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Rent a Motorcycle From EagleRider and Enjoy Tail of the Dragon Motorcycle Ride

Rent a Motorcycle From EagleRider and Enjoy Tail of the Dragon Motorcycle Ride

The Tail of the Dragon is perhaps America’s most famous motorcycle road, and 'slaying' it has long become a rite of passage for riders both domestic and international. Boasting 318 curves in just 11 miles, the Tail of the Dragon, officially Route 129, is a very special and unique highway. There are no intersecting roads, no driveways, and no businesses along the route.

Each and every curve of the road is different. Many of the curves are banked like a racetrack, and quite a few people ride it as such. Be forewarned: this is not a road to sightsee on, it's a road meant to be ridden with full concentration. At times there can be a lot of pressure on the roadway, from local sportbike riders itching to improve their times on the 318 curves, to sports car drivers who cut the corners and come over the double yellow. Not to mention local law enforcement attempting to keep everyone safe. Here it's best to focus on your surroundings at all times.

Tail of the Dragon Motorcycle Ride | EagleRider

Twisting through the Great Smoky Mountains between Tennessee and North Carolina, the Tail of the Dragon is popular among motorcycle riders as well as car drivers. Although the road’s turns may excite you to twist the throttle, be extremely careful. There are many accidents on this stretch of road, and there is even a “Tree of Shame” at the top of Route 129 at the Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort. The Tree of Shame has motorcycle parts dangling off its branches to pay tribute to those that were bitten by the Dragon.

The road is open year-round, but the best time to experience it is late April to early October. This stretch gets super busy with riders and car drivers on weekends, so aim to ride early in the day on a weekday to avoid traffic. On the other hand, on weekends, photographers like Killboy are stationed at strategic curves, taking photographs of motorcyclists zipping up and down the Dragon, and you can later visit their website and purchase a high-quality photo of yourself slaying the Dragon.

Veteran riders would advise you to ride the down the Tail of the Dragon slowly once to get acquainted with the road’s curves, then ride it a second time enjoying it at a higher speed. Most riders go down the Tail of the Dragon for their first time, then ride back up as it’s easier to master the corners this way. Watch out for wild turkeys, deer, and even an occasional black bear that may wander into the road.

Places to Stay

One of the most iconic motorcycle stays is right at the top of the Dragon at the Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort. This is where bikers gather to see, be seen, meet up with other riders, and grab a bite to eat at the Dragon's Den Grill. It's worth a walk-through the building just to see the phenomenal amount of T-shirts, stickers and Tail of the Dragon memorabilia in their gift shop. There are motel rooms as well as camping sites available, and this is also where you can gas up before or after your ride. There's a lot going on here all the time, and their rooms book up well in advance.

The other really popular place to stay near the Tail of the Dragon is the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge & Resort in Stecoah, on the North Carolina side. It's a large compound with cabins, lodge rooms for rent, and camping. There's also a reasonably priced bunkhouse option available for those riders who aren't fussy about where they sleep. The Iron Horse features is a friendly, low-key place to stay. It has a large community room plus bar/lounge where you can sit and chat to other motorcyclists. The lodge serves food, too, so this is a popular place to stay. No matter the time of year or day of the week, there will be several motorcycles parked at the Iron Horse, most of them bearing Tail of the Dragon stickers.

If you cannot find a room at either of those two popular places, down the mountain on the Tennessee side in Maryville, the Dragon Pitt Inn is another biker-friendly option, offering rooms with a rustic vibe in addition to covered motorcycle parking.

Motorcycle Roads and Attractions Nearby

While the Tail of the Dragon is an incredible ride, it is very short. So you may want to plan a few other routes in the area. For scenic mountain vistas with breathtaking views, head over to the Cherohala Skyway, a 43-mile route with plenty of big sweepers and panoramic views. The Cherohala Skyway is lesser-known than the Dragon, and it this rider's personal favorite. There isn't as much traffic here, the views are breathtaking, and you can relax and ride while observing the scenery.

To extend your motorcycle trip, ride Blue Ridge Parkway is a spectacular road running along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. For a special treat, head on over to Maggie Valley and visit the Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum, boasting a vast collection of retro, vintage, and rare motorcycles from the past century.

