Route suggestions GTA to Blue Ridge Parkway

[Raff]

I am planning a spur of the moment 7 day ride to the blue Ridge Parkway area. I have done various searches and see many suggestions for roads to ride in and about that area. To be honest compared to the GTA it will all be great and I may well look to stay on less travelled roads once i get down there.

My question is if anyone has suggestions on a route down. I will either do it in one hard day or riding or break it up over two days two get down there. I will camp or motel it depending on the situation etc.

Any suggestions on a route down and or a base camp to camp out of once in the area from which I can do day trips would be appreciated.

 

[TwistedKestrel]

US Route 219 used to be the way to go, starting near Buffalo. You can join Route 250 in Huttonsville and that would take you directly to the north end of the BRP. My experience is a little dated though

 

[GreyGhost]

I'd slab it in one day. Leaves a lot more time to ride the nice roads. It's only about 11 hours moving time.

 

[shanekingsley]

I am planning a spur of the moment 7 day ride to the blue Ridge Parkway area. I have done various searches and see many suggestions for roads to ride in and about that area. To be honest compared to the GTA it will all be great and I may well look to stay on less travelled roads once i get down there.

My question is if anyone has suggestions on a route down. I will either do it in one hard day or riding or break it up over two days two get down there. I will camp or motel it depending on the situation etc.

Any suggestions on a route down and or a base camp to camp out of once in the area from which I can do day trips would be appreciated.

The BRP is around 750km. Do you plan to ride to the top of it and then ride the whole thing to the bottom?

I agree with the others, ride to the top of the BRP in one day and then make your way south at your own pace. Asides from taking the interstate, the 219 is the next best way to cover distance to the top of the BRP, where the 219 gets much better once you are south of Oakland, Maryland.

The better part of the BRP is south of Roanoke and the best parts are south of Boone (greatest elevation changes and twisty sections). I rode the length of it in 2 days with lots of stops - you would have time to ride it both ways over 7days from the GTA and still have time to stop and take pics or do some sideroads.

For accommodations, see the Willville Bike Camp in the northern half of the BRP - Will has cabins and is a great host.

Willville Motorcycle Campground

Willville is a motorcycle only campground located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Just minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Willville is a destination for all motorcyclists with some of the best riding roads and scenery in the county.!

www.willvillebikecamp.com

There is also camping directly on the BRP at a number of points. See the map attached for a more detailed view of the whole parkway including campgrounds.

Otherwise I would suggest a town like Boone NC as a motel base, since it’s in the middle of the BRP and in the heart of amazing roads, if you don't have time to go all the way to the end of the BRP at Cherokee NC.

There’s a bunch of ride reports into the Smoky Mountains about 3/4 down the first post of this thread below, with some useful info about the BRP and the interconnecting roads.

Re: The best roads/routes in Ontario/Quebec/U.S.

Re: The best roads/routes in Ontario/Quebec/U.S. A few notes: Google Maps occasionally updates or even some of the websites further down, and so some of the links below may not work - if you find something not right, please let me know and I'll correct it. For an excellent and free motorcycle...

www.gtamotorcycle.com

Any questions - don’t hesitate to ask!

 

[Raff]

Thank you for your input guys. I have been looking at some of the old threads with suggestions. I am pretty wide open re plans and am certainly thinking that some of the quieter roads in the area will be worth a look...I am going to play it by ear.....

 

[MacDoc]

Keep in mind the Skyline Drive only opens at 9.am ( guess how I know ).
So you can get part way down on the slab and bunk an hour or even more away and still hit the opening time. Just mind the deer if you travel early.
The pass you will have to buy is good for a year on nearly all the parks and monuments to take some time to see what else you can include in your trip.

America the Beautiful Pass Series - Olympic National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

You can ( will have to ) buy at the Park Entrance.

 

[Raff]

The BRP is around 750km. Do you plan to ride to the top of it and then ride the whole thing to the bottom?

I agree with the others, ride to the top of the BRP in one day and then make your way south at your own pace. Asides from taking the interstae, the 219 is the next best way to cover distance to the top of the BRP, where the 219 gets much better once you are south of Oakland, Maryland.

