The bottom of the mountain will give you the shortest ride
from you car. The Linville lot on highway 105. If you are going north on Hwy 221, when you pass Everything Scottish and the Tartan Restaurant
you will see a stop light. You will turn left and the lot is just a short distance. When I have driven up for the day, we have usually arrived between 9 to 10 am and the lot has always been open.

The Newland High Scool lot is also not far if the Linville lot gets filled.

For those staying in Boone
Watauga High School Parking Lot, 400 High School Dr., Boone NC


http://www.gmhg.org/parking.htm