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Awash in purple rhododendrons and flame azaleas come spring, Roan Mountain State Park, near the Tennessee-North Carolina state line, is a petal peeper’s dream come true. Walk through tunnels of blooms on the 1.9-mile Fred Behrend Trail, and then head 10 miles south to Tollhouse Gap to walk through the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden, just outside the park.
Trailhead: Campground
Season: March through November; peak bloom is in late June.
Permit: $2/vehicle