The better part of the BRP is south of Roanoke and the best parts are south of Boone (greatest ekevatioin changes and twisty sections). I rode the length of it in 2 days with lots of stops - you would have time to ride it both ways over 7days from the GTA and still have time to stop and take pics or do some sideroads.

For accommodations, see the Willville Bike Camp in the northern half of the BRP - Will has cabins and is a great host.

Willville Motorcycle Campground

Willville is a motorcycle only campground located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Just minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Willville is a destination for all motorcyclists with some of the best riding roads and scenery in the county.!

www.willvillebikecamp.com

There is also camping directly on the BRP at a number of points. See the map attached for a more detailed view of the whole parkway including campgrounds.

Otherwise I would suggest a town like Boone NC as a motel base, since it’s in the middle of the BRP and in the heart of amazing roads, if you don't have time to go all the way to the end of the BRP at Cherokee NC.

There’s a bunch of ride reports into the Smoky Mountains about 3/4 down the first post of this thread below, with some useful info about the BRP and the interconnecting roads.

Re: The best roads/routes in Ontario/Quebec/U.S.

Re: The best roads/routes in Ontario/Quebec/U.S. A few notes: Google Maps occasionally updates or even some of the websites further down, and so some of the links below may not work - if you find something not right, please let me know and I'll correct it. For an excellent and free motorcycle...

www.gtamotorcycle.com

Any questions - don’t hesitate to ask!

Do you think the Willville site would work as a bit of a basecamp for say two or three nights? In other words are there sufficient riding opportunities radiating out from there or do i really want to make may way down then back up the parkway. I am certainly thinking about exploring other roads

 

[shanekingsley]

Do you think the Willville site would work as a bit of a basecamp for say two or three nights? In other words are there sufficient riding opportunities radiating out from there or do i really want to make may way down then back up the parkway. I am certainly thinking about exploring other roads

Yeah you could use it as a basecamp for 2-3 nights for sure to explore a 200km radius from that spot. You can also include the parkway in part of a route heading south, so at least you can get a feel for what section is like between Roanoke and Boone.

I'm not sure what kind of bike you ride or what you consider to be a good day of riding, but here's a few amazing 7-8hr day rides you can do out of Willville. If you are comfortable riding longer than this each day, then you can combine sections of the routes below into longer rides, or ride a bit further south of Boone NC for a host of other amazing roads.

Willville Bike Camp to Willville Bike Camp

maps.app.goo.gl

Willville Bike Camp to Willville Bike Camp

maps.app.goo.gl

Willville Bike Camp to Willville Bike Camp

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Hardwrkr13]

I've slabbed it to Roanoke and grabbed the BRP down like Shane suggested and would recommend it.

 

[woobie]

I'm close to the border, but my normal route is US219 to Pearisburg VA in one day, US219 ends in Rich Creek and Pearisburg is 10 miles away. I stay at the Plaza Motel, cheap and clean as of 4 years ago lol and the Mexican place across the road was good. I went down 2 weeks ago in the miata leading the wife and a group of her Mustang friends down for a weekend event at the dragon, Stayed in Lewisburg this time as the Plaza was booked with Contractors working on some big project. Maybe 5 minutes in construction delays on US219, some sections of the BRP are closed so hit the official website for details, the roads on and off the BRP can be a blast. I think we hit 421 and it was FUN.

 

[Raff]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions and help. I just came back from a week long trip and had a fabulous time. A few after action items for the next person who does this trip.

Going down I followed a route sent by a friend of a friend. Crossed at fort erie. 219 to 322 to clearfield pa, 153 to 453 to 253 to 453 to tyrone. at this point it was getting later in the day and i needed to find somewhere to stop for the night. I slabbed it on the i99 Shawnee State Park which is a few miles off the interstate. 35 dollars a night for non PA residents. Lots of choice of campsites. Was a nice campground. I was tenting it. About a five minute drive away was a country store with all the things you might need to get you through the evening. All around this was a scenic and nice drive though not the fastest. I did not get as far as I hoped, but enjoyed the ride. Saw a blackbear run across road ahed of me on the 253 or 453.

