• Blue Ridge Parkway - As you travel along the parkway, you’ll find designated spots where you can pull over to enjoy the view. These overlooks are crafted to highlight the most picturesque mountain scenes. There are more than 200 of these along the entire Blue Ridge Parkway!

Each overlook has a large wooden sign displaying the name of the mountain or ridge you’re viewing, along with your current elevation. This adds a personal touch to the otherwise anonymous and similar-looking mountains you pass by.

NOTE: This 550+ mile-long journey covers the highlights of Blue Ridge Parkway in over 5 hours.

Purchase once, and enjoy for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

• Oconaluftee Visitor Center Parking C - Welcome to the Blue Ridge Parkway! This scenic drive follows the iconic Blue Ridge, which is the eastern side of the Appalachian mountains. As you drive through breathtaking vistas of majestic mountains, you’ll learn about the native Cherokee, the pioneer settlers, and contemporary Appalachian culture. When ready, exit the Visitor Center parking lot and turn left onto the main road.

• Ballhoot Scar Overlook - If you gaze at the ridge beyond, you’ll notice a mark on the landscape, resembling a landslide. It appears as if the mountain’s surface was scraped off, and indeed, it was a man-made landslide.

• Blue Ridge Parkway - This land was once inhabited by the Cherokee. The exact duration of their residence is unknown, but archaeologists have discovered artifacts dating back 11,000 years! The Cherokee call themselves “Aniyunwiya,” meaning “the principled people.” However, when Spanish explorers arrived, they recorded the name as “Chalakee.”

• Thomas Divide Overlook - People have reported seeing ghost lights—dancing white orbs with no known explanation. These reports are not new; some locals recall family stories of these lights dating back to the 1700s! At night, you may find numerous cars parked along the road, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious mountain lights.

• Big Witch Overlook - Big Witch was a Cherokee medicine man. However, he didn’t just mix poultices and perform rituals; he was also an eagle hunter! You might wonder why a doctor would hunt birds. Eagle feathers were considered sacred and essential for healing ceremonies.

• Bunches Bald Overlook - The Appalachian mountains are typically covered in trees from base to peak, but some mountaintops resemble grassy prairies rather than dense forests. These areas are known as Appalachian Balds, and Bunches Bald is one of them.

• Plott Balsam Overlook - The Plott name remains famous in the Appalachian region, but the reason might surprise you! Henry Plott’s family immigrated from Germany in the late 1700s. They settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains with their children and five German hunting hounds.

• Soco Gap - In the early 1700s, the Cherokee were at war, not with the encroaching settlers, but with another tribe, the Shawnee. The Blue Ridge Mountain range naturally separated the two tribes, keeping them apart most of the time.

• Thunder Struck Ridge Overlook - Facing directly west, this overlook is perfect for watching the sunset. If you time it right, you’ll be “thunderstruck” by the brilliant orange sky above the misty blue mountains.

• Waterrock Knob - This is the tallest visitor’s center on the Blue Ridge Parkway! Situated at 5,820 feet in elevation, it’s renowned for its breathtaking long-range views of several major Appalachian mountain chains.

• Yellow Face Overlook - This overlook offers perhaps the best view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Yellow Face Mountain is clearly visible, and beyond it, you can see rows of subsequent ridges, each fading into the characteristic mist of the Blue Ridge.

• Cherokee Rose - From the Trail of Tears emerged the legend of the Cherokee Rose. The flower, in full bloom, features a cluster of snow-white petals surrounding a yellow center. In the story, each petal represents a band of the Cherokee nation, and in the center lies the gold for which their nation was torn apart. To access that gold, the white settlers had torn off all the petals.

• Roy Taylor Forest Overlook - This scenic turnout features a small wooden observation deck for a more immersive view of the Blue Ridge. It might be hard to believe now, but this robust forest was once in serious danger!

• Cowee Mountain Overlook - Here, you’ll find 180-degree views from one of the highest spots on the parkway. Be sure to have your camera ready for this panoramic vista!

• Rough Butt Bald Overlook - It’s not just a joke; it’s a topographical term! Observe how the mountain ridge seems to suddenly break. In geology, a butt is a ridge that comes to an abrupt end and appears broken off, like the butt of a cigarette.

• Cathedral Falls And French Broad Falls - A half-mile walking trail leads over three wooden bridges to an abandoned historical mill. The wooden mill sits at the bottom of Mill Shoals. Across the river, there’s another waterfall: French Broad Falls. This marks the intersection between the French Broad River and Shoal Creek, and it’s picturesque.

• Black Balsam Knob - Black Balsam Knob is one of Blue Ridge’s most popular hikes for a reason. It offers a bit of everything that makes the Appalachians special, from dense forests to wide-open meadows and mountaintop vistas.

• Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead - At Skinny Dip Falls, swimming is not only allowed—it’s encouraged! This destination features both a waterfall and a swimming hole. You can climb the boulders to the top of the waterfall, making it a favorite spot for energetic kids and athletic adults.

• Cherry Cove Overlook - There are numerous black cherry trees here! In early fall, thousands of birds are attracted by the ripe fruit on these trees. From here, you might also see Looking Glass Rock, recognizable by its flat rock face that stands out against the green trees. It’s even more noticeable after rain when the sheer cliff face reflects the sun like a giant mirror.

• Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower - The origin of the name is lost to time, but a couple of legends remain. Some say it’s due to a pan-shaped freshwater spring; others say the spot was marked by a frying pan hanging from a tree.

• Pisgah Inn - Pisgah Inn is a wonderful place to pause. The inn features a public cafe, a gift shop with local artisan crafts, and a country store for all your Parkway travel needs. But the REAL reason to visit Pisgah Inn is the view.

• Mount Pisgah - For a great hike and overlook, take a right just ahead and find a spot to park. This leads to the Mount Pisgah Trailhead.

• Beaver Dam Gap Overlook - At Mills River, you can enjoy views of the mountains from BOTH sides of the Parkway. Chestnut Ridge is to the west, and Big Ridge is to the east. This 360-degree panoramic scope fully immerses you in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

• Bad Fork Valley Overlook - In the valley below, you’ll see the meandering creek of Bad Fork, covered by laurel blossoms and surrounded by hardwood forests.

• French Broad Overlook - The French Broad River is unique for several reasons. First, it’s believed to be one of the oldest rivers in the world, at 250 million years old. Second, it’s one of the few rivers in the country that flows north rather than south.

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Discover the stunning southeast along the Blue Ridge Parkway! Travel from the edge of the Great Smokies National Park to Shenandoah on this picturesque highway enveloped in blue mist. Capture breathtaking views from spectacular overlooks, observe amazing wildlife, and explore the intriguing history and legends of the Cherokee as you drive. This self-guided driving tour showcases the parkway’s top attractions and the hidden stories behind them all!

Start your tour in Cherokee, Asheville, Roanoke, or Afton and drive in either direction.

Purchase one tour per vehicle, not per individual. Everyone can listen together!

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require a reliable internet/Wi-Fi connection. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

Buy once, use for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

This is not an entrance ticket. Please check opening hours before your visit.

• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.