The Blue Ridge Parkway has reopened major road sections in North Carolina and Virginia, along with camping loops at Julian Price Campground, just in time for the region's peak fall tourism season. These recent openings follow multi-year impacts and mark significant milestones in Hurricane Helene recovery, funded by Disaster Supplemental funding in the American Relief Act. They also conclude two historic Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund (GAOA LRF) projects. Visitors can now drive uninterrupted from James River at Milepost 63.7 in Virginia to Little Switzerland, near Milepost 344, in North Carolina.
The National Park Service continues to advance critical repairs and restore safe public access along the Parkway. This effort aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s direction to accelerate rebuilding and recovery following Hurricane Helene. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor stated that 48 of the 60 slide repairs required along the Blue Ridge Parkway after Hurricane Helene are now complete, with work underway on the final 12. She also noted that access has been restored to 458 of the Parkway’s 469 miles, with progress continuing on the remaining 11 miles. MacGregor emphasized that this progress is restoring visitor access while supporting the communities, small businesses, and local economies that depend on the Parkway.
Superintendent Tracy Swartout highlighted the importance of these reopenings for tourism, noting that October is an "especially important time for tourism throughout the region." Swartout explained that these openings allow visitors to experience more of the Parkway’s fall scenery and provide greater access to the communities, businesses, and destinations along the route. She expressed appreciation for the progress made by employees, partners, and contractors in restoring access.
In addition to other recent Hurricane Helene road repair successes, the Parkway has completed two more recovery road projects in North Carolina. Further north, in Roanoke, Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway recently reopened Milepost 115 to 121, marking the final step in a multiyear repaving and rehabilitation project funded by the GAOA LRF.
Closer to the High Country, additional openings in the Boone and Blowing Rock area of North Carolina include the Deep Gap Bridge at Milepost 276.4. The section around Deep Gap Bridge had been closed for regularly scheduled maintenance this summer. Loops B and D in the Julian Price Campground at Milepost 297 have also reopened. These camping loops were previously closed as a result of Hurricane Helene. The work of multiple crews of arborists and volunteers was instrumental in restoring access to this popular campground. Reservations for Julian Price Campground are now available through October 30.
These recent reopenings follow other previously restored sections of the historic route within the Boone/Blowing Rock corridor. An additional historic road reconstruction project, spanning from Milepost 229.6 north of Doughton Park to Milepost 305.1 near Grandfather Mountain, was completed in mid-September. This project was also funded by the GAOA LRF.
Looking ahead, final Hurricane Helene road repairs are currently underway from Milepost 344 to 355. These final repairs are slated for completion and reopening by the end of 2026. The National Park Service encourages visitors to consult the park’s website for additional information to prepare for fall Parkway travels, including regular road status updates, facility schedules, and maps.
