Lynn’s Place ~ Robbinsville NC
129 Dragon Shine & Helmets
Cherokee Realty ~ Robbinsville NC
Claw of the Dragon ~ Southwest Virginia
Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson ~ Maryville TN
Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center
Wheelers Performance ~ Robbinsville NC
Wolf Creek Rentals
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
Winter Comes
We have closed our T-shirt Shack for the 2023 season, but you can still get Tail of the Dragon gear in our on-line store. Check-out our Big Holiday Discounts.
The Tail of the Dragon Highway (US129) remains open through the winter months, but check the weather before heading this way. There are still good riding/driving days even in the winter months.
Our T-shirt Shack will reopen in early March weather permitting.
There are plans to repave the Tail of the Dragon this summer. Specific details will not be availble until after the contract is let in March. The disruption to traffic has been minimal in past repavings. Only short sections of the road will be one lane as the work progresses. We will be posing more when TDOT updates their plans after March.
The most recent paving took place in June 2002. It was during the week of Honda Hoot in Knoxville and caused very little if any problems at the Tail.
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.
Upcoming 2023 Events
From official rallies with hundreds of attendees to a small gathering of friends, our region is ready to host your group. Let us help you plan your event.
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
We'll just tell you now, you're going to want to book this one early! Next stop on the 2024 Where to Stay Tour is Ironhorse Motorcycle Resort.
First class accommodations aimed at the motorcycle crowd. Located just 30 minutes from the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway, the Ironhorse offers cabin rooms, full cabins, bunkhouse, wagons, and camping. Located directly on Stecoah Creek. Dining available.
Group Facilities: Facilities include 4 large luxury cabins, 15 cabin rooms, 2 bunkhouses, RV sites and campground. Restaurant and large indoor pavilion on site. Outdoor gathering area for your group. Everything within walking distance. Popular location for motorcycle groups.
Grab the details / book now here: ironhorsenc.com/
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Lis Fenl
Brian Chidester
Break out your sage . . . next stop on the 2024 Where to Explore Tour is The Devil's Triangle.
The Details:
The Devils Triangle, just north of Oak Ridge (TN) in the mountains of the Cumberland Plateau, is made up of some of the most unusual two lane twisty roads in Tennessee. There is a lot of history in the area. It has seen boom and bust, dreadful mining disasters and some historical prisoners at Brushy Mountain which is now a great tourist stop open seven days a week.
This 44 mile loop includes TN 62, TN 116 and TN 330. The interesting sections are on TN 116. The western most fun begins at Brushy Mountain Penitentiary and continues northeasterly for 3.5 miles. The tight twisties are as good as the Tail of the Dragon but there are even more dangers here; deep rock strewn gullies just off the pavement, ragged, rusty steel guard rails, steep drop offs and rock cliffs leave no room for error. The middle 14 miles are fairly tame with rural houses and driveways along the entire way. Watch out for kids on ATVs.
Keep reading here: devilstriangletn.com/
Grab your Devil's Triangle maps here: tailofthedragonmaps.com/devils-triangle-tn/
25 CommentsComment on Facebook
Great ride
Great ride!!
One of my favorite rides!
Good ride
Bob Kendall Jr
Friend stalled right there, Wing was upside down in the ditch to the right…
Great ride, and check out the prison.
Cliff Reighley
Danny Black
Good ride, and it's totally different heading clockwise vs counter-clockwise.
Bill Bratton Junior
An awesome road. Much more elevation change and much less traffic than the TOD. You do need to watch out for the ATVs from Winrock though. Check out the Brushy Mountain Prison museum/distillery in Petros while you are there. A very interesting tour and decent BBQ at their restaurant.
Doug Varner
Shelby Fay
Juan Ramirez
Attention Samantha Gilbert
I still can't get over the house that's being refurbished in between those curves. Coming opposite direction and drive across the roof of you're not careful.
Harold Eugene Gilkerson
I had to cancel my plans 1.5 years ago due to weather
Is it passable today, Jan 18th? We need to go to Knoxville
Watch out for the gravel tracked onto the roadway from driveways and intersecting roads...
