Peter Hamel photo The parkway is marked every mile by concrete mileposts beginning at MP 0 near Shenandoah National Park and ending at MP 469 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The speed limit on the parkway is 45 mph unless posted otherwise. The winding nature of the parkway and changes in elevation mean that large recreational vehicles will need to allow for some extra time. Personal vehicles, motorcycles, tour buses and bicycles are allowed. Commercial traffic or activity is not permitted. Traffic is heaviest in June, July, August and October, especially on weekends and holidays. Plan on extra time during the busy season or, if possible, plan to travel during the weekdays. Roads around the parkway may also be impacted by road closures. To check the status of roads in North Carolina, visit https://drivenc.gov/. To check the status of roads in Virginia, visit https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/. During the winter, sections of the parkway may be closed due to ice and snow. "An open parkway is a safe parkway" has always been our guiding principle, so thawing and refreezing on bridges or in shaded curves may keep some sections closed for extended periods in the winter. To learn more about how to get around safely, see our Directions page and our Driving Safety page.
|
 |
|
Last updated: October 30, 2024