Tail of the Dragon Hwy US 129 318 Curves in 11 miles

[CarlosMendoza]

Just got back from a trip to Gatlinburg TN.  Had to go to a conference for work, so I decided to haul the GS in the back of my truck ... great decision.  The conference ended early on Friday and with good weather, I was able to go for a day ride.  Rain off/on throughout the week kept the GS in the back of the truck until then.  I had always dreamed of riding the Tail of the Dragon, but did not realize that there are many good roads in the Gatlinburg area.  If you someday get the opportunity, I highly recommend it.  Below is the link of the route I took from Gatlinburg around the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.  Let me know what you think.
Thanks and Happy Riding
Carlos

http://www.tailofthedragonmaps.com/maps_gatlinburg_directions.html 

The best way to the Dragon from Gatlinburg is to take 441 south into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
for about 2 miles. Then take a right onto 73 (Little River Road) at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. This road
(34 miles) is listed as one of the 10 most scenic roads in America. Continue on 73 all the way into Townsend.
Do not take the Cades Cove turn-off. In Townsend you will merge into TN 321 West. Continue on 321 West to
the Foothills Parkway. This is another very scenic road. Take the Foothills Parkway to US 129. Turn left onto
US 129 South and you will meet the Dragon in about 3 miles. Total miles one way: 49 miles- Riding Time: 1 hour 15
minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes depending on traffic (stops not included).
Continue south on US 28 (also known as Moonshiner 28) to US 74/19. Then take US74/19 and US 441 North thru Cherokee and then over the mountains thru the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park into Gatlinburg.  Riding time: Plan for a full day.

[smackdoogie]

Rode there in June for the first time. Had the squishier suspension before I upgraded. Hope to ride there after I get the bike running a little better. Want to do the dragon, cherahoa?, and the snake 28 I think. Great area!

[Asym]

The dragon is great, but its can really get crowded unless you go late in the day. We went last year but talked to a crew from Georgia and they recommended heading down to wolf pen gap which was my favorite road on the trip. Short road but it climbs and goes down fast with nice curves.
We got to the Dragon late on a Thursday and the Dragon was almost empty except for a few locals. The cops don't sit there later and the locals drive faster than the posted speed limit. I had 2 enduros pass me on blind corners when I backed off. First one caught me as I was throwing sparks off of my muffler taking a corner, top of the hill he thought I was the crazy one throwing sparks.
Also use a GPS, it makes roads like the Dragon a video game. You have an overhead display of whats coming up which makes it a little safer.

[rayshon]

Also use a GPS. You have an overhead display of whats coming up which makes it a little safer.

This is some GREAT advice

[mister]

Also use a GPS. You have an overhead display of whats coming up which makes it a little safer.

This is some GREAT advice

Relying on a GPS display to make you Safer is counter productive to being safe. If you don't know what's coming up you will ride slower and take it easier until you know the road - and that is the safest way to do it. Plus, you won't have a GPS screen to take your focus away from the road and can devote all your concentration to the road and judging it better. PLUS, doing so will make you a better judge of the road.

Michael

[rkjjeep]

A GPS is not a rally navigator.  Do what you ike but on a road like that I never take my eyes off the road ahead.

I have ridden the dragon probably 30 times and find it an average over marketed road.  You can find better less crowded roads in many places including southern Ohio.  I will try to post a link later.  Ride safely.

[rayshon]

Also use a GPS. You have an overhead display of whats coming up which makes it a little safer.

This is some GREAT advice

Relying on a GPS display to make you Safer is counter productive to being safe. If you don't know what's coming up you will ride slower and take it easier until you know the road - and that is the safest way to do it. Plus, you won't have a GPS screen to take your focus away from the road and can devote all your concentration to the road and judging it better. PLUS, doing so will make you a better judge of the road.

Michael

True, but he's saying that you can glance quickly on the straight-a-ways and get an idea of just how sharp that turn up ahead is. You know how many people crashed there because they overestimated/underestimated a turn?

[Asym]

Southern Ohio has some of the "could" be greatest roads. I'm in Ohio and many of the roads are pure crap. In fact I wrecked about a month ago between Athens and Chillicothe. It was partially my fault and a road that had lots of gravel from neglect. There are great roads there but many of them are covered in gravel, cinder, and sand.
Run the triple nickel(RT 555) some time, blind corners after hill peaks. Northern section needs repaved with tree lines that don't follow the road.

I keep an eye on the road but the GPS gives you a heads up for a few miles ahead in map mode. Its mounted under the wind screen and is almost in the line of sight of the road. Its easy to glance at when the roads are straight.