Next day I made it to Front Royale and had lunch (nice fried catfish. There was easy parking in a free lot "downtown" and on the street outside the restaurant (talk of the mountain) on E Main street. I would go back there. Then on to the Skyline parkway. 30 dollars for 7 day pass. this is a very scenic and twisty drive that has lookouts everywhere. It follows a ridge line. There are places to get on and off the skyline if you like. Its about 143 miles and ends at the blue ridge parkeways northern entrance (Waynesboro) Note the speed limit is 35 to 45 miles an hour. They warn it takes 3 hours to do the route. I found that to be true for me. I stayed at Loft mountain campground in the park. 30 dollars a night. Most tent sites where a sitautione where you parked and took a short walk (anywhere from nothing to 30 to 40 meters) from what I could see to your camp site. I was able to find a spot that was pretty private (helped by vacancies at the park). Many sites had there own metal bear boxes where you could store all your food etc and this was a must do as bears were in the area.

The next day I complted skyline drive and then went on blueridge parkeway. Note along the way I stopped at Buchanan Virginia. Found a nice diner style restauranta and a big old antique store with lots of interesting finds (including small things I bought as gifts etc on my way back home). I found I could make much faster time on the parkway 80 to 100 were doable much of the time. I camped at peaks of otter campground. Nearly empty which I thought strange but there you go. Camp sites not as private. Bear boxes shared. Not an issue when no one is around, but coud get "crowded" if camp full.

The next day I drove to Willville Motorcycle camp very close to Meadows of Dan Virginia and just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. This was easily the hight of my trip. Cannot recommend it enough. Lots of tenting sites on a little meandering creek with minows and frogs. Large covered pavilion with bbq and picnic tables. Group campfire if anyone is inclined. Also a covered porch overlooking the affair with places to sit. Tenting sites 20 bucks for single. There are a couple of bunkiees with bed, power, fridge, a seat etc. I opted for bunkie so i could run my sleep machine. There were a number of poeple at camp. Some regulars some passing through. Will and everyone were very friendly and lots of advice etc. I ended up getting a couple of meals with some of the guys nearby and riding with one of the fellows over some twisty country roads. Visited Pilot NC. Pilot Mountain state park and Mountain Airey (where andy grifith was shot). In Pilot I went to a fantasic tiny lunch counter (think half the size of a caboose). family operation. Food was great. Had a breakfast sandwhich with sausage and it was delicious. That will be must visit when I go back. In Moutain Airey check out Leon's which is a diner style place. Note prices were very reasoanble (something I don't get to say much these days). I also had a meal at the country market (poor farmers market? I think it was called). I had a cup of BBQ and chicken fried rice. Was very tasty.

I came back to canada via PA and Waterdown. Took 2 liesurely days and then slabbed it. I did Blue ridge parkway and I overnighted in Elkin at a private home. The next day I did combo of scenic and slab to Lycoming county stayed at Bings Motel in Williamsport. Cheap and clean. (80 bucks because town was booked up with baseball tournement, normal price was 65 i think). Room was small but family operationg. I cannot say my no smoking room was without a hint of smoke, or something to cover smoke or old carpet if you know what I mean but it did the job. Next door was a restuarant. a dozen wings and two american pints of yan ling (I think thats how you spell it) was 14 bucks. Not a bad day to easily finish off the day. I then slabbed it to the border.

The next time I go, and I will defintitely be going back to Willville motorcycle camp, I will probably slab it more so I get down faster and get back faster and have more time to just stay put out of Williville and explore the area. The Local roads to my way of thinking are more intesting than blue ridge parkway as you can hit littel towns, drop into restaraunts, antique or other stores etc......

If anyone has any questions feel free to reach out.

Oh and one of the jerks at the Willville let me ride his speedtwin and that is now bound to be the second most expensive ride of my life (the first being the first time I got on a proper motorcylce - triump bonneville and then bought one six weeks later.....

 

[woobie]

Sounds like you had a great trip, thanks for taking the time to share it. Northbound on the BRP I would always stop at the poor farmers market in meadows of Dan for a sub and munchies and have stayed at Willville a few times over the years before my old ass decided to start staying at motels.