Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain is one of the most environmentally significant mountains in the world. Crossing the famous swinging footbridge suspends you more than a mile above sea level. Grandfather Mountain features wildlife environmental habitats, interpretive nature museum, hiking trails and picnic areas. For over 100 years Grandfather Mountain has been a wildlife sanctuary and nature preserve, with an elevation of 5,964 feet.

Hours and Rates

(Access Via Automobile Through Main Gate)

(Ticket Sales End One Hour Before Closing)

We recommend you arrive before 11:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m. on summer weekends, holidays and fall color weekends. You'll move through the Gate more quickly, there will be fewer people in the park, and the animals will be more active. If you can only schedule your visit for midday, we will always be ready to take care of your travel party.

Driving Directions:

The entrance to Grandfather Mountain is located on US 221, two miles north of Linville, North Carolina, and one mile south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305.

The street address is: 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC 28646. The road to the summit is referred to as Grandfather Mountain Entrance Road, Linville, NC.

We recommend against relying on a navigation system or other form of computer generated directions. Computers are machines that do not get car sick traveling curvy roads. Their software programs do not always recommend the quickest, simplest and most-traveled routes. They frequently default to the shortest mileage between two points (often sending drivers through remote areas over very narrow country roads).

Please read through the directions listed below for the route that A REAL HUMAN BEING recommends to get from there to here. We want you to have a good experience at Grandfather Mountain, and that starts by having a good trip to our front door.

The Blue Ridge Parkway links Grandfather at Milepost 305 with Asheville at Milepost 382. Plan on a 2.5 to 3 hour drive if you take the Parkway.

The fastest route is to take I-40 East to Marion, NC. Take Exit #85. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp and go one mile to a stoplight. At the stoplight turn left and follow US 221 North to the entrance of Grandfather Mountain (about 40 miles).

Open all year.

For additional information call 800-468-7325.