Category Archives: Gatlinburg

Popular tourist city on the north side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Which is the Best Town to Stay In when Riding the Smokies?

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There is no “one size fits all” place for motorcycle riders touring in the Smoky Mountains. Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses depending on what you want to get out of your motorcycle trip.

100 Smoky Mountain Rides Map

100 Smoky Mountain Rides Map

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park takes up a huge chunk of real estate on the North Carolina / Tennessee border. Staying within the park means camping, and numerous options present. You’ll find these campgrounds fairly busy and congested though that also means basic facilities are assured and they are in stunningly beautiful settings. It’s nice from a camping standpoint, but you’ll be starting and ending each day on the few park roads as you commute to the surrounding areas cutting into your ride time each day.

US 441 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

US 441 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Outside the Park – Towns around the park can be divided by compass direction – north, south, east, west. Each of these areas is distinctly different reflected in the towns within.

Tennessee Foothills Scenic Parkway

Tennessee Foothills Scenic Parkway

North of the Park:

Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge – Tourist Mecca. Easy to get to and just half an hour south from Knoxville, these towns are dominated by tourist attractions like Dollywood, Ripley’s, Ober Gatlinburg, the Space Needle, Smoky Mountain Opree, and all kinds of venues geared to kids, families, shopping, nightlife, and the scenic park views. It’s a busy, bustling, and energetic place with loads of places to stay. Riding in this area is comparatively limited and the major roads congested. North of the park the mountains quickly subside into the broad Tennessee River Valley. The riding is to the east and west, look to the lesser traveled valleys and back roads. South takes you into the park.

Townsend – West of the big towns, Townsend stretches along the Little River into the park. It has a large tourism focus but is not as built up. Riding to the east means passing through the big towns, to the south is one entrance to the park. The Tennessee Foothills Parkway takes you west to US 129 on the north side of The Dragon and access to the western rides.

Cosby / Newport – This is pretty rural country except for the main road (US 321) which passes though it. The tourist focus diminishes as you stray north from the park to Newport and it’s more characteristic of the east side of GSMNP. For ADV riders, it sits on the edge of some decent unpaved riding in the Pisgah National Forest.

NC 209 - The Rattler

NC 209 – The Rattler

East of the Park:

Hot Springs – The area on the east side of GSMNP is dominated by the Pisgah National Forest. The mountains continue their arc north from the park to the highest of the peaks still miles distant. This area is rural and undeveloped. The few roads that do run through it are outstanding mountain rides, even Interstate 40 cutting through the Tennessee River Gorge is spectacularly scenic. Small mountain towns dot the landscape, Hot Springs is one of them. The historic town has limited places to stay and eat and a campground on the French Broad River.

Asheville – A vibrant and beautiful small city. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through it. You’ll find ample places to stay in the surroundings, and the city traffic can be escaped fairly quickly. Known for its food and beer culture, parking is an issue to the point walking is the way to go when downtown. You’ll be paying city prices but also have access to some luxurious and scenic places to stay if that’s your style.

West of the Park: 

Deals Gap – Both south and west of the park, Deals Gap sits at the NC end of The Dragon. It’s relatively remote with few lodging options, but if you’re a Dragonista it’s heaven.

Robbinsville – at the crossroads of The Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, Robbinsville is a small town. There’s one large motel, a few motorcycle centered lodgers, and a handful of restaurants. There’s a nice mix of riding in the surroundings.

Tellico Plains – across the Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains is a small town. You find a handful of restaurants, a few lodgers, and camping nearby. The best riding is to the east and south, a loop north takes you to the Dragon.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

South of the Park:

Waynesville – The largest town in western North Carolina hosts the best food west of Asheville and a popular downtown. Lodging options are scattered. It’s at the hub of the best riding with great roads in every direction. The are numerous roads leading from town which intersect the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Land of the Waterfalls to the south.

Maggie Valley – On the edge of the park, Maggie Valley has the most places to stay. Like Waynesville, it sits at the epicenter of the best riding and makes an ideal base for a longer stay. Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum is a popular attraction. There are numerous motorcycle events throughout the season. Easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and many great rides are found nearby.

Cherokee – Located at the south end of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee offers ample places to stay and lots of small restaurants. It’s the heart of Cherokee culture with museums and attractions. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino dominates the landscapes on the outskirts of town. There is riding in all directions though the town itself can be congested and busy and many commutes will be on major roads.

Bryson City – Somewhat isolated, Bryson City is a small town with several good places to eat and limited lodging. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is the big tourist draw as is camping at the edge of the park at Deep Creek. Riding is to the east, west, and south.

