Parkway Neighbors

As sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina remain closed for Hurricane Helene recovery projects, the Parkway's neighboring communities are open and ready for visitors.

For generations, the Parkway's neighboring communities have played a critical role in the Parkway experience. These communities tell the stories of history and culture of the southern appalachain region. This map shows what's accessible now and highlights local communities for you to explore. Follow the links to learn more about things to do and see in each community.

Parkway Communities in North Carolina, from north to south:

• Mount Airy, NC - Visit Mount Airy | Mayberry, NC
• Sparta, NC - Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce | Home
• Wilkesboro, NC - Wilkesboro, NC - Hotels, Music, Food, Things to Do
• West Jefferson, NC - VisitWestJefferson
• Boone, NC - https://www.exploreboone.com
• Blowing Rock, NC - Blowing Rock NC ⋆ Blowing Rock, NC
• Linville, NC – Avery County Chamber of Commerce – Home of the Annual Woolly Worm Festival and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
• Linville Falls, NC – Burke County Tourism | Restaurants, Things to Do, & Lodging | Morganton, NC
• Spruce Pine, NC – https://www.discoversprucepinenc.com
• Little Switzerland, NC - Destination McDowell | Things to Do | Official Travel Guide to the Blue Ridge Mountains & NC Foothills | Destination McDowell
• Burnsville, NC - Explore Burnsville | Tourism | Burnsville, NC
• Old Fort, NC - Destination McDowell | Things to Do | Official Travel Guide to the Blue Ridge Mountains & NC Foothills | Destination McDowell
• Black Mountain, NC - Things to Do, Where to Eat, Drinks, Music | Visit Black Mountain
• Asheville, NC - Explore Asheville | Things to Do, Events, & Hotels | Asheville, NC's Official Travel Site
• Canton/Waynesville/Maggie Valley, NC - Visit NC | Great Smoky Mountains | Blue Ridge Parkway
• Sylva/Jackson County, NC - Discover Jackson County, North Carolina | Your Great Escape
• Cherokee, NC - Visit Cherokee, NC - Home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

National parks, like the Blue Ridge Parkway, often serve as economic engines for local and regional economies. Park visitors help fuel a vibrant tourism industry supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in local communities. A 2023 National Park Service report shows that 16,757,635 visitors to Blue Ridge Parkway spent $1,390,803,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 19,159 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $1,810,286,000.

• About BRPA - Blue Ridge Parkway

• https://www.visitnc.com

• Visit Virginia | Virginia is for Lovers