A group of friends nd I did the Skyline Drive/BRP this past June. We got a cabin outside Waynesboro VA, for 2 nights.... did the Skyline Drive, and Luray Caverns , then headed south on the BRP.
We were in no hurry, with no plan except to do the skline/BRP is one fell swoop. Each rider took turns leading, and stopped whenever they took a fancy to stop. Very LOW keyed, and relaxed.
I know, and respect, that there are riders who who not like that kind od pace.... but we would not invite them, nor would they want to join us.
We decided to take 150-170 mile chunks of the parkway...
We hit a few storms(pretty common to have a storm on the parkway, and clear weather below), and we had some great weather.
I can tell you, this time of year (well, actually ANY time) you can roll into a dense fog bank, with little to no warning. It can be pretty nerve racking.

 

june and july is best--but a rookie will learn-stop at mp 248(that's half way)-mike,the owner at STATIONS INN MOTORCYCLE RESORT in laurel springs,nc 336 359 2888 will take care of ya-nice place and good food-might want to call and verify he's open and he's right off the parkway-JMMHO-gonna be a cold ride!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Oh, I forgot! Little Switzerland, NC -- stay at the Skyline Village Inn. Very interesting history on that place, and the view is spectacular. We should have had dinner there, but didn't. Instead, we went a few miles north to a really ritzy joint that didn't appreciate our leather-clad crew. Back at the Skyline Village Inn, they were having some beer tasting event that I am sorry I missed.

 

All this talk about summer being best, and I'm reading online how great autumn colors are there.... I may pass & just enjoy 84 to 81 to 77 to 26. Or maybe run down the coast on 95 & 1, and save the BRP/SLD for summer.

 

just for example... this week end (Nov 5-6-7,2010) Sunny and mid to upper 50's, down here in Raleigh, but snow in the forecast for the mountains... anywhere from 1 to several inches.... the higher you go, the deeper the snow.

 

Right now, 8pm, 28 degrees and snowing sideways at 3612 ft elevation, the base of Grandfather Mtn. There will be ice in the morning on the Parkway, you can count on that, the winter gates will more than likely be up from 221 to Holloway Mtn. This past Tuesday was my last Parkway ride on the bike until next spring. I live here, I know what ice feels like.
Later,
MM

 

All the more reason to do as I mentioned above... Sounds like ski season is about to start in WNC!

 

Ski? Saturday morning we had 4 inches of the dreaded white stuff. The snow guns are blowing at Sugar Mtn. this morning @ 26 degrees. BUT, it's supposed to be back in the 60's by mid week, so maybe the bike isn't parked for winter yet. However, all the roads in Avery County are white with salt, our DOT gets paid by the pound, evidently. Yes, even though we are in the South, they salt the daylights out of our highways. And yes, it eats Harleys the same as it does cars.

 

the parkway is awesome, me and a buddy rode it in august, got on at mile post 260 jumpinoff rocks, we rode to the end and then onto the tail of the dragon. we took 2 days just for the brpw and i couldve taken longer. it was my first time there and i cant wait to go back, awesome views and i live in WV. my advice is what youve already said, plan it in the summer and spend some time there, its great.

 

if u r going on the BRP make sure u are camped or in a hotel before dark, man i can't stress the amount of wild life, i did it the end of last august and almost hit deer twice with in 15 minutes after dark so i turned around and went back to the camp site, lots and lots of wild life, I even came across a bear cub. loved my trip. mark ur map for gas stations and hotels cause there is no signs on the road. good luckbe safe and enjoy. oh by the way i camped but it was earlier in the year but a tbag of sorts would be a good idea