at one of the area’s many bed and breakfast inns. Hike, fish or spend a day visiting museums and galleries along the way.

It’s not known as “America’s Favorite Drive” for nothing. If you’ve never visited the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall, why not plan a road trip? It might just become your favorite drive as well!