Deals gap and the Dragon

[Stiggy]

A friend and I are in the planning stages for a journey to the Dragon. We are thinking a week would be enough to do it in. Google maps gives it about a 17 hour ride from here. So about 2 days to ride down, spend 2 days there, take the long way home for 3 days maybe?
What sort of budget should be set aside for this?
We will be staying in cheap places.
Camping would be an option, but I want to try and pack light.

Anyone done this trip and have suggestions?


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...256836&t=h&z=5

[Hoss]

We took the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way home. Great road up through he mountains with lots of tunnels...ect. It's the Kancamangus x 10 for hundreds of miles. Nice scenic stretches and good riding (and I bet there is plenty of camping along the way). Starts/ends right near Deals Gap.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Parkway

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/









And That hooks up with Skyline Drive further north in VA

http://www.blueridgeskyline.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyline_Drive

I didn't get to ride the whole way (had to hop on the highway to make time). Wish I did.

[mullerjd]

I've been down there a lot but have never taken the Blue Ridge.. rush to get there, rush to get home. Anyway, budget LOTS of money for gas, that will be your biggest expense. A day of riding around down there can easily be 400+ miles.

[JudyGT]

I've been down there a lot but have never taken the Blue Ridge.. rush to get there, rush to get home. Anyway, budget LOTS of money for gas, that will be your biggest expense. A day of riding around down there can easily be 400+ miles.

Plus you can't get gas anywhere on the parkway and take a chance with the locals when you head into any of the towns. The locals can pick you out blindfolded. We got gas once halfway down heading to tenn. stopped at this station had a crank handle on the pump,1 lone fella sitting next to an extremely outdated cash register with rows of gloves and coveralls for sale behind him. Came out after 10 minutes or so,eyeballed the Tuono and said.
"looks like a pretty spensive bike ya got there?" after i told him what it was he said "OH one o' them italian foreign ones huh?" Where ya'll from? (southern NH) Oh, at least you aint one of them Massachusetts people. They assholes,
Yup, C-ya later.we'll be on our way thank you

[Stiggy]

Note to self, I am from nh

[Hoss]

Plus you can't get gas anywhere on the parkway and take a chance with the locals when you head into any of the towns. The locals can pick you out blindfolded. We got gas once halfway down heading to tenn. stopped at this station had a crank handle on the pump,1 lone fella sitting next to an extremely outdated cash register with rows of gloves and coveralls for sale behind him. Came out after 10 minutes or so,eyeballed the Tuono and said.
"looks like a pretty spensive bike ya got there?" after i told him what it was he said "OH one o' them italian foreign ones huh?" Where ya'll from? (southern NH) Oh, at least you aint one of them Massachusetts people. They assholes,
Yup, C-ya later.we'll be on our way thank you

We pulled off into a few towns for gas and thankfully didn't have much trouble. We did get caught on it at dusk and I saw more deer in a few hours then I had previously in my life, total. That was, and would be my biggest concern about riding it again.

[RandyO]

my first trip to deals gap was 3 days down, 3 days there and 4 days back that turned into 12 days total cause of a crash

I'd attempt Skyline Drive/BRP on the way down, but many times the weather on the parkway is foggy & rainey even thout it's nice in the valley. all the trips I have made it to the dragon, only once was the parkway nice enuf to ride, YOU DON'T want to ride the parkway in the fog or rain

as I said, my first trip, day one got me to gettysburg, pa, front royal by noon day 2 and roanoke by the end of day 2, made it to deals by the end of day 3

on the way back, I took a route north thru bigstone gap into KY then thru WV to Marietta OH , my riding partner crashed, and I needed tires and had to hole up in Wheeling for a couple days then cause I was alone for the remainder, I slabbed it back from Wheeling

never had any problem finding gas on the way down, there are a couple stations right on the BRP, but spaced too far in between to count on them with the small tanks that bikes have

[burnham]

I have taken the Skyline Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way down, and then rode home on 81 the last couple times I've gone. If I can get the time off from work I'll head down at the end of May/early June.

[Stiggy]

I have taken the Skyline Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way down, and then rode home on 81 the last couple times I've gone. If I can get the time off from work I'll head down at the end of May/early June.

