Mabry Mill & Meadows of Dan, VA
Blue Ridge Parkway icon — grist mill, pond & Parkway picnics
🚗 1½–2 hours from Johnson City · ~85 miles from Bristol · Bristol via US-58 W to Meadows of Dan / MP 176
Best season: Late spring–fall; peak foliage Oct
Getting there
Get driving directions from Johnson City ↗ · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map shows Mabry Mill, Meadows of Dan, VA. Times vary from Kingsport and Bristol.
Mabry Mill is Parkway postcard country — a working-history grist mill, split-rail fences, and a reflective pond that draws photographers at golden hour.
Meadows of Dan is the nearest services hub; treat this as a scenic Parkway segment, not a town day.
Highlights
- Mabry Mill & wheel (MP 176.2)
- Mill pond reflections & split-rail scenery
- Nearby Rocky Knob recreation area trails
- Parkway overlooks toward North Carolina line
Sample one-day itinerary
Enter Parkway at Meadows of Dan; slow scenic pace.
Walk mill grounds; interpretive talks on weekends in season.
Short hike or begin US-58 homeward before dark.
Know before you go
- Parkway closes sections in winter weather — check NPS alerts.
- No gas on Parkway — fill in Meadows of Dan.
- Combine with Wytheville or Natural Tunnel for fuller VA day.
Links & resources
More day trips
25–35 min 📖 Jonesborough, TN
25–35 min 🌊 Erwin & the Nolichucky Gorge
30–45 min 🛥️ South Holston Lake
30–45 min
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