Move over Route 66. There’s another iconic American highway located right in our own backyard here in North Carolina, and it’s full of awe-inspiring sights and attractions just waiting to be explored. From scenic overlooks to mountain hikes leading to views that stretch tens and sometimes hundreds of miles, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a never-ending resource of recreational wonders. The entire parkway spans 469 miles and has 26 tunnels – 25 of those tunnels are located in North Carolina! While we don’t suggest you explore each one on foot (that could be risky!), we do think each one is spectacular in its own right and definitely worthy of a road trip to see them all! Check out 19 of them below.
- Little Switzerland - milepost 333.4
Flickr/Mike
- Twin Tunnels - Twin Tunnel #1 at milepost 344.6; Twin Tunnel #2 at milepost 344.7
Flickr/Valerie
- Rough Ridge Tunnel - milepost 349.0
Flickr/Kolin Toney
- Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel - milepost 364.4
Flickr/Manish Vohra
- Craggy Flats Tunnel - milepost 365.6
Wikipedia/greenart740 / Jesse
- Tanbark Ridge Tunnel - milepost 374.4
Wikimedia commons/lauren54 / Lauren Buchner
- Grassy Knob Tunnel - milepost 397.1
Wikimedia commons/lahierophant
- Pine Mountain Tunnel - milepost 399.3 (This is the longest tunnel on the parkway. It measures 1,320 feet in length.)
Flickr/Jeff
- Ferrin Knob Tunnel No. 1 - milepost 400.9
Flickr/Bill Showalter
- Ferrin Knob Tunnel No. 3 - milepost 401.5
National Park Service
- Young Pisgah Ridge Tunnel - milepost 403.0
Wikimedia commons/ Barbara Bennett
- Fork Mountain Tunnel - milepost 403.9
Flickr/Kyle James
- Little Pisgah Tunnel - milepost 406.9
Flickr/k.steudel
- Buck Springs Tunnel - milepost 407.4
Flickr/k.steudel
- Frying Pan Tunnel - milepost 410.1
Flickr/Kyle James
- Devil’s Courthouse Tunnel - milepost 422.1
Wikimedia/Chris Bridges
- Pinnacle Ridge Tunnel - milepost 439.7 (This is the second longest tunnel on the parkway. It measures 750 feet in length.)
Flickr/Timothy Wildey
- Bunches Bald Tunnel - milepost 459.3
Flickr/Doug Bradley
- Rattlesnake Mountain Tunnel - milepost 465.6
Flickr/Doug Bradley
Have you explored the great tunnels of the Blue Ridge Parkway? We’d love to see your photos!
Flickr/Mike
Flickr/Valerie
Flickr/Kolin Toney
Flickr/Manish Vohra
Wikipedia/greenart740 / Jesse
Wikimedia commons/lauren54 / Lauren Buchner
Wikimedia commons/lahierophant
Flickr/Jeff
Flickr/Bill Showalter
National Park Service
Wikimedia commons/ Barbara Bennett
Flickr/Kyle James
Flickr/k.steudel
Wikimedia/Chris Bridges
Flickr/Timothy Wildey
Flickr/Doug Bradley
North Carolina’s most famous bridge is located on the parkway… learn more about it here.
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