How long does it take you to get there? Is a week enough time to not be rushing?

[mullerjd]

A week is ok but you will wish you had more time.. you could spend 2 weeks straight down there riding in TN, NC, and GA

[Nix]

A week is ok but you will wish you had more time.. you could spend 2 weeks straight down there riding in TN, NC, and GA

But your ass and legs would never forgive you.

[JudyGT]

We pulled off into a few towns for gas and thankfully didn't have much trouble. We did get caught on it at dusk and I saw more deer in a few hours then I had previously in my life, total. That was, and would be my biggest concern about riding it again.

The deer are an awesome sight to see,we had trailered the bike from NH to the tip of the BRP so when we left to go home we took off at 3am so we could literally watch the deer cross in front of us as we left the parkway. It was so cool.
It took us a week to get from the top of VA to gatlinburg starting around 8am and had destinations for sleeping each day. We had little trouble and just reversed it going back. Were able to leeve our groceries each time we stayed for the way back.took a week and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[JudyGT]

my first trip to deals gap was 3 days down, 3 days there and 4 days back that turned into 12 days total cause of a crash

I'd attempt Skyline Drive/BRP on the way down, but many times the weather on the parkway is foggy & rainey even thout it's nice in the valley. all the trips I have made it to the dragon, only once was the parkway nice enuf to ride, YOU DON'T want to ride the parkway in the fog or rain

as I said, my first trip, day one got me to gettysburg, pa, front royal by noon day 2 and roanoke by the end of day 2, made it to deals by the end of day 3

on the way back, I took a route north thru bigstone gap into KY then thru WV to Marietta OH , my riding partner crashed, and I needed tires and had to hole up in Wheeling for a couple days then cause I was alone for the remainder, I slabbed it back from Wheeling

never had any problem finding gas on the way down, there are a couple stations right on the BRP, but spaced too far in between to count on them with the small tanks that bikes have

When did you go? we could NOT find a single station on the BRP at all?

We did end up getting caught in fog and oh boy, that took 10 yrs off our life for approx 1 mile of hell

[Hoss]

my first trip to deals gap was 3 days down, 3 days there and 4 days back that turned into 12 days total cause of a crash

I'd attempt Skyline Drive/BRP on the way down, but many times the weather on the parkway is foggy & rainey even thout it's nice in the valley. all the trips I have made it to the dragon, only once was the parkway nice enuf to ride, YOU DON'T want to ride the parkway in the fog or rain

The first section was all rain and fog for us. Wasn't a great time, but once we were out of it the road was great!

[Just_Jeff]

Its not when you go.
its not how long it takes you to get there.
Its not how you get there.

Its only important that you are there.

[RandyO]

the first time I rode down, no rain, no fog, skyline dr. & brp were great, a couple years later , nice & sunny in the valley, on the ridge top, couldn't see 100 feet in front of you got off at first opportunity and made a wrong turn in the fog cause I could'nt even see the road signs,

the year I rode on bpr all the way was 2001 iirc

[RandyO]

When did you go? we could NOT find a single station on the BRP at all?

We did end up getting caught in fog and oh boy, that took 10 yrs off our life for approx 1 mile of hell

maps show gas at mile 240 Doughton Park in NC, the other station was right at the end of Skyline Drive and beginning of BRP

[burnham]

How long does it take you to get there? Is a week enough time to not be rushing?

I takes me a couple days to get down there. I'll spend a day riding in the area, and then slab it home in a (long painfull) day. Each trip I'm gone for four or five days. A week would be perfect if I could get the time. I ride a GSXR, and I'm in a little pain at the end of each day.

Its not when you go.
its not how long it takes you to get there.
Its not how you get there.

Its only important that you are there.

so true.

[Stiggy]

Awsome advice guys. Can anyone give me any motorcycle friendly motels along the way? I would like to wheel the bikes into the room with us if at all possible.
Anyone have a route plan made up you can share?

[sv484]

Stiggy,

Here is where Judy gt and I stayed
1st year april and it rained
2nd year late May no traffic - good weather
No place for bikes but there is a motel near the Gap that has garages
trailered to the start of the BRP and rode the bike to deals gap.
Great riding around the gap area not just Rt.129
the BRP maps have gas stations listed but in 2006 there were none

You can figure out our daily mileage, about 8 hrs a day decent pace

Saturday
Royal Oaks 45 Royal Oaks Lane Love, ( left the trailer there for the week)
Virginia 22952 1-800-410-0627 x
http://www.vacabins.com/

Sunday
Cabins at Laurel Creek Laurel ( nothing near this place but it's 1/2 way)
springs NC (336) 207-7677 x
http://www.cabinsonlaurelcreek.com/default.htm

Monday
Mountain Shadows Resort 1625 Hidden Hills (resort area alot good riding in smokey mtns national park)
Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 1-877-653-9429 x
http://www.mtnshadows.com/

Tuesday
Mountain Shadows Resort 1625 Hidden Hills
Road Gatlinburg, TN 37738 1-865-430-9201 x
http://www.mtnshadows.com/

Wednesday
Cabins at Laurel Creek Laurel springs NC (336) 207-7677 x http://www.cabinsonlaurelcreek.com/default.htm

Thursday
Royal Oaks 45 Royal Oaks Lane Love,
Virginia 22952 1-800-410-0627 x http://www.vacabins.com/

Friday did the skyline drive loop

PM me if want to get somemore details

SC is the on the parkway is the best street riding you can do

[RandyO]

Gatlinburg

I recommend going nowhere near Gatlinburg, there are less congested places to stay and less expensive, that are closer to the better twisties that are also less congested with cage traffic

several places in Robbinsville

[ShawnKing]

I recommend going nowhere near Gatlinburg

DEFINITELY! Treat Gatlinburg as if it were a plague zone - don't go *anywhere* near it. It's crowded, expensive, traffic choked and has all the worst parts of American Tourism...It's a horrid, ugly, sorry excuse for a town that should just be bulldozed and started over...

[ShawnKing]

A friend and I are in the planning stages for a journey to the Dragon.

Lucky you! What time of year are you going to go?

Anyone done this trip and have suggestions?

I used to live in Nashville, TN and went to The Dragon often.

We've camped in the area (at the wonderful and inexpensive Kickstand Lodge) and did the resort thing (at Fontana Village) - I prefer the resort but my wife thought the little cabins at the Kickstand were very cute.

You can also stay right at the "base" of the Dragon at the Deals Gap Resort.

[ShawnKing]

Plus you can't get gas anywhere on the parkway and take a chance with the locals when you head into any of the towns. The locals can pick you out blindfolded.

LOL Of course they can - you don't have TN or NC plates....It's easy to pick people out that way.

"Oh, at least you aint one of them Massachusetts people. They assholes..."

You do realize they were joking, right? It's a pretty common gag down South.

[Currently]

I now live an hour and a half away from the Dragon.

If you really want to enjoy riding here, bring your bikes on the back of a truck. Double team the driving and you can get here in 17-18 hours. Double team driving a truck down here will make the trip pleasant and you have a great chance to rest when you arrive. You will be fresh and rested when you get up the next day and really get a good chance to enjoy the scenery and road quality in TN, SC and northern GA.

Go to bed, DO NOT RIDE IMMEDIATELY when you get here, lots of people crash riding these roads when they are tired.

I recommend trucking it down cause you you bring all your m/c gear for all weather conditions, your coolers for drinks (Dragon is dry counties for the most part), if a bike breaks down or you do leave the road, you got a way to bring it back. Bring some food and a small hibachi for evenings. What you will save will pay for the cost in fuel. There are some nice campgrounds that are cheap if you don't mind tenting.

Like many said here ... AVOID GATLINBURG AT ALL COSTS! Don't even drive through the town. It is the worst tourist trap I have ever experienced. If you take Old Orchard Beach and combine it with Coney Island and Atlantic City during peak tourist season you will only begin to appreciate how incredibly selfish these money hungry locals are that screw with you. A bloody hemmoroid covered in veneral warts does not even begin to give that description justice.

If anyone here has ever been to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands ... Gatlinburg is worse than that cesspool. That is saying alot.