I love the BRP, I love family, and I love the colors of fall. It's Mother Natures way of reminding us how big the world is, and how we are just a singular piece in it. This past weekend we got all three as we camped at Julian Price Campground. My wife and I camped along side my Brother and his wife as they did their inaugural trip in their new Winnebago Forza. They are about to embark on a 5 year journey as full time RV'ers, and we are so excited for them!
There's something about Julian Price, not just the way it is laid out, but how simplistic and close to everything it is. Positioned near Boone and Blowing Rock in North Carolina, Julian Price is named after it's Name sake, former owner, insurance giant Julian Price. Price bought the 4,200 acres as a recreational retreat for his employees; after his untimely death in 1946, his heirs donated the land to the parkway as a memorial.
The Blue Ridge Parkway makes its way through the heart of North Carolina and Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. At 469 miles, this scenic drive winds along the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy some of the best mountain views in the world.
The other great thing about this campground is a lot of the 185 campsites are first come first served. This means they can't be reserved. You show up, pick a site, and then go to the Ranger station at the entrance and pay. Price Park Campground can accommodate tent campers, RVs, and other self-contained sleeping vehicles and trailers. C Loop is for tent campers only. Loops E and F are for RVs only, and they have much larger parking spaces. A-Loop is on the opposite side of the Blue Ridge Parkway from the other loops and sits on Price Lake. Maximum vehicle lengths for each campsite are given on the reservation website, Recreation.gov. It is typically open from May until the end of October, though the official opening and closing dates change each year.
It's worth noting that this is a Boondocking Site. There are no hook-ups, so you need to plan accordingly. They do have a potable water station and dump station. There is no electricity, so you need a source if you are in an RV or camper (Solar, generator, or connecting to your TV).
We stayed in F Loop which has some incredible spaces. These sites are guarded on each side by rhododendron, which create a natural barrier between sites and give additional privacy. There are 46 sites in F Loop, 15 of which can be reserved which is great when you want a last second weekend away.
A view of the leaves as we drove along the BRP in our Jeep (Following my Brothers Jeep!). The views of the Blue Ridge never get old...
Traffic was insane, but it was a prime weekend for leaf peepers.. and they were EVERYWHERE... Here is a small video of traffic trying to come into Blowing Rock from the BRP.