[Damead]

Heading from Indiana to the top of the BRP over the 4th. Is the skyline drive worth hitting while we are over there? Or is 400+ of Blue Ridge Parkway enough? I have 5 days, but wanted to spend some time in Maggie Valley once we get south. Thoughts from those that have been there?

 

[tOSUSteve]

IMO the best part of BRP is generally South of Asheville. If you are already heading to the Northern part then why not hit skyline drive? I would not make a trip north just to do it though.

 

[Bandit 7]

I ride skyline often because I'm only 30 minutes away from it. It is a great ride but speeds are slow and depending on how many visitors are there it's even slower. This is a high visitor time of year with all of the hikers and bicyclist so it will be slower. I wouldn't go out of my way to do it because of this. There is plenty of other great riding south of skyline and around Maggie Valley. Just my opinion.

 

[Quicksand]

Yeah what Steve said. If you're going to the northern end go ahead and do Skyline Drive its pretty cool. Going from north to south it is impressive, maybe south to north not so much. It gets prettier the further south you go, the mountains get bigger. IMO it starts getting really good south of Boone, North Carolina. Thats where the Lynn Cove Viaduct is, the tunnels start, Grandfather Mountain is and on and on. If looking for a place to stay close to the Parkway Boone is a good choice, lots of hotels and restaurants.

If you run Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway to the end then ride over and ride part of Moonshiner 28, and do the Dragon, Cherahola Skyway loop thats about 1000 miles of the best riding in the country!

I'm recovering from shoulder surgery but the Skyline Drive/BRP ride is the one I plan to make when I get back in the saddle to try my shoulder out.

 

[Damead]

We did the dragon and cherahola last year, but ran out of time. Did about 35 miles of the BRP on the way out of Cherokee towards Ashville. Just wasnt sure about giving up a half day or better on Skyline if I could be spending it south of Ashville on waterfalls and the like.

 

[glidethru]

IMO stay south around Maggie Valley ,do not I repeat do not take 441 into Gatlinburg , unless you have a whole day, traffic during the Fourth will be horrendous .

 

[Glider Rider]

We just did the BRP and Skyline Dr in May. The BRP was a much better ride for all of the reasons already stated.

 

[Uncle Fuzzy]

Don't forget to stop in and check out the "Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum" in Maggie Valley. Amazing perspective on American motorcycles from 1900 on. Many one-of-a-kind factory racing bikes, etc.

 

[DuraGlide]

Skip the Skyline and spend the time you save at Wheels Thru Time in Maggie Valley. Truly amazing collection of bikes and everything there runs.

 

[Damead]

Thanks for the help. Skyline drive will be skipped to spend extra time in NC. I did really enjoy Maggie Valley last year. Wheels through time was great and worth revisiting.