How to Elope on the Blue Ridge Parkway
A Comprehensive Guide to Eloping on the Blue Ridge
Let’s be real, who doesn’t love the Blue Ridge Parkway? Whether you’re admiring the fresh blooms of spring, the lush greens of the summer, or the colorful hues of fall, the parkway offers some of the best views of western North Carolina. Around 250 of the parkway’s 469 miles fall in the North Carolina section, and the options for elopement locations are plentiful! Because the parkway is such a large entity with so many areas, it can be a little daunting to approach planning your elopement along its corridor. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide on all things getting married on the beloved Blue Ridge Parkway!
The Parkway’s Route
The Parkway begins at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, winding its way down to the North Carolina border and beyond, where it eventually ends at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. From north to south, some of the towns that the parkway passes near include Boone, Blowing Rock, Asheville, and Maggie Valley, ending near Cherokee. Mount Mitchell State Park, home to the tallest mountain on the east coast, also lies on the parkway.
Map courtesy of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Navigating the Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway winds 469 miles without a single stoplight in sight. So how does the National Park Service organize the seemingly countless points of interest along the road? With mile markers! Mile markers 217-469 can be found in North Carolina. This page breaks down the entire NC section of the parkway by mile marker . It’s important if you have a destination in mind on the parkway to find what mile marker it lies near, and after hopping on at your nearest access point, head north for a lower mile marker and south for a higher mile marker. Or, you can take the leisurely approach and just drive with no destination in mind! (We recommend having some kind of an idea of where you hopped on the parkway for this one!)
Do I need a Permit?
The short answer is yes, you do need a permit to elope on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Elopements, micro-weddings, and vow-renewals alike all require a “Special Use Permit” to protect the land for future generations. Here are the steps to apply:
Read all rules and regulations of the parkway, and have a solid grasp on Leave No Trace principles.
Complete the application thoroughly.
Pay the $60 application fee (non-refundable) through pay.gov.
Submit your application form at least 30 days before your proposed date (the earlier the better as far as this elopement planner is concerned!) via email. All applications should be emailed to: blri_permits@nps.gov.
Wait for your application to be processed! You will be contacted whether your permit has been approved or denied.
If approved, you will need to pay another $40 non-refundable fee upon the issuance of your permit.
*NOTE: As of October 1st, 2024, the permit system will be shifting. This includes the costs associated. For more information, read this message from the National Park Service.
Rules for Eloping on the Parkway
To protect the land, road, and motorists/visitors on the parkway, there are rules and regulations in place that you should be sure you can and will abide by before applying for your permit. A comprehensive list can be found here. Some of these rules include:
All wedding permits are limited to 25 participants. This includes the couple as well as any vendors (officiants, photographer, etc).
You may not block access to your selected location, as it is still public land regardless of your permit.
Certain locations, including Rough Ridge, Crabtree Falls, Linville Falls, Craggy Pinnacle, and Graveyard Fields, amongst others, do not allow any permits. A few others have limited capacity.
No live/dried natural plants/flowers are allowed. This includes bouquets.
No wildlife can be released.
No celebratory throwing of rice, birdseed, etc.
Use of fire (including candles) is prohibited.
No unnatural props, including no arches or arbors.
No decor can be attached to NPS signage.
No amplified music.
No alcohol.
Please make sure you are aware of ALL rules. It can only take one person being unaware/irresponsible to threaten our future access to the parkway for elopements.
Best Places to Elope on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Sorted from North to South on the Parkway
Mile Marker 218.6: Fox Hunters Paradise Overlook
Right near the VA border, this overlook is a short .2 mile walk for great views of northwest NC. It is paved with a stone wall wrapping around it, making it a very accessible choice. This is a great size for an elopement.
Mile Marker 238.5: Doughton Recreation Area
Also known as Doughton Park, there are plenty of locations within its bounds for a small wedding or elopement. The park boasts a nice blend of forested trails, and sprawling meadows with vast mountain views.
Mile Marker 294: Moses Cone Memorial Park
Located right near downtown Blowing Rock (one of our fave mountain towns), this park is home to a historic manor, barns and horse trails, hiking trails, and beautiful mountain views.
Mile Marker 305.2: Beacon Heights Trail (Right Fork Only)
This easy trail (about 1 mile total) leads to great views of the surrounding mountains. The trail splits at the end, leading to an overlook both ways. Although the left fork is closed to permit issuance, the right is still open!
