Thor Forums

[TurnerFam]

if you're hopping on the Blue Ridge from the 'start' at Cherokee, NC, ... enjoy, take your time, and don't worry about any of the 'low' tunnels that some fear - We took our Palazzo diesel pusher through there last year with no issues, though some of the '10'6" Tunnel Ahead' signs might give you pause.
They measure these tunnels from the far outside road edge, not from the middle arches where vehicles drive, so the height warning signs are very misleading. Even hearing this from seasoned BRP drivers will still give you pause when you see your first one, not too far from the entrance. The 5 lowest tunnels are all on this far end of the BRP, within the first 10 or so miles - once you're done with those, it's smooth sailing all the way to Virginia(Afton), if you wish.

We found that an early morning start from Cherokee is good, as little traffic is on the road yet, and if you feel like driving the 'middle of the road' thru this first few tunnels might make you feel better. If the weather has been wet, though, many trees along the BRP will overhang the roadway quite a bit, and can serve to demand that you drive in the middle of the road just to avoid them, especially those with taller coaches and fifth-wheels.

There are many, many pull-offs for viewing the amazing sites along the way, so you have plenty of opportunities to see the sights, but also places to pull off to allow any vehicles traffic behind you to pass... no worries, enjoy!

(there are also campgrounds and rv parks along the way, with some right on the BRP, and others just off, or down in the valley near a town - be careful in your routing, though, as some of the off-roads that lead to these other parks can be more treacherous than the BRP itself.)

Make a planned stop at Grandfather mountain along the way, and maybe Little Switzerland before that - they have a terrific 'overlook' Mountainview Restaurant right off the parkway(Hwy226a exit) that is fantastic, with outside seating and majestic views. A BRP parking lot(Museum of NC Minerals) is right off the exit, for your rig, and you can walk from there to the restaurant.