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US 221: Blowing Rock to Linville, Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
Photo: Claire Powers from Fairfax, VA, USA · CC BY 2.0

Drives North Carolina Boone, Blowing Rock and the High Country

US 221: Blowing Rock to Linville

US 221, Yonahlossee Road, Blowing Rock Highway · Blowing Rock → Linville

Intense17.7 mi40 min1,900 ft climbHigh point ≈ 4,300 ftOne way
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The drive

This part of US 221 between Blowing Rock and Linville is the Little Parkway Scenic Byway, described as a curvier alternative to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is an 18-mile segment with numerous curves and changes in elevation, and this drive covers 17.7 miles of it from Main Street in Blowing Rock.

The road passes the entrance to Grandfather Mountain near Linville. Grandfather Mountain's park charges admission and recommends buying tickets in advance online; the road itself does not charge. The Linn Cove Viaduct is nearby, reached from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The drive takes about 40 minutes.

Along the way

  1. Blowing Rock (Main Street)
  2. US-221 below the Linn Cove Viaduct
  3. Grandfather Mountain entrance
  4. Linville
Elevation
1,900 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 4,300 ft
Blowing RockLinville
Curves
Twisty most of the way
Blowing RockLinville
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The road has numerous curves and changes in elevation along its length.
  • Grandfather Mountain's park charges admission at its entrance on Blowing Rock Highway.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NCDOT DriveNC: traffic and road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does US 221 from Blowing Rock to Linville take?

US 221 from Blowing Rock to Linville is 17.7 miles and takes about 40 minutes.

Is there a fee on US 221 past Grandfather Mountain?

No fee applies to driving US 221, but Grandfather Mountain's park charges admission, and advance tickets are recommended.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of US 221: Blowing Rock to Linville, from Blowing Rock to Linville