Grandfather Mountain & Blue Ridge Parkway tour from Asheville

Walk a mile-high bridge and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway in one morning

A guided day tour from Asheville to Grandfather Mountain State Park includes admission, a walk across the Mile High Swinging Bridge, time in the nature center and wildlife habitats, and a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The tour departs at 8:00 AM from Asheville Visitor Center and returns by early afternoon, with a lunch stop at Mildred's Grill partway through the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic tour of Grandfather Mountain

• Depart Asheville Visitor Center at 8:00 AM
• Drive to Grandfather Mountain
• Walk across Mile High Swinging Bridge
• Explore nature center and wildlife habitats
• Enjoy lunch at Mildred’s Grill
• Depart Grandfather Mountain by 2:30 PM

The experience

How do you fit a mountain and a parkway into one day without driving yourself? This tour handles the route while you take in the views. You leave Asheville Visitor Center at 8:00 AM and head straight into the mountains. Grandfather Mountain rises 5,946 feet above northwest North Carolina and sits inside the United Nations' Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve, with rock formations that date back 1.2 billion years. The drive alone is the point. The Blue Ridge Parkway unfolds as you go.

At Grandfather Mountain State Park, you walk across the Mile High Swinging Bridge, the centerpiece most people come for. The bridge hangs 5,280 feet above the valley floor, and the panoramic views stretch for miles in every direction. You also have time to explore the park's nature center and wildlife habitats, where you can see native species up close. Midday, the group stops at Mildred's Grill for lunch before heading back down the mountain no later than 2:30 PM, so the full day runs about seven hours from start to finish.

A live guide in English leads the entire tour, handling the route and the stops so you can focus on the scenery and the moment on the bridge. Admission to Grandfather Mountain State Park is included in the price. Lunch is on your own.

What’s included

• Admission to Grandfather Mountain State Park.
• access to the nature center and wildlife habitats.
• a guided scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full day.
• hotel or visitor center pickup and return.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesdayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (under 18)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by TP’s Day Trip Adventures

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a guide leading the entire day, so it suits travelers who want the route and the stops planned and don't want to drive themselves. The tour moves at a relaxed pace with time built in at each stop, but the full day and the walk across the bridge require at least a moderate level of fitness and comfort with heights.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain?

The Mile High Swinging Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that hangs 5,280 feet above the valley floor at Grandfather Mountain State Park. You walk across it as part of the tour and get panoramic views that stretch for miles in every direction from that height.

How long does this tour take from start to finish?

The full day tour runs about seven hours, departing Asheville Visitor Center at 8:00 AM and returning by early afternoon. You depart Grandfather Mountain no later than 2:30 PM to allow time for the drive back.

Is admission to Grandfather Mountain included in the tour price?

Yes, admission to Grandfather Mountain State Park is included. You also have access to the nature center and wildlife habitats during your time at the park.

What is the Blue Ridge Parkway portion of this tour like?

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic drive that connects to Grandfather Mountain. You experience it as part of the route to and from the mountain, with the guide handling navigation so you can watch the landscape unfold.

Do I need to bring my own lunch?

Food and drink are not included in the tour price. The group stops at Mildred's Grill midday, where you can purchase lunch on your own before continuing.