Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson ~ Maryville TN
Wheelers Performance ~ Robbinsville NC
Claw of the Dragon ~ Southwest Virginia
Lynn’s Place ~ Robbinsville NC
Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center
Cherokee Realty ~ Robbinsville NC
Wolf Creek Rentals
E-MOTORCYCLE RENTALS, Robbinsville NC
129 Hub, Dragon Welcome Center
Smoky Mountain Drives
129 Dragon Shine & Helmets
Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap with 318 curves in 11 miles: America’s number one motorcycle and sports car road.
Designated US 129, the road is bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest with no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travel. It is considered “the destination” for thousands of motorcycle and sports car fans throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Can you brave it? It’s best to be cautious as the turns are tight, but the Tail of the Dragon is guaranteed to be the ride of your life.
The nearby Cherohala Skyway is quickly becoming a destination too, with its remote 60 miles of breathtaking scenic mountain highway. The area also has other incredible roads like the Moonshiner 28, Foothills Parkway, Smoky Mountain Loop, Devils Triangle, Blue Ridge Parkway, The Gambler NC209, Diamondback 226, Devil's Staircase, Six Gap North Georgia, The Snake US421 and many Great Forest Service Dual Sport and Jeep Roads.
The Complete History of US 129 from Chiefland, FL to Knoxville, TN
by Ron Johnson 2020
STORM UPDATE
The eye of Hurricane Helene passed over the Tail of the Dragon as the storm raged to our east and west. We actually could see the sun in the minutes it passed. Oddly this left our area virtually untouched compared to other areas in North Carolina and Tennessee. Visitors headed this way should carefully plan their route to get here, but all of our roads near the Dragon are fine.
Tail of the Dragon Store
Tail of the Dragon offers custom signs in both street sign and shield format. You can add a photo too. What a great way to remember your trip to the Dragon.
Tail of the Dragon Store
Find your swag for all the great roads including Cherohala Skwyay, Tail of the Dragon, Moonshiner 28, Devils Triangle, Six Gap, Diamondback and more.
Dragon Web Cams
Current Highlights
Find your photos online at Killboy.com
Tail of the Dragon
TAIL OF THE DRAGON AT DEALS GAP, 318 curves in 11 miles, America's #1 motorcycle and sports car road. Plus other area twisties. www.TailoftheDragon.com www.Cherohala.com www.devilstriangletn.com www.moonshiner28.com
A Holiday Motel is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains only 5 miles from The Blue Ridge Parkway, close to Deal's Gap and popular Tail of The Dragon. A family run establishment located in the heart of Maggie Valley, NC directly across from the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, 1/2 mile walk to Wheels Through Time Museum and 5 miles from Cataloochee Ski Area. They offer affordable rates & good ol' fashion southern hospitality. They enjoy providing hospitality to all types of travelers from the retired traveler to the family with kids to the motorcycle and car enthusiast!
A Holiday Motel is a motorcycle friendly establishment. You can use the picnic tables and grills for cooking out while relaxing in the yard or sitting by the bonfire. Watch your children play in our playground while you rock in your rocking chair in front of your room. Cool off in the large outdoor pool in the summertime and enjoy cool mountain evenings sitting on the front porches in their famous rocking chairs.
Please note: A Holiday Motel is fully operational post Hurricane Helene and your patronage is much appreciated.
Book now / learn more here: holidaymotel.net/
40 CommentsComment on Facebook
We have stayed there for 15 years and will be back this year. Great place and Rob is a great host!!🏍🏍
I stayed here a few years back. Great hosts and awesome place
I stayed there once it was a great place and very friendly staff look forward to staying again.
This one is a stunner.
The Foothills Parkway has been in the works for some 75 years and is probably another 20 years to completion. The southern most 17 miles running from US 129 at the Chilhowee Lake to US 321 at Walland was completed in 1966 and is quite spectacular. The next phase of 16 miles was opened in December of 2018. This extension runs 17-miles from US 321 in Walland to Wears Valley.
There is a northern 5.6 miles open from I-40 south to US 321 near Cosby. This short section was opened in 1968.
Meanwhile, in between these sections is 33.5 miles where construction has not even begun. Right-of-way has been purchased by the National Park Service, but funding is not in place.
It is amazing that such a great highway for tourism has not yet been completed. Portions of the Parkway skirts the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited National Park in the United States. This has discouraged the Parkway construction by some and encouraged it by others. US 441 from Cherokee, North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the only route through the National Park, is nearly always crowded with traffic. The Parkway offers tourists another scenic route that will ease some of this traffic.
The southern section of the Parkway offers some spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains on one side and the Tennessee Valley on the other. On clear days one can see all the way to the Cumberland Mountains 50 miles to the west.
Learn more here: foothillsparkwaytn.com/
13 CommentsComment on Facebook
How Iin the hell do u get to this bridge??
Been there twice, for Mini Cooper Rally
Been there many times!
Stretching from US 129 at the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Moonshiner 28 winds its way southeastward 103 miles through Franklin and Highlands North Carolina before turning southward into Georgia and South Carolina ending at the sleepy town of Walhalla.
Once one of the major runs for moonshiners with revenuers hot on their bumper, the road today boasts some great twisties, wide sweepers and unsurpassed scenery. Mountain vistas, waterfalls and secluded lakes appear around nearly every corner. You can find good food, accommodations of every type and unique shops with unusual antiques and crafts created by mountain artisans.
Spend a day or a week exploring this Smoky Mountain Country. It doesn’t matter if you are motorcycling, driving a sports car or bringing the family van. And visit the nearby legal moonshine distilleries in Gatlinburg, TN; Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC.
GRAB ALL THE DETAIL HERE: moonshiner28.com/
78 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Moonshiner 28 is a much better ride than the Tail. If you are going to ride the Tail, ride the Moonshiner too. Less traffic, wild curves, and waterfalls.
I usually start at Tellico Plains incorporate the Skyway on it head through Robbinsville then connect you know that cool Road into Franklin then come on and back up one of my all time favorite rides
Don’t forget about the Cherohala.
We're kicking off the year with 25 Essential Rides for 2025. These are in no particular order. Who else is ready to get out and explore? And which rides do you think will make the list?
Full list provided at the end. And of course you can always explore all of our recommended rides at TailoftheDragon.com
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
I've done thousands of miles in the area over the past decade and the Moonshiner 28 used to be my favorite, especially with how it's connected to the Dragon, but last summer, I found a new favorite and it is the Devil's Triangle. Holy crap what a road that is. The Snake is also pretty fantastic though have only done that one once, being as far NE as it is.
I like the Cheraholla skyway and the Blue Ridge better.
360 Loop Blue Ridge Parkway Moonshiner 28
FEATURED LODGING
Want to see more?
There are a wide variety of accommodations in our area. These range from basic tent camping to exclusive mountain top resorts.