Mile Marker 317.4: Wiseman’s View
Although this technically falls under the jurisdiction of Pisgah National Forest when it comes to permit issuance, we couldn’t not include this accessible and stunning overlook. The views of Linville Gorge, one of our favorite places in all of NC, are spectacular.
Mile Marker 320.8: Chestoah View Overlook
Another amazing view of the gorge, this overlook is a short quarter mile from the parking lot. There is also a short forested trail that leads to more views of the gorge. This overlook is limited to 12 total participants.
Mile Marker 355.3: Mount Mitchell State Park:
The highest peak on the east coast, Mount Mitchell and the surrounding Black Mountains are an entirely unique ecosystem right off of the parkway. Although you cannot get married on the tower (and commercial photography is not allowed up there), there are plenty of other options in the park with even better views!
Mile Marker 361.1: Glassmine Falls Overlook
Yes, the overlook here is nice… but what we really love is the trail that parallels the parkway to the south towards Bullhead Mountain. It opens up to stunning views in all directions, with plenty of great rocky outcroppings and fresh blueberries in the late summer!
Mile Marker 364.5 or 367.6: Craggy Flats Bald:
Although a slightly busier section of the parkway, we can’t not mention this breathtaking area, full of rhododendron and sprawling views. Craggy Pinnacle does not allow elopements, but we prefer the bald anyways!
Mile Marker 430.7: Cowee Mountain Overlook:
At nearly six thousand feet above sea level, this overlook right off of the parkway offers stunning views to the southeast.
When to Elope on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Parkway is stunning at any time of year, but each season certainly has its pros and cons. Here’s a breakdown:
Winter
For a quieter time on the parkway, winter is great for couples who don’t mind walking a little farther to reach their destination, as many sections close to motorists in colder weather.
Spring
As the Parkway opens up again for the year, spring brings stunning views as flowers begin to bloom and the rolling green hills fill back in. It tends to be a bit more crowded than the winter, but less crowded than the next two seasons to come.
Summer
Summer on the Parkway is richly green and exquisitely beautiful, but also can be quite hot and humid. This heat is actually what gives the Blue Ridge Mountains their famous blue hues, as the trees release an organic compound, isoprene, to protect themselves from the heat. So if you’re looking for the classic blue layers in the horizon, look no further than summer!
Fall
People come from all over to admire fall on the Parkway, making October the busiest month of the year. Opt for a quieter, lesser known location in the fall to try to escape some of the crowds, and prepare for the road to be a little more congested. Of course, though, we can’t deny just how beautiful the colors are.
Best days to elope on
As far as the parkway goes, we can’t help but encourage our clients to avoid weekends. It makes the permit process much easier, parking lots, overlooks, and trails less crowded, and really aids in a more solitary, secluded experience. If you must choose a weekend day, we recommend choosing a less popular time of year, a location that is a little less trafficked, or a time of day when many people are not out and about (think sunrise or sunset).
Parking and Amenities on the Parkway
The parkway is an incredibly well structured piece of National Park Service land, with plenty of places to park as well as bathrooms, visitors centers, and picnic areas. This map is a great resource, as it allows you to select the category you are looking for. Always make sure you are following Leave No Trace Principles, and avoid parking anywhere that is not a designated parking spot to protect the land for generations to come.
How to Legally Get Married in North Carolina
In North Carolina, you can legally elope as long as you have an officiant and two witnesses present. The officiant cannot be included as a witness in NC.
Marriage licenses can be applied for online, and both partners must be present to pick up the license from your local courthouse. The cost of a NC marriage license is $60, and it cannot be obtained more than 60 days prior to the elopement. This is the most important item to bring to your elopement! Your elopement photographer or planner can make sure to keep it safe in their pack for you as you go about your elopement day activities!
We hope you are feeling like you have a better idea of how to start planning your Blue Ridge Parkway elopement! For more advice, location ideas, and planning assistance, reach out to us here. As your North Carolina Elopement and Micro-wedding planning and photography team, we would love to help!
Planning a Blue Ridge Parkway Elopement?
Hi, we’re Becca and Hannah! As your North Carolina elopement planning & photography team, we’re more than just the vendors setting up table decor and shooting posed portraits after your ceremony. We’re here to create a safe and community driven space for you to make your meaningful wedding vision a reality, without you having to do any of the heavy lifting! Elopement planning is our absolute jam, so if you’re interested, reach out here to schedule your free elopement consultation with us!