In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the Blue Ridge Parkway has been closed indefinitely due to significant and catastrophic storm damage. Authorities in North Carolina have urged travelers to postpone their mountain trips as several state parks west of I-77 remain shut through October. Tourism officials are discouraging visitors from coming to the affected areas and are working on providing guidance amidst the recovery efforts. While the National Park Service has indicated that some roads may reopen soon, the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway, spanning through both North Carolina and Virginia, is off-limits for all uses as damage assessments continue. North Carolina’s tourism leaders are emphasizing that now is not the time for travel in the region.