You’ll also have plenty of opportunity for all of those scenic pullouts along the way.

Much of the parkway is around 35mph, sometimes less, so you’re not going to get anywhere fast. Luckily, 60.8 miles is just about a perfect day’s drive. You’ll note as you make your way along this leisurely drive that everything is marked in relation to how far south along the parkway you’ve traveled, a.k.a. The open road is calling! Otter Creek Campgroundįrom the start of the parkway, it’s 60.8 miles to Otter Creek Campground. There are a handful of campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park itself, and what better place to begin our journey? So, find your spot in Shenandoah, and get an early start. A narrow road along a mountain ridge, bend after bend of endless Virginia farmland, hills and distant cityscapes. Though not officially the same road as the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive can be considered your primer for what to expect. As we’re touring south from Shenandoah National Park to the Smokies, what better way to see the sights than to use the two national parks and those eight campgrounds as our guide? There are eight official campgrounds on the parkway itself, and dozens upon dozens of private RV parks, state parks, national forest campgrounds and dispersed camping just off the route itself. Lucky for you though, the parkway has plenty of camping not only directly on the road itself, but in a plethora of adorable little southern towns all along the way. In addition, the pullouts for the many scenic vistas aren’t always accommodating to bigger rigs, especially during busier times of the year. Even if your brakes hold out and your engine purrs along nicely, note that the road has more than a few hairpin turns.

That being said, it can also be quite the workout on your brakes and cooling system, as you roll up and down countless mountains, should you be looking to traverse the entire 469 miles the parkway has to offer.

You'll be right there, smack in the midst of miles and miles of rolling dunes, spectacular shoreline, and there's a good chance you'll see the occasional family of seals sunning on the sand or whales cruising by just offshore.A winding two-laner of a road that hugs the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most enjoyable, scenic routes this nation has to offer. Out on Race Point, nothing comes between you and Mother Nature. Race Point BeachĪt the opposite end of the Cape, camping on remote Race Point is the ultimate 'get away from it all' adventure! Permits are available at the Sandy Neck Gatehouse, at the end of Sandy Neck Road in West Barnstable.įor more information on camping at Sandy Neck, see the park's website, or call the Gatehouse at (508) 362-8300 or the Marine and Environmental Affairs Office at (508) 790-6272. After that, you'll have to leave for 24 hours before returning. Note: SCV camping on Sandy Neck is limited to 4 consecutive nights at a time. * The nightly camping fee is $10/night for Barnstable residents and $20 per night for everyone else.

Seasonal ORV Permits - valid the day after Labor Day through April 15th of the following year (i.e., during the 'off-season' only): Town of Barnstable Residents - $30 Non-Residents - $60.

Annual ORV Permits - valid April 15 to April 14 of the following year: Town of Barnstable Residents - $90 Non-Residents - $180.

If you plan to overnight at Sandy Neck in your SCV, you'll need to buy an off-road vehicle ('ORV') permit and pay the nightly camping fee.

Boondocking with dennis