If your vehicle breaks down on the Blue Ridge Parkway, get it off the pavement if you safely can, turn on the hazard lights, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the car is in a travel lane. For an ordinary breakdown, you call a tow or roadside company yourself. The National Park Service says rangers refer disabled vehicles and out-of-gas reports to local roadside service or tow companies, and that they do not deliver gas, pull vehicles from mud or provide vehicle maintenance. The catch is that cell coverage along the Parkway is patchy, so the plan has to start before you lose signal.
Why the Parkway is different from a normal road
The Parkway is a National Park Service road, not a state highway. There are no exit numbers and no NCDOT patrol of the kind described in our guide to breakdowns on I-26, I-40 and I-240. The NPS says the Parkway is marked every mile by concrete mileposts, running from MP 0 near Shenandoah National Park to MP 469 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Those mileposts are your address.
The speed limit is 45 mph unless a lower limit is posted, and in places it is lower, such as the Asheville corridor. Many sections are curved, have limited sight lines and have narrow or sloping shoulders, so a stopped car is harder for approaching drivers to see than on a straight highway.
The first few minutes
- Coast to the widest spot you can reach. Overlooks and pull-offs are better than a curve. Do not stop just past a blind bend if you can roll a little farther.
- Hazards on, parking brake set, wheels turned away from the road.
- Note the nearest milepost. Read the number on the concrete post, or walk a short distance to find one while staying well off the road. Also note the direction you were heading and any named overlook.
- Decide whether you are in danger. A car blocking the road, a fire, smoke, an injury or a medical problem is a 911 call. A flat tire in a pull-off is not.
- Check for signal before you need it. The NPS warns that cell phones do not work in many locations along the Parkway and that GPS is sometimes unreliable. If you have no bars, a stretch a short drive or walk away may have them; do not wander far from the car in the dark.
Who to call
| Situation | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Injury, fire, or a vehicle blocking the roadway | 911 first. The NPS also directs drivers to its Parkway communications center for a vehicle that blocks the road; current numbers are on the NPS contact page. |
| Dead battery, flat tire, empty tank, lockout | Your own roadside provider or a local roadside company. See roadside help explained. |
| Vehicle that cannot be driven | A tow company you choose or your auto club or insurer's dispatch. |
| Car slid off the pavement or is stuck on a bank | A recovery operator with a winch; see stuck in a ditch or mud. |
Giving a tow company a useful location
A dispatcher who hears "somewhere on the Parkway" cannot send a truck. Give the milepost, the direction of travel, the nearest town or overlook, and whether you are on the road side or a pull-off. Ask whether the company has worked on the Parkway before. Drivers who know the road will also know which sections are closed, because the NPS says the Parkway is open year-round but sections may close for weather or maintenance. Check the NPS road closures page before you set out.
Also ask the questions from our guide to how a tow call works: the estimated arrival time, where the vehicle will be taken and how the bill is calculated. Distance and terrain can add to the bill, and towing costs in Buncombe County explains the usual charges. Ask for a total, not just an hourly rate.
Waiting safely
- If there is a pull-off, a bank or guardrail, wait outside and well off the pavement, away from the car, as you would on an interstate.
- If it is dark, foggy, or snowing, staying belted in with the hazards on can be the lesser risk. Mountain fog can cut visibility to a few car lengths at any time of year.
- Keep a charged phone, a flashlight, water and a warm layer in the car. In cold weather, see mountain winter breakdowns.
- Do not accept help from a passing truck you did not call, and do not let anyone tow the car without confirming who they are and where they are taking it.
Before you drive the Parkway
- Fill the tank. Services are far apart and rangers will not bring fuel.
- Download offline maps, since GPS can be unreliable.
- Save your roadside provider's number and know your membership details.
- Tell someone your route and expected arrival.
- Check the NPS closures page for the section you plan to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a park ranger tow my car on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
No. According to the National Park Service, reports of disabled vehicles are referred to local roadside or tow companies, and rangers do not deliver gas, pull vehicles from mud or perform maintenance. You arrange the tow yourself.
What should I do if I have no cell signal?
The NPS says phones do not work in many locations along the Parkway. Stay with the vehicle, keep the hazards on, and use a safe nearby spot to try again. If you can reach a pull-off or overlook with signal without leaving the car far behind, do so carefully. Asking a passing driver to relay a message is another option.
How do I tell a dispatcher where I am?
Use the concrete milepost numbers, which appear every mile, along with your direction of travel and the nearest overlook or town. Do not rely on GPS alone.
Is the Parkway open all year?
The NPS says the road is open year-round, but sections may close because of bad weather or maintenance. Check the NPS road closures page before you travel.
Does my roadside plan cover the Parkway?
Often yes, but terms differ, and some plans cap tow distance. Read whether insurance pays for towing and ask your provider about mountain or remote-road limits before you go.