By The North Carolina mountains were built for the long way around. Here, two-lane roads bend along billion-year-old ridgelines, climb past mile-high overlooks, and dip into hardwood coves where the air turns cool and green even in midsummer. These five scenic drives, from the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway to the white-knuckle curves of the Tail of the Dragon, prove that in the western Carolinas the journey really is the destination.
The Blue Ridge Parkway: America’s Favorite Scenic Drive
No road defines the Carolina high country quite like the Blue Ridge Parkway. The full route runs 469 miles between Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains, and North Carolina claims the most dramatic stretch, roughly from Milepost 217 near the Virginia line down to Milepost 469 at Cherokee. Along the way the road threads past Doughton Park, the largest recreation area on the Parkway, and Linville Gorge, often called the deepest gorge in the eastern United States.
The Parkway has no entrance fee and dozens of access points, so you can join it for an hour or for several days. Speed limits stay low (45 mph or less in most places), which is exactly the point: this is a road designed for unhurried views, frequent pull-offs, and picnic tables perched above the clouds. Mileposts count up from north to south, making navigation simple even where cell service drops out.
When to go: Mid-May through mid-September brings the easiest driving and lush green ridgelines, while October draws crowds for some of the best fall color in the East. The Parkway is open year-round, but the National Park Service closes sections during ice and snow, so check current road status before a winter trip.
Don’t-Miss Stop: Mount Mitchell State Park
At Milepost 355.4, turn north onto NC 128 and climb 2.4 miles to Mount Mitchell State Park, home to the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet. A short paved path leads to a wheelchair-accessible observation deck with panoramic views, and the park also offers hiking trails, a museum, and a seasonal restaurant. The park is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April through October, and Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November through March. Because the only access is via the Parkway, the park can close for extended periods in winter.
Plan Your Visit: Mount Mitchell State Park, 2388 NC Highway 128, Burnsville, NC 28714. Blue Ridge Parkway information: (828) 348-3400. Parkway headquarters: 199 Hemphill Knob Rd, Asheville, NC 28803.
Newfound Gap Road: Across the Smokies
For the most accessible drive through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, follow Newfound Gap Road (US 441), which crosses the spine of the range between Cherokee, North Carolina, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The drive climbs steadily through layers of forest, gaining elevation until you reach Newfound Gap itself at about 5,046 feet, the lowest drivable pass over the crest and a spot where the views spill across multiple states.
Start on the North Carolina side at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where elk often graze in the adjacent fields at dawn and dusk. From there the road winds up past overlooks toward the Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) turnoff, the highest point in the park. Spring (April and May) brings wildflowers and active wildlife, while October delivers spectacular foliage. Winter weather can close the higher elevations on short notice.
The park charges no entrance fee, but the Park It Forward program requires a paid parking tag for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes. Tags cost $5 daily, $15 weekly, or $40 annually, and are sold online, at automated machines, and at visitor centers including Oconaluftee.
Plan Your Visit: Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 1194 Newfound Gap Highway, Cherokee, NC 28719. Park information: (865) 436-1200. Website: nps.gov/grsm.
The Cherohala Skyway: A Mile-High Wilderness Route
If you crave high-elevation solitude, point the car toward the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile National Scenic Byway that links Robbinsville, North Carolina, with Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The name blends the two forests it crosses, the Cherokee and the Nantahala. On the North Carolina side the road rises from roughly 2,660 feet to 5,390 feet in just over ten miles, cresting near Haw Knob at about 5,400 feet, where long sweeping curves and uncrowded overlooks make the climb feel like flying.
Unlike the busier Parkway, the Skyway sees relatively light traffic, and there are no gas stations or services along its length, so fuel up in Robbinsville before you start. The road’s long, smooth arcs make it a favorite among motorcyclists and sports-car drivers, but it rewards anyone willing to slow down at the overlooks. Late spring through fall offers the clearest skies and most comfortable temperatures; higher sections can ice over in winter.
Side Trip: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Just off the Skyway near Robbinsville lies the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, one of the largest tracts of old-growth woodland in the East, with towering tulip poplars more than 100 feet tall and centuries old. An easy two-mile loop trail winds beneath the giants, a quiet contrast to the open ridgelines above.
Plan Your Visit: The Skyway begins near Robbinsville, NC 28771, about 100 miles southwest of Asheville. For trip planning, the Graham County Travel office is a useful local resource.
The Tail of the Dragon: 318 Curves in 11 Miles
Few roads in America are as famous among driving enthusiasts as the Tail of the Dragon, an 11-mile stretch of US 129 at Deals Gap on the North Carolina and Tennessee state line, bordering the Great Smoky Mountains. Packed into those 11 miles are a legendary 318 curves, a number that has drawn motorcyclists and sports-car drivers from around the world since the route earned its nickname in 1981.
This is not a casual sightseeing drive. The posted speed limit is 30 mph, there are no driveways or intersections to interrupt the curves, and the road demands full attention. If you simply want to experience the area, the nearby Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort at the junction of US 129 and NC 28 is the traditional gathering point, with fuel, food, and the famous “Tree of Shame.” Pair the Dragon with the calmer Cherohala Skyway nearby for a full day of contrasts.
Plan Your Visit: Deals Gap sits at the intersection of US 129 and NC 28 on the NC and TN line. Drive during daylight, watch for motorcycles around every bend, and never cross the center line.
The Forest Heritage Scenic Byway and Waterfall Country
For a loop built around cascades and cool forest, head to Transylvania County, marketed as the “Land of Waterfalls,” and the surrounding Pisgah National Forest. A scenic circuit through this area passes some of the most photographed waterfalls in the state, including roadside Looking Glass Falls and the natural water slide at Sliding Rock on US 276 north of Brevard. The drive winds beneath hemlocks and hardwoods alongside mountain streams, with frequent pull-offs and trailheads.
This route shines from late spring through fall, when water flows strong and the canopy is full. Sliding Rock typically operates with lifeguards and a small fee during the summer season; the surrounding forest roads and waterfall overlooks are accessible year-round, weather permitting. Brevard makes an easy basecamp, with the Visit North Carolina tourism site offering up-to-date itineraries for the area.
Practical planning tip: Mountain weather changes fast and fuel stops are sparse on the high routes, so fill the tank before you climb, pack a jacket even in summer, and download offline maps. Most importantly, build in extra time. On these roads the overlooks, waterfalls, and unmarked pull-offs are the whole point, and rushing them defeats the purpose of taking the scenic route in the first place.