North Carolina · United States
Blue Ridge Parkway Linn Cove
Blowing Rock to Linville
The reward here is the Linn Cove Viaduct, 1,243 feet of S-curved bridge curling out into open air around the flank of Grandfather Mountain. It was the last piece of the entire parkway to open, in 1987, and it’s been photographed ever since.
This section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina wraps the flank of Grandfather Mountain and crosses the Linn Cove Viaduct, a 1,243 ft S-curved bridge at Milepost 304 that was the last part of the parkway completed, in 1987. The stretch links Julian Price Memorial Park to the viaduct and is among the most photographed on the entire route. Mind the 45 mph parkway limit, frequent fog, and stopping sightseers at overlooks.
Few roads feel this weightless. The Linn Cove Viaduct curls out into open air, unhurried, with the ridgelines folding away in blue layers.
Why we picked it
Scenery
Best seasons
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Where it runs7.8 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners
busiest around mile 7Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%1,038.2 – 1,346.1 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Pilot Ridge OverlookViewpoint4.9 mi in
- Rough Ridge Lookout – Grandfather Mountain, NC.Viewpoint6.3 mi in
- Yonahlossee OverlookViewpoint7.3 mi in
Hazards
- Sudden mountain fog
- Stopping sightseeing traffic
- Ice on shaded curves
Sources
“the winding Blue Ridge Parkway unspools along ridgetops”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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