North · Northbound, mileposts count down

Doughton Park

High open meadow, long sightlines, and the thinnest traffic of the three. On a weekday morning you may not pass a car for twenty minutes.

1. Step 1

   Right onto US 321 South

   Out of the lot at 5058 Highway 321, turn right toward Blowing Rock.

   2.1miles
2. Step 2

   Parkway ramp, MP 291.8

   Take the ramp and bear north. Mileposts count down from here.

   0.4miles
3. Step 3

   MP 276.4, Deep Gap

   Where the Parkway crosses US 421. Last easy fuel detour for a while.

   15.4miles
4. Step 4

   MP 271.9, E.B. Jeffress Park

   Short walk down to the Cascades if you have the time in your slot.

   4.5miles
5. Step 5

   MP 258.6, Northwest Trading Post

   Long open curves through farmland. Traffic thins out noticeably here.

   13.3miles
6. Step 6

   MP 241, Doughton Park

   Bluffs meadow, and the longest sightlines anywhere on this stretch.

   17.6miles
7. Step 7 · Return leg

   Retrace south to the lot

   Back down to MP 291.8, then US 321 North. Roughly fifty three miles.

   53.3miles

Mileposts are Blue Ridge Parkway markers. Distances are measured from 5058 Highway 321. The Parkway closes sections for weather and construction, so check current closures at nps.gov before you set out. Cell service drops for long stretches, so download your map at the lot.