Everything You Need to Know about the Blue Ridge Parkway to Plan Your Elopement
You know those little, but important details that only the locals seem to know about? Well I’m definitely not a fan of gatekeeping those details. In this section, I’m going to give a breakdown of some important details about the Blue Ridge Parkway so that you’re fully prepared for your Blue Ridge Parkway elopement.
What is the Blue Ridge Parkway?
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a road connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. It is owned by the National Park Service to protect and preserve the land and wildlife. The parkway provides a myriad of mountain views and outdoor experiences including hikes, overlooks, campgrounds, and parks.
Why should you elope on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
One of my favorite things about the Blue Ridge Parkway is the variety of experiences it provides. From overlooks to backcountry camping, there is something for everyone. Overlooks are spots that you can pull off of the road, park and admire the view from your car. There are also day hikes and backpacking trails for those who enjoy hiking or camping. You can also camp, picnic, or spend the day at one of the many state parks located off of the parkway. The parkway has a spot for every eloping couple and provides endless possibilities for activities on your elopement day!
Where can you get married on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
I am most familiar with the North Carolina stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway, from Boone to Asheville. You can have your ceremony at most spots by acquiring a permit. Permits are not issued at certain spots for ceremonies due to the popularity or limited capacity of the trail. Some smaller overlooks are limited to less than 25 guests, but the general rule for the parkway is 25 guests maximum. You can find the list of off-limits and limited capacity spots here. You will only need to acquire a permit for your ceremony, so anywhere on the parkway is available for portraits!
Insider Information from a Local
Mileposts Explained:
The Blue Ridge Parkway begins in VA at Milepost 0 and ends in NC at Milepost 469. There are milepost markers at every mile along the road that you can use to track distance or find your destination. Because cell service isn’t always available on the parkway, mileposts are the most reliable form of directions. The milepost number for each location on the parkway can be found online.
Driving Directions on the Blue Ridge Parkway:
Apple maps? Google maps? Which one is the most reliable? Getting directions through apple or google maps usually isn’t the most accurate, so I recommend one of these two options:
- Google search the trail’s milepost. Mileposts are the most reliable because cell service isn’t always available on the parkway. You can find the milepost for any location online. You can use the BRP maps to determine the best place to enter the parkway, and then follow the road until you see the milepost marker closest to your destination. For example, the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center is located at MP 364.5, so you would look for MP 364 and continue driving half a mile to get to the Visitor Center parking lot.
- Find your trail on the AllTrails app and click the “directions” button for the most accurate driving directions to the trailhead. AllTrails uses specific coordinates instead of pins that are the most likely to lead you directly to the parking lot or trailhead. I would recommend starting the directions before you begin your drive so that they are loaded before you enter an area without cell service, as well as making note of the Milepost of your destination in case you need it.
Road Closures Explained:
The Blue Ridge Parkway has many gates they they use to block off sections of the road when there is a possibility of ice or construction. The status of the gates is updated every morning at 5:00am on the NPS website. The closures are separated by mileposts, so check the milepost of the trail you are wanting to visit and then look at the corresponding milepost range on the website to see if the trailhead will be accessible by car. If the gates are closed, you can still park at the gate and walk up the road to the trailhead (you can use the mileposts to determine how far the walk would be). From November-early March, it’s safe to assume that many gates will be closed due to the cold and the possibility of ice on the roads. It usually starts getting warm enough for the gates to open back up in late March, but you’ll want to keep an eye on the closures all throughout the year in case of construction as well. Click here to view the road closure website.
Parking on the Blue Ridge Parkway:
This may sound crazy to some, but I’m always stressed about parking when I travel. I’m the type of person that will leave an hour early just to make sure I have time to find parking. If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered what parking is like on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Because the last thing you want to worry about is missing the sunset because there was nowhere to park!! A lot of the trailheads on the parkway have parking lots, but not all of them do. The more popular areas like Craggy Gardens and Rough Ridge have parking lots. Some less popular trails will have space to park on level dirt on the side of the road. Overlooks will jet off of the parkway like a jug handle and usually have parking spaces.
