This scenic NC highway is feared by most drivers, new national survey says
North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway — a 469-mile stretch of road that the National Parks Service says offers a “slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes” — took a top spot in a recent list of the most feared routes in America, according to a survey of 3,000 drivers.
The survey, which is not scientific, was commissioned by Gunther Mitsubishi and conducted by QuestionPro. It asked road-trippers which routes in each state they fear being stranded on the most.
The Blue Ridge Parkway offers gorgeous road trips and was once deemed by Southern Living Magazine to be the south’s best scenic drive, described as “the most visited parkway in the entire national park system.”
The parkway connects Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Shenandoah National Park with some of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Open to guests riding in personal vehicles, motorcycles, tour buses and bicycles, the Parkway is a popular spot for those taking a scenic drive or visiting to hike, camp and more.
Here’s what to know about the Blue Ridge Parkway.
How does the Blue Ridge Parkway compare to other feared roads in the US?
The survey ranks the Blue Ridge Parkway as the 12th most feared in the nation.
It falls just behind Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTTSR) in Montana, which spans 50 miles and offers views of glaciers, valleys, waterfalls, mountains and wildflowers.
The survey ranks these roads as the 10 “most feared routes” in the U.S.
The top five generally pass through vast deserts with potentially dangerous weather hazards, like extreme heat and lava flows. Many of these routes have limited services available and long stretches of road between towns.
New Mexico: U.S. Route 285
California: Death Valley Road (SR-190)
Texas: U.S. Route 90
Hawaii: Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200)
Nevada: U.S. Route 50 “The Loneliest Road in America”
Kentucky: Mountain Parkway (KY-9002)
South Dakota: U.S. Route 14A (Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway)
Alaska: Dalton Highway (AK-11)
New York: State Route 17
Mississippi: U.S. Route 49
The Charlotte Observer’s Chyna Blackmon contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 3, 2023 at 6:05 AM.
