Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)
Facility · North Carolina ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Blue Ridge Parkway (Parkway) · Restricted Access
- 2,789 ft
- Elevation
The Museum of North Carolina Minerals highlights the rich mineral resources and the mining heritage of this portion of the Blue Ridge. The museum has interactive exhibits. This area, called Gillespie Gap, was also significant in the American Revolution, where frontiersmen from the mountains known as the "Overmountain Men" crossed the Blue Ridge on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Getting there
The Mineral Museum (MP 331) is located at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and NC-226, about 6 miles east of Spruce Pine and 15 miles west of Marion, NC. It is approximately an hour and a half north of Asheville via the Parkway, or and hour south of Blowing Rock, via the Parkway.
35.85413, -82.05144 · 35°51'14.9"N 82°3'5.2"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 4.8 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.8 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)
- Can you reserve a site at Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)?
- No. Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331) is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)
- Carolina Hemlocks Rec Area 9.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Linville Falls Campground 10.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Black Mountain Campground 11.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Briar Bottom Group Campground 11.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Curtis Creek Campground (NC) 14.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Mortimer Campground 18.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Museum of North Carolina Minerals, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center less than 0.1 mi · Visitor Center
- Linville Falls Visitor Center (Milepost 316) 9.8 mi · Facility
- Grandfather Ranger District 14 mi · Facility
- Carver's Gap 17.7 mi · Facility
- Pisgah National Forest 18.6 mi · Facility
- Catawba Falls 19.4 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (828) 765-2761
- Email blri_info@nps.gov
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-06.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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