The Blue Ridge Parkway offers a slow-paced, relaxing drive with stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. Meandering for 469 miles, it protects a diversity of plants and animals while providing opportunities to enjoy what makes this region of the country special. Weather along the parkway can vary widely throughout its length, with precipitation possible at any time of year. Winter can be cold and snowy, especially at higher elevations; spring and fall can bring large temperature swings from near freezing to over 80 degrees Fahrenheit; and summers are hot at lower elevations while the highest elevations remain cooler, with summertime thunderstorms common.