If you're thinking of hitting the Skyline Drive as well I'll double the recommendation for 15/340 as 340 hits the start of the Skyline Drive in Front Royal and parallels it through the Shenandoah Valley. It also allows you to take as much of the Drive as time allows. You can stay on 340 and pick up the Drive at Rt 211 or rt 33, each will take off about a third of the Drive so you can skip a portion of it if you're running behind schedule. Also note the Drive will take about 4 hours, 3 and a half if you're pretty aggressive. Speed limit is 35 and the park rangers aren't very negotiable about it either.

 

Don't expect to travel at the speed of light --- it is a scenic route, for sure! We met a couple in Lexington, VA riding south from York, PA. They were so angry that the Skyline cost $10 to ride and the speed limit was so low! (Enjoy the ride, man. Watch the road, and enjoy the ride!)

 

Most of the BRP spped limit is like 45MPH with some areas down to 25!

Plan on minimum of two days

 

I'd definitely recommend a 2 day ride for the BRP. It's gonna be cold up there in November too, so dress or bring warm clothes.

Bubba

 

We rode the NC portion of the BRP last year. Stayed in Cherokee at the Newfound Lodge, great place and every room has a balcony overlooking the river.

We had breakfast in Cherokee and were on the road fairly early, we tend to cover a lot of ground and stopped for the night just short of the VA state line. We stayed at the Station Inn in Laurel Springs, it was OK but I would probably try the other motel across the road next time. There is not much in Laurel Springs except the two motels and their restaurants. Not even a gas station.

I put a little about this trip on my blog at:
http://wpwarhawk.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

 

The only time you can reasonably plan a one day ride on the BRP, is June-July, when the days are the longest...
but....
the question I have, is WHY bother????? the BRP is like a fine wine, or smooth whiskey.... something to be savored.... not some cheap swill that needs to be chugged...
if time is what matters? then take I-81 ....same basic area....

 

Good stuff guys. For clothes, I've got all my baselayer gear that I use skiing and winter hiking. That, plus clothes (including kevlar shirt & pants), plus leathers, I should be in decent shape. I've got a 3/4 with a bubble for the warmer part of the day, and a fullface for the colder parts.

Warhawk: very cool, thanks for those. I'll check out the blog too.

Skootch: I hear ya, same as most others are saying. At least 2 days for BRP. As for 81 though, I've taken that too many times already, I am looking for something different. If I, for some reason, need to hurry up, I'll jump on 81.

I really appreciate it guys, so please, keep it comin.

 

The Blue Ridge is great, I did the same thing end of June, I am not big in a lot of stops and it still took over a day. You can do it in a day and a half just stopping for gas and stretching every couple hours, pull up their site it will tell you what exits have close gas stations, most exits don't.
It will be cold, this pick was middle of the day and it was chilly.

 

Look at Hwy 11 that follows I81...i think it's 55MPH road for most part...Take it to just north of the VA border then south on the BRP to Boone then some back roads to Asheville then the BRP to Cherookee....O do the whole BRP...check for closures on the Park site.

 

Deer, Deer, and more Deer! Be on the lookout.