Restrooms on the Blue Ridge Parkway:
On the Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s safe to assume that most trailheads won’t have restrooms. Instead, you’ll want to look for Visitor Centers, parks, or picnic areas for restrooms. Here is a list of Visitor Centers by milepost:
- Milepost 241.1 – Doughton Park
- Milepost 294.1 – Moses H. Cone
- Milepost 304.4 – Linn Cove Viaduct
- Milepost 316.4 – Linville Falls
- Milepost 330.9 – Museum of North Carolina Minerals
- Milepost 364.5 – Craggy Gardens
- Milepost 382.2 – Folk Art Center (open year-round)
- Milepost 384.5 – The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center in Asheville (open year-round)
- Milepost 451.2 – Waterrock Knob
Seasonal Changes on the Blue Ridge Parkway:
Each season has it’s pros and cons, here is a list of things to consider!
- Winter (November-March) – Pros: Privacy on the trails, beautiful snowy scenery. Cons: Possibility of road closures, colder temperatures. Tip: Have a solid plan B location in case your location is inaccessible due to weather or road closures.
- Spring (March-June) – Pros – Privacy on the trails, spring colors, comfortable temperatures for hiking. Cons – Possibility of rain. Tip: Prepare for rain with umbrellas and ponchos.
- Summer (June-August): Pros: Brightest colors, warm weather. Cons: Busier trails, temps can be hot for hiking. Tip: Get married on a weekday during the summer to avoid large crowds.
- Fall (September-November): Pros: Cool weather, beautiful fall colors. Cons: Busy trails during peak foliage, BRP does not issue permits for October. Tip: Get married at a venue to avoid tourist crowds, or on the parkway in early November.
Want more information? Click here for a full blog post on the 4 seasons.
The Legalities of Getting Married on the Parkway
Permits:
The Blue Ridge Parkway requires a Special Use permit for ceremonies. If you’re planning on using a trail solely for portraits, a permit is not required. If you plan to have your ceremony on the parkway, you can apply for a permit here. The general guest limit for the parkway is 25 guests (with the exception of a few spots that can’t accommodate that many people). Permits can be obtained at any point throughout the planning process, and they suggest applying at least 30 days before your elopement day to account for processing time. Permits are not issued for the month of October due to a drastic increase in visitors and tourists during peak foliage, so I’d suggest getting married in late September or early November if you want to use a trail on the parkway with fall foliage while also avoiding crowds.
Rules and Restrictions:
As of March 2023, these are a few of the rules that apply to elopements. You can read the full list of rules and restrictions here.
- Live or dried natural flowers are prohibited. This means that real flower bouquets are unfortunately not allowed, silk or wooden bouquets are a great alternative.
- The use of fire or open flames is strictly prohibited, including candles.
- The use of arbors, arches, stands, risers, or other similar unnatural props is prohibited.
- The attaching of ribbons, flowers, balloons or signs to vegetation, rocks, or existing NPS signs within the park is prohibited.
- The placement of signs is prohibited.
- Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Marriage Licenses:
You can obtain your marriage license at any Register of Deeds Office in North Carolina. It will be valid for 60 days, so you can get it anywhere from 2 months in advance to the day before your elopement. The state of North Carolina requires that an ordained officiant and 2 witnesses sign your marriage license on the day of your elopement. You will also need to know the county of your ceremony location when filling out your marriage license. Click here for a full blog post about marriage licenses, witnesses and officiants.
Ready to Start Planning Your Blue Ridge Parkway Elopement?
Now that you know everything there is to know, click here for a step-by-step guide to planning your elopement!
Links: Here are all of the links in this post, as well as additional links you may find helpful!
- Parkway Permit Information
- Blue Ridge Parkway Elopement Rules
- Choosing a Season for Your Blue Ridge Parkway Elopement
- Parkway Road Closures
- Downloadable Parkway Maps
- Parkway Visitor Centers
- AllTrails
- Marriage License & Officiant Blog Post
- Register of Deeds Offices in North Carolina
- Step-By-Step Guide to Planning Your Blue Ridge Parkway Elopement
