Tail of the Dragon has been slain! Wedn Oct 5
10/12/22 | 04:13 PM
#21
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Gotta Have it Green Fanatic Official TMS Travel Guide
Joined: December 17, 2012
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 1,095
From: Western NC
10/12/22 | 09:23 PM
#23
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: September 6, 2011
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 56
From: Kansas City, MO
A few thoughts as somebody who has been out there driving the entire area's roads extensively three times now.
There are amazing roads all over that area. The Dragon is great, but too many people act like it's the only thing and just go up and down it. That's a shame because it's more crowded than most roads and there are others just as good, IMO. It's definitely worth doing, especially to get the great photos that are taken professionally along the road, but don't plan on that being your whole trip. There are motorcycle maps for free at all sorts of tourist information stations, stop and snag one and just pick a direction and go. When my buddies and I did a three day trip this year, we went South slightly into Georgia one day, east to Asheville, another day, and the Dragon+Cherahola another day. Next time we go, I think we are going to stay on the Kentucky/Tennessee border and had a bunch of the roads up that way.
There are great food spots, hiking/nature spots and sights all over that area too so you can break up the day with some time out of the car.
The Moonshiner 28, which connects at the south end of the dragon, used to be my favorite road out there, but they lowered the speed limit from 55 to 35/45 and it's much more crowded than it was a few years ago for some reason. That really bummed me out this summer when we were there.
There are reasonable Airbnbs, cabins, motorcycle resorts, and neat places to stay all over the area too. Hard to go wrong.
There are amazing roads all over that area. The Dragon is great, but too many people act like it's the only thing and just go up and down it. That's a shame because it's more crowded than most roads and there are others just as good, IMO. It's definitely worth doing, especially to get the great photos that are taken professionally along the road, but don't plan on that being your whole trip. There are motorcycle maps for free at all sorts of tourist information stations, stop and snag one and just pick a direction and go. When my buddies and I did a three day trip this year, we went South slightly into Georgia one day, east to Asheville, another day, and the Dragon+Cherahola another day. Next time we go, I think we are going to stay on the Kentucky/Tennessee border and had a bunch of the roads up that way.
There are great food spots, hiking/nature spots and sights all over that area too so you can break up the day with some time out of the car.
The Moonshiner 28, which connects at the south end of the dragon, used to be my favorite road out there, but they lowered the speed limit from 55 to 35/45 and it's much more crowded than it was a few years ago for some reason. That really bummed me out this summer when we were there.
There are reasonable Airbnbs, cabins, motorcycle resorts, and neat places to stay all over the area too. Hard to go wrong.
10/13/22 | 07:35 AM
#24
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Gotta Have it Green Fanatic Official TMS Travel Guide
Joined: December 17, 2012
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 1,095
From: Western NC
^^^ So true. The roads are just endless in this region. The only problem with some others is the commercial vehicle problem, and even post office vehicles. The Dragon prohibits most and it is enforced, but mistakes do happen with truck driver GPS systems. There have been some 'classics' over the years. 
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