Blue Ridge Parkway

Often called America's favorite drive, this 469-mile road traces the crest of the southern Appalachians from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains. Overlooks appear every few miles, each framing rolling layers of blue-hazed ridges that give the range its name. Peak foliage typically arrives in mid-October along the higher elevations, turning the corridor into a mosaic of amber, scarlet, and gold.