Visitor center · Blue Ridge Parkway
Orientation hub with exhibits, film, and a great park store
Overview
Right off Milepost 115, this is the Roanoke area’s gateway stop for the Parkway. It’s a partnership-run center (operated by Roanoke County) with exhibits, an orientation film, and a legit park store—exactly the kind of place that helps your trip click into place.
If you’re cruising the Virginia stretch, this is one of the best places to get your bearings, pick up printed maps, and ask a human where your time is best spent. The store is stronger than most—good for meaningful souvenirs instead of generic trinkets.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy Stop HereMap
Local know-how
Check seasonal hours before you go—they change throughout the year.
Use Rutrough Road for access if the Parkway is closed at MP 115.
Watch the short Parkway film first, then plan your stops with staff help.
Pick up free maps and brochures—there are hundreds on hand.
Bring cash if you plan to use the Roanoke River access area.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Blue Ridge Parkway. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Blue Ridge Parkway audio tourRecorded for this area
Roanoke River Overlook and Dam View“The upcoming pullout is for the Roanoke River Overlook, which offers a direct view of the river and the Niagara Dam. If you want a quick walk, a short trail network starts here.”
Plays on the road 1.5 mi from Explore Park Visitor Center and Park Store in the Parkwolf Blue Ridge Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“…We knew we wanted to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. The narration was impeccably timed. The facts and info provided were meaningful. Without it, the trip would not have been near as awesome.”
Guide
Explore Park is part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, so keep an ear out for woodpeckers and songbirds. Around the Roanoke River you may spot waterfowl and turtles; deer often browse the woodlands nearby.
Wildlife
1,208 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,020 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
2,257 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
200 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
1,126 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
255 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Blue Ridge Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyRoanoke River Trail0.6 mi · 45 min · 1.5 mi awayA short, hilly river-and-dam walk with a wooded loop beneath the Parkway bridge.
EasyStewart Knob Trail2.1 mi · 54 min · 4.2 mi awayShort moderate out-and-back from Stewart Knob Overlook with wooded miles and a Blue Ridge view
EasyRoanoke Mountain Woodland Trail0.4 mi · 15 min · 5 mi awayA tiny summit loop with rocky footing and broad Roanoke views.
Campground · At the trailheadExplore Park CampgroundGlamping-to-primitive campground with trails, river access, and brewpub
Scenic pullout · 1.5 mi awayRoanoke River OverlookQuick river-and-dam views with a short, choose-your-effort trail
Scenic pullout · 5 mi awayRoanoke Mountain OverlookSummit views over Roanoke via a quiet, one-way mountain loopParkwolf’s Blue Ridge Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
