BRP trip planning. I could use some advice on the best route.

[K3VIN]

I'm planning a trip for the last week of September from CT to the Dragon area. I don't think with 6 days I will have time to do the entire BRP. I'm trying to put together a route that hits many of the best parts of the Blue Ridge but skips some slow or boring sections so I can make up some time. Is there anyone that can give me some suggestions. I'm also curious about the temperature this time of year.

I have told by riders that if the weather is bad don't bother getting on the parkway. So some of my trip will be based on the weather but I would like to put together a map as a starting point.

If there is a trip planning section I missed sorry, please more this post then.

Thanks,
Kevin

[garry]

Skip the BRP north of North Carolina. It's better to the south. The Virginia bit from Roanoke to NC is the most boring section IMO. The extreme northern bit (Skyline to Buena Vista) is nice enough with some fun side roads (56, 60), but nothing special when compared to NC and beyond.

$0.02

[blackdeek2006]

6 days should be plenty of time.  Last year I went from MA to South Carolina, across to the Dragon, then took the BRP north and got on the slab just before Skyline drive.  The whole trip was overall longer, 8 days as follows: 3 days to SC (2 days 450 miles a lot of slab, 1 day 140 miles ish).  Could have rode a lot more that day but was having bike issues.  Spent 3 days in SC then slabbed it across SC to the Dragon.  Rode the Dragon that afternoon/evening (it was a Thursday) and I had the rode to myself pretty much.  Next morning hopped on the BRP and rode that north all day and got up to just about Skyline drive and I stayed the night in that area.  The next day I slabbed it back to MA since I didn't want to spend another day on the road with work Monday.

Since you are in CT, you are a little closer, and can slab it through areas around here that you can see on a normal basis.  

Good luck!

[K3VIN]

Thanks for the quick replies!

garry: based on your post maybe I should ride from front royal to 56 or maybe 60 then take 81 to 77 and jump back on BRP around the  NC state line.

blackdeek 2006: my question for you is if you were to ride to the dragon again would you ride the whole parkway?

If there is anyone else that wants to chime in on their favorite sections of the parkway or side roads please do.

Thanks!

[garry]

When planning your BRP days, remember that the speed limit is 45 MPH except where it's slower around attractions. You can probably run an honest 55 MPH without much worry if you behave in the reduced speed zones. Personally, I wouldn't go more than 60. Any faster and you lose the ability to check out the scenery as you are focusing on the road and worrying about getting busted. The BRP is patrolled by Federales that can write some big ass tickets if they want. More than 15 over might land you into reckless territory. Weekdays have much less traffic (and enforcement) than weekends.

It's a very nice road that is worth riding end-to-end at least once.

Also beware of the lack of gas stops. If your bike has a short range (like mine), planning where to jump off and get gas is important.

[TuffguyF4i]

I have ridden it 8 times end to end.

1) Weather changes instantly.  Be ready for an entire 300 mile day in the rain.  Also be ready for the best day you have ever seen.  
2) You can do the whole thing end to end (470 miles) in 2 days.  Normally, i only ride 200 miles the first day and 270 the second.  Still, you're not stopping to take too many pictures at that pace.  Its not much mileage, but its not fast going either since you have to really get off the parkway for food and gas.
3) Slow down in the <45 areas.  There are cops there.  You can easily do 55 w/o worry.  I normally do 60...especially in the tight sections.
4) Don't ride at night.  There are so many deer it will blow your mind.  
5) Be careful around overlook, blind corners.  At 45 you will surprise people crossing the lane to get a view.  

Have fun!  It truely is and awesome ride.

[K3VIN]

So it sounds like it is worth doing the whole parkway at least once. Even if some parts are a little slow. Tuffguy you said you stop at 200 miles the first day, around what city is that? Any place you would recommend staying or are you camping?

[Cablebandit]

200 miles puts you at Fancy Gap.  There are plenty of services there just off the parkway.

[TuffguyF4i]

Yeah,,,fancy gap area has "the blue ridge motel" and another cheap place.  I think they run 40-50/night and have a breakfast place nearby.

If you want to push it a bit farther, you can find a place in Roanoke.  I stayed at a budget in for like $55/night with two beds.

[kitesurfer]

lots of great camping...willville on the parkway at meadows of dan va, blue ridge mc campground on 276 just off the parkway and of course camping at the dragon.  the parkway is my least favorite road i n that area except for pisgah to cherokee.  look up suches ga and that area, hwy 28 in so carolina and that area isa only a few miles off the parkway too.  64 has wonderful waterfalls....

[reppans]

Somethings to consider that I didn't see mentioned above..

-You could be in leaf-peeper season at that elevation, not sure what the foliage traffic will be like, I'd look into that.
-You're also right on the edge of deer rut season.  Definitely don't ride at night, and I'd try and keep it parked anywhere near dawn and dusk.
-I'd avoid Skyline Drive - 35mph and very heavily patrolled.  A group I ride with that does that trip every year, refuses to go near the Skyline (they've never made it through that section without a ticket) and it's 2-wheeled hell doing it at 35mph.
-Bring electrics.
-Start with new tires - we always burn tires 2x as fast on this trip vs around CT/NY.  Could be road surface, or that there's 2x as many corners, or 1/2 as many cars .  Come to think of it, even with new ST tires, we still couldn't make the round trip of 2.7k .

You do have enough time, at least to run it one way.  We just did it in May, from CT, Sat > Sat, by slabbing it to the start of the BRP, rode around NC for a few days, then took backroads up through WV on the way back.  

Lots of good roads down there, don't waste too much time on the Gap, it's a tourist trap (stay the fook away on the weekend ).

[JamminJere]

I'd take camping gear If I had the room to carry it for the really nice nights... And a big magnifing glass for the nights I stayed in... Like at Fancy Gap... Keep an eye out for Bedbug sign...  

Sleep tight!  

JJ

[K3VIN]

JJ it sounds like maybe you found a couple of those bedbugs at some point. Any place we should know to avoid in the area?

[JamminJere]

No... I didn't see any sign then... that was last year when I traveled and stayed at Fancy Gap.. Lets just say for the money its not the cleanest place... Smelled very mildew/moldy and the linens could have been cleaner.. With the latest infestation problems at hand this year.. I'd be on the lookout at any establishment.. but especially at the cheap flop houses.

Just sayin'

JJ

[TuffguyF4i]

My cousin found a booger on his sheets in Bryson City.  I quickly 'called' the other bed.  Not joking.  It was right on the corner of a main intersection, walking distance to Pizza Hut.  Not sure of the name.

Just thought I'd throw some jr hs humor at you today.  

[Cablebandit]

http://bedbugregistry.com/

[K3VIN]

WOW! That is the scariest site on the interweb!

[Yankee Dog]

one thing to remember, you might find better roads than the BR and Skyline, but you wont make better time unless you get on the slab. There is that lack of stoplights and intersections that makes up for a slow speed limit.  

Yankee Dog

[K3VIN]

That makes sense. I think right now the plan is to try and ride the whole thing on the way down unless there is bad weather. The only issue we are having is timing. If we stop in fancy gap then finish the next day I feel like we won't have much time for the dragon. If we take a extra day on the way down for the dragon we have to get back to the top of the BRP in one day. I think that would be a lame day.

[SLK50]

  Ideally, this would be a great seven day trip: three days down, three days back, one day to ride
the area around the Dragon.

  You would only see slab, at worst, the first and last day.

  This is way too nice a ride to rush it because you've only allowed yourself six days.

  Relax and have fun.