Life

Parkway visits up despite weather closures

By Bill Moss, Published: March 2, 2020

Blue Ridge Parkway managers announced on Monday that 14,976,085 visitors came to the Parkway in 2019, an increase over 2019 despite weather-related closures.

Despite extended closures in multiple sections of the Parkway in Virginia, visits were up in Virginia by 4.4 percent. Likewise, visits to the North Carolina section of the Parkway held steady at more than 10 million visitors.

“Parkway tourism across Virginia’s Blue Ridge is a mainstay to our local economy,” said Catherine Fox, Vice President of Public Affairs & Destination Development of Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the Roanoke Valley region’s official destination marketing organization. “Tourism leaders in this region are pleased to see that Parkway tourism in Virginia continues to grow.”

While the Parkway remains open, weather permitting, year-round, the traditional visitor season begins in the spring and continues through fall. July and October are historically the highest visitation months on the Parkway. Information to help plan your Parkway visit and 2020 facility opening dates are available at www.nps.gov/blri.