 

Route: view in Google Maps

Scenic ride length: 11 miles

Ride duration: 40m

 

Rent a Motorcycle From EagleRider and Enjoy Cherohala Skyway, Southern TN Motorcycle Ride

Rent a Motorcycle From EagleRider and Enjoy Cherohala Skyway, Southern TN Motorcycle Ride

Cherohala Skyway, Southern TN Motorcycle Ride | EagleRider

If you don’t have the time to ride the entire Blue Ridge Parkway but want to get a taste of it, the shorter and lesser-known Cherohala Skyway is the perfect route to take. The Skyway connects Robbinsville, North Carolina with Tellico Plains, Tennessee, and follows the ridgeline for most of its length. A concentrated version of the famous Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cherohala Skyway packs a punch with endless switchbacks, thrilling curves, and incredible scenery around every bend of the road. 

One of the best motorcycle roads in the Smoky Mountains, the Cherohala Skyway is a fabulous ride for all motorcyclists and can make a great prelude to your Blue Ridge Parkway or Tail of the Dragon adventure. The Cherohala Skyway offers a glimpse into what the pristine wilderness of the Smoky Mountains has to offer, traveling through both the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests.

There is little traffic on this road, and there won’t be any gas stations or facilities along the way except for a few basic restrooms. Pack a warm layer as the elevation will rise to over 5,000 feet (1524 meters) above sea level, and it may be a little cooler as you climb higher.

Although the road beckons you to twist that throttle with so many fabulous sweeping curves, ride cautiously as occasionally there is wildlife in the road. Often there is thick fog on the Cherohala Skyway as well, creating the feeling of riding in the clouds, and when conditions are wet, as it rains here often, the road can get a bit slippery. Don't let this keep you away, however. The breathtaking mountain scenery that reveals itself on this route is more than worth it.

While there aren’t any places to eat or fuel up, you will see numerous pullouts and scenic lookout points as well as designated picnic areas. The Cherohala Skyway itself is a very short route, spanning only 43 miles, so stopping and admiring the views often will make the ride a relaxing experience. Plus you'll get some phenomenal photographs.

If you aren’t in a rush, take the detour to Indian Boundary Lake to take a break, stretch your legs, and enjoy the serene lake views. There are a campsite and a picnic area you can use if you'd like for a $3 fee.

History imbues the area, and an old wagon road crosses the Cherohala at the North Carolina/Tennessee State Line. If you're on an adventure bike, it's a great ride down this 30-mile gravel Forest Service Road. Winding through Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests in North Carolina and Tennessee, Cherohala Skyway is a beloved route among local motorcyclists.

Receiving little traffic, this road is a terrific motorcycle ride for anyone on two wheels.


Route: view in Google Maps

Scenic ride length: 43 miles

Ride duration: 1 Hour 20 min

Rent a Motorcycle From EagleRider and Enjoy BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY - VA, NC Motorcycle Ride

Rent a Motorcycle From EagleRider and Enjoy BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY - VA, NC Motorcycle Ride

9739 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax, Virginia 22031

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY - VA, NC Motorcycle Ride | EagleRider

“America’s Favorite Drive”, the Blue Ridge Parkway, is hands-down the most scenic motorcycling road on the East Coast. Snaking along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers so many scenic overlooks and awe-inspiring vistas it’s best done at a leisurely pace over two to three days. In fact, with the speed limit being 45 miles per hour, the leisurely pace is the only legal way to experience it.

The Blue Ridge Parkway was built during the Great Depression to create jobs and connect the Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Today the Parkway is recognized as an American classic, offering a historical view into Appalachia. Endless sweeping curves, excellent pavement quality, and the breathtaking views of the mountains make Blue Ridge Parkway one of the very best roads for motorcycle riders.

The optimal time weather-wise to ride a motorcycle on the Blue Ridge Parkway is from mid-May through to mid-October. Earlier and later in the season can be good times to ride as well, the Fall being particularly spectacular with the color of the changing leaves. It all depends on when the frost comes to settle in at the Parkway's higher elevation. It's not unheard of for local riders to ride year-round on the Parkway, but since the weather is so changeable up on the ridge one needs to expect the unexpected late Fall through early Spring. Some portions may be closed due to snow and ice, and sometimes the road is not closed, yet there still is snow and ice.

