Blue Ridge Parkway | VISITOR CENTERS

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center near Asheville, North Carolina

There are over a dozen Visitor Centers along the Blue Ridge Parkway. While the physical size of the facility varies depending on exhibit and gift store floor space, the same information brochures and magazines can be obtained at all. Many are staffed by park Rangers who can answer whatever questions you might have. Others are staffed by gift store personnel who are every bit as knowledgeable about the Parkway as the Rangers. A few of the Visitor Centers are actually housed in buildings that serve another purpose, such as the Museum of North Carolina Minerals. In such cases the National Park Service only occupies a small desk, but as mentioned, the information you can obtain is the same.

The following is a list of Visitor Centers and amenities that you can expect to find. Attraction and visitor facility locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway are referenced by mile posts (MP). Mileage is tracked from 0 at the northern entrance to 469 at the southern entrance. You will see the mile posts along the Parkway just as you see mile posts on interstates and other highways.


Humpback Rocks Visitor Center (MP 6)
Information, exhibits, gift store, restrooms, outdoor farm museum

James River Visitor Center (MP 63.6)
Information, exhibits, gift store, restrooms, picnic area, short hiking trails

Peaks of Otter Visitor Center (MP 85.9)
Information, exhibits, gift store, restrooms, access to a dozen trails

Virginia’s Explore Park Visitor Center (MP 115)
Information, gifts, Blue Ridge Parkway Museum, restrooms

Rocky Knob Information Station (MP 169)
Information, small gift store, restrooms

Mabry Mill (MP 176.2)
Information, large gift store, restrooms, restaurant, outdoor museum

Blue Ridge Music Center (MP 213)
Information, small gift store, restrooms, large museum, live concerts, trails

Northwest Trading Post (MP 258.7)
Not really a visitor center, but a large gift store and sandwich shop with restrooms. Park info can be obtained here as well.

Moses Cone Mansion (MP 294)
Though mainly serving as a large arts and craft store, Parkway information is available at the National Park Service office at the Cone Family mansion. Trails and restrooms are available.

Linn Cove Visitor Center (MP 304.4)
Information, gift store, restrooms, exhibits on the Linn Cove Viaduct, Tanawha Trail access

Linville Falls Visitor Center (MP 316.4)
Information, small gift store, relief map of area, restrooms, trail access to waterfalls

Museum of North Carolina Minerals (MP 330.9)
First and foremost a geology museum, but there is a Parkway information desk in the building

Craggy Gardens Visitor Center (MP 364.5)
Information, gift store, small exhibit area, restrooms, trails

Folk Art Center (MP 382)
While serving foremost as an arts and craft store, the National Park Service does have an information desk in the building.

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384)
Main Visitor Center for the Blue Ridge Parkway with an information desk, gift store, large museum, picnic tables, and city of Asheville information desk.

Waterrock Knob Visitor Center (MP 451.2)
Information desk, gift store, a few exhibits, restrooms, picnic tables, and snacks


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Last updated on December 19, 2023
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