Any members from Smokey Mt. Area?

[bernsax]

I'm looking for some advice from someone with knowledge of the
Smokey Mountain Area. Two of my buddies and our wives are planning a trip in July to that area. We are from Iowa and plan to make it to Owensboro, KY. the first day (a Friday). Then we plan to go to Townsend, TN. the next day and spend two nights. We would leave early Mon. and travel to Robbinsville and spend 2 more nights.

One of my buddies wants to ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway. However, we only have 2 days to ride on it and have to start back to Iowa on Friday morning.

[bernsax]

To continue this post - Where would be a good place to get on the BRP from Robbinsville and where would be a good place to double back to Iowa?

Our plans are tentative but the number of days we can spend is set.

Any suggestions from anyone? Any input would be appreciated.

[VulcanE]

If your talking about Robbinsville NC, you could spend your whole vacation in that area, and not even cover 1/2 the good riding. Some of the roads I would "designate" as "must ride" are...
The Cherohala Scenic Skyway (hwy 143 from Robbinsville NC to Tellico Plains TN)
The Tail of the Dragon through Deals Gap on US 129
SR 28 by Fontana Dam
These are some great roads. The BRP ends in Cherokee NC, and all these places are just a little south and west of Cherokee. Either way, your going to have a great time in this area.

[macmac]

These: The Cherohala Scenic Skyway (hwy 143 from Robbinsville NC to Tellico Plains TN)
The Tail of the Dragon through Deals Gap on US 129
AND the park roads will be all you can do, and are better than the BRP.

In Tn at the top of the dragon is another parkway which I forget the name of, but it runs north to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, both tourist traps, but good ones. This leads into the part roads which are state highway, and very worth the ride, better than the dragon for views, with interesting riding too boot.

IMO the dragon is over rated... 318 hard sick twisted corners in 11 miles, but with poor views over all, not that it isn't very interesting, as it is, but one accident by another, will ruin the ride for all.

18 wheelers take all of both sides and then more and can be grounded in the middle. When that happens no one goes anywhere but back the way they came if that.

One of the 6 passes I made a cabin fell off a trailer LOL That ended that ride right then and there. Another ending happened with a tour bus, getting grounded on a curve.

If you ride that road stay on pavement 100% of the time. Even in a pull out. And don't get cocky on the dragon as it will eat you up.

The problem you will have is leaving this place after only 2 days time. If there is any way to get more time do it.

We stayed 90 days in a TVA camp ground at the top of the dragon, and still didn't see it all.

IF you get on the BRP and it is a bright sunny day, on it are 3 tunnels going thru the mountains. 2 of these are ok to ride thru as you can see light from the other side.

The 3rd one and i forget the order has a curve, which prevetns light coming from the other side. If you go sun blind in there, you will want a lot of extra room, because you will be black blinded in that one.

I found myself tearing off my shades and hitting passing lamps and hi beam to just try and see the painted line in there.

[donoller]

try valley view lodge in townsend tn. it a sharp place to stay the blue ridge is always a good ride if the weather is good lots of nice places to get off and ride . the dragon is closed due to rock slides.have fun