 Most likely there will be fog and rain, especially in the mornings, and yet this is the very thing that makes this motorcycle ride so spectacular. The fog that resembles smoke rolling over the ridge in front of you can make you feel like you are riding in the clouds. And the fog laying low in the valley makes for memorable pictures. The beauty of riding here is that each day's changing weather profile equates to absolutely spectacular scenery.

Most motorcycle riders prefer to take their time and ride the Blue Ridge Parkway in two or three days, as the route is long and winding, and there are so many great places to break the journey. If you have just two days, start in the North and aim to stay the night in Roanoke and continue your trip the next day. With three days, consider overnighting your second night in the Asheville, North Carolina, area. Asheville is a vibrant city that is heaven for foodies and beer aficionados alike.

Here’s what not to miss along the way.

Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive, a scenic 105-mile road running through Shenandoah National Park, is the perfect route to get into the Blue Ridge Parkway rhythm. Starting in Front Royal, Skyline Drive meanders across Shenandoah in sweeping curves and twists and ends near Afton where it becomes the Blue Ridge Parkway just past the Route 64 intersection. There are over seventy scenic overlooks on Skyline Drive offering breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley. As this is a National Park, be prepared to pay an entry fee and take it easy on Skyline Drive as the speed limit here is a strict 35 miles per hour.

As you continue to the Blue Ridge Parkway, there are several points of interest to visit. Along the way, stop at the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis (milepost 292). Built in 1883, Mast is the oldest continuously operating general store in the USA, and it still sells pioneer-era items such as kerosene lamps and hosts bluegrass jam sessions in the back yard.

Linville Falls at milepost 316 is an ideal place to stop, stretch your legs, and admire the fairytale waterfalls purported to be the most stunning along the entire Parkway.

Altapass Orchard at milepost 334 is one of the best places to learn about Appalachian heritage, have fun on a hayride, grab a bite to eat and sample their homemade apple pie and ice cream.

Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum, Maggie Valley

Located just 16 miles East of Cherokee and a mere 5 miles off Blue Ridge Parkway, Maggie Valley is a lovely little town featuring several mom and pop diners and service stops. The real gem of Maggie Valley, for motorcyclists, is the Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum. This museum has a massive collection of over 350 rare motorcycles of all makes and models from the early 1900s to the 1990s.

Excelsior, Indian, Harley Davidson, Yale – Wheels Through Time prides itself in collecting some of the rarest and most valuable two-wheeled machines in the world. There are also exhibits featuring memorabilia, racing artifacts, and other curious items creating a mesmerizing atmosphere within the museum’s halls. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours exploring the museum and then grab some lunch at one of the diners lining the road.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Leaving Maggie Valley and riding towards the Pisgah Inn, a beloved stop among veteran Blue Ridge Parkway riders, you will be traveling through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is the most visited National Park in the USA, and understandably so: the Appalachian Mountains create a stunning natural wonderland of rolling plateaus here. And the Blue Ridge Parkway will take you right across the heart of this gorgeous country.

As you ride along, beware of wildlife, especially black bears, that may wander into the road. If you plan to camp, do so only at designated camping areas and make sure to stow any food away in the containers provided to avoid an unwelcome visit from a hungry bear.

Riding the Blue Ridge Parkway

As you embark on your Blue Ridge Parkway journey, get ready to ride a seriously beautiful road. You will encounter countless sweeping curves and tight twists on this route. While it’s tempting to twist that throttle, keep the 45 mph speed limit in mind and beware of loose gravel and slippery wet leaves on the road, especially if it has been raining.

There will be ample opportunities to stop and stretch your legs at scenic overlooks, and if you feel like breaking your journey up even more, there are numerous campgrounds along the Parkway, all operated by the National park Service. The Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground offers cabins and tent space, while the Skyline Village Inn is especially biker-friendly, welcoming motorcycle riders with a parts service and a small workshop should you need any repairs. And of course, there's the lovely Pisgah Inn, a three-star inn with a comfortable atmosphere and uncanny mountain views. With an on-site restaurant that has some of the best dining in the area, plus a gift shop, this is an incredibly popular stop.

 

View route on WikiMaps

Scenic ride length: 522 miles

Ride duration: 8 hours 50 min

Instagram photo by: @blueridgenps

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