Cesar Rodriguez Go… 🏍️ check this ride out 💗
What the heck is going on with that pavement in the picture?
DVL’s Triangle Sux A$$. Gravel Driveways all over it spilling out onto the Pavement. Motorcycle Nightmare unless u ride it Counterclockwise 👎🏿
I love this trip, but in 10/17/24 I visited with other friends, some profesional take pictures and next mouth before that pic 4 pictures pay $ 60.00 just only received one of them, I sent messages no answer…129photo…careful with this side…👎
Next stop on the Where to Explore in 2024 list is the Foothills Parkway!
The Foothills Parkway (as of December 2018) consists of a 33 miles connecting US 129 and US 321 in Tennessee. This scenic drive through US Forest Service lands offers a number of fabulous views of east Tennessee all the way to the Cumberland Mountains some 50 miles to the west and the Great Smoky Mountains just a stones throw to the east.
The route has minimal traffic compared to other Smoky Mountain highways and provides an easy, scenic connection for tourists between the Tail of the Dragon and Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. The Foothills is included in the Smoky Mountain Loop tour.
There is a northern section of the Foothills that is 5.6 miles and connects I-40 with Cosby.
Eventually another planned section of 33.5 miles will connect all of the Foothill Parkway sections.
More details here: foothillsparkwaytn.com/
Map here: tailofthedragonmaps.com/smoky-mountain-loop-maps/
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Great road, so much fun!
Great place
Look forward to riding this ✌️❤️
I love this road so much
Great riding
Beautiful ride ,rode it a few times
Andre Trudeau...for our route?
Roads as Good as Dragon with Less or No Traffic! 🏍️ Opens April 1
Definitely a get cruise.
The extra sections were completed in 2023, right?
WillVilleBikeCamp.Com
The update many of you have been waiting for. . .
There are plans to repave the 11 miles section of US129, Tail of the Dragon, during the summer of 2024. Specific details will not be available until after the contract is awarded in March. The disruption to traffic has been minimal during past repaving. Only short sections of the road will be one lane as the work progresses. We will be posting more details when TDOT awards the paving contract in March.
Dragon Repave Project Update #1 - January 15, 2024
74 CommentsComment on Facebook
Far Out! 😎
It's definitely needed.
ElizabethandJay Cintrón
Hopefully it'll be done before we get there in late august.
It's time
Definitely needs it especially on the hair pin turns
Shelby Lunceford
I was thinking about making my first trip up this year. But looks like it may be a fall trip
It needs it bad
David Harold Cramer
Hugh M Franks
I will be there mid October (should be done then). But I was considering a visit late May, early June. I hope it is done then.
Tom Toutges Donald Cockerham
Crossroads Motortours
Pat Zingarella
Danielle Abrnts
I feel like everyone should just let the workers work and come back when it's done
It needs it
Cool!👍
Emilee Green!!
Matt Lawson
My brother drove off the side of a mountain up there.. survived after weeks in the ICU..
Yow. Imagine The Dragon with fresh blacktop…
Hopefully they don’t chip seal it as a cheep salutation.
Michael Smith we need to keep an eye on this if we plan to try to go up there this summer to make sure we can work around it.
Time to embrace your inner child and escape to a private treehouse along the creek! Our next stop on the 2024 Where to Stay Tour is River's Edge Treehouses
The Details: Nestled in the trees along North Carolina’s stunning Cheoah River, Rivers Edge Treehouse Resort offers a luxurious escape from everyday life. Step back into nature and relax as you take in views that photographers dream of capturing – reveling in comfort and serenity with each passing moment!
Book now here: www.riversedgetreehouses.com/
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Already booked a room at Deal's Gap for a week in June! Can't wait
This is a great place. We stayed here for our dragon trip.
Jim Hillard I think Denny has been holding out on us!! LOL
This looks like something that would be fun.
Nice place , the house stilts sway back and fourth while exercising with the wife tho ..
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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.