Stecoah – Barely a town, you’ll find campgrounds and cabins in this area. Few places to eat. It sits on NC 28 leading to Robbinsville and Deals Gap. The best riding is to the west. It’s good location for ADV riders looking to explore the unpaved roads.

Fontana Village – An isolated location, you find the Fontana Village Resort has all you need in one spot. It sits on NC 28 close to the Dragon and rides west. The Fontana Dam is nearby.

Maggie Valley, NC

Maggie Valley, NC

Which is best?

If your focus is being surrounded by the best roads so you can spend your visit riding, the south side of Great Smoky National Park is best. You’ll find the most options for lodging, eating, and other attractions on the southeast side, more remote and quiet places on the southwest side. No matter which area you stay in, you’ll find more great motorcycle rides in the Smoky Mountain area than anywhere else, enjoy!

Wayne Busch – America Rides Maps

Wayne Busch searches out the most entertaining roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains then records them on a series of maps which span the Blue Ridge Mountains.

There are more great motorcycle roads in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains than anywhere else. I highlight the best roads then show you the best ways to connect them together into rides. More than a decade of searching has discovered more than 1000 good roads to enjoy. We continue to search so you may enjoy.

Review the maps, order online here – AmericaRidesMaps.com

100 Rides In the Smokies – Full Sized Map
http://miles-by-motorcycle.com/51999/photos/52000/untitled/52073/100-rides-in-the-smokies—full-sized-map)

Source: America Rides Maps Blog @ Miles-by-Motorcycle.com
https://miles-by-motorcycle.com/51999/blog/53524/5-best-motorcycle-rides-in-the-smoky-mountains

New Rock Slide Affects Motorcycle Vacation Plans to Smokies

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Add yet another rock slide to the long list of road closures in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. This one in particular will affect many motorcycle vacation plans to visit one of the most popular and well known rides in the region, the infamous Tail of the Dragon on US 129 at Deals Gap. Located along the western border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the 13 mile stretch of US 129 with it’s 311 curves draws hundreds of thousands of motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts each year who come to experience the challenging stretch of road.

It’s been an exceptional year for rock slides in the Smokies, the most notable being the massive slide along the eastern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park which has closed Interstate 40 for months. With both the east and west routes around the park closed, the only route allowing north-south travel from Tennessee to North Carolina is US 411 which cuts through the heart of the park and it too has been the scene of slides. US 441 is presently open, though cleanup continues on the northern spur road.

The Tail of the Dragon is still accessible from the North Carolina side. From Tennessee, the best route is through Tellico Plains and onto the Cherohala Skyway. Expect increased traffic loads on TN 68 approaching Tellico Plains due to yet another rock slide on US 64-74 in the Ocoee River Gorge which has shifted traffic onto it. As far as I can tell, it is still possible to reach Pumpkin Center from Vonure on the north end of the Dragon via the popular Dragon – Cherohala loop ride. Still, even more traffic will now be using these roads and you may want to reconsider visiting the area until things improve.

I’ve been reporting on the status of all the rock slides and road closures in my newsletter which you’ll find archived here – http://budurl.com/3smm. As there are so many, so widely scattered, it may be the easiest place to find all the information without bouncing around to various DOT sites (they are rarely as up to date). With so much going on, I’ll probably post an extra edition or two to keep you apprised of the situation and help with your motorcycle vacation plans. There is a lot going on you need to be aware of including the progress on the clean up to the Blue Ridge Parkway after severe winter storm damage, the closed section there, and all the roads which have been closed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for paving.

If you have early year travel plans to Robbinsville, Townsend, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or Franklin, I suggest you consider them carefully. Better alternative destinations for motorcycle touring would include Maggie Valley and Asheville. I’m am working with local lodgers to find you the best deals and affordable as well as luxury motorcycle friendly accommodations. I’ll be stepping up those efforts. Please email me for help. The changes in traffic patterns have severely impacted their business and there are some deals to be had. Watch the blog as I review them.

Finally, for America Rides Maps patrons, I want you to be aware these rock slides have impacted 3 of the 4 loop rides on the most popular map “Maggie Valley to Deals Gap and the Cherohala Skyway”. I strongly urge you to look at the “Waterfall Package” for the best alternative. These two maps will lead you into some of my favorite areas unaffected by the changing traffic patterns and open up a wealth of fantastic rides which are too often overlooked. These roads are the first place I head when looking for great riding, the first place I take tour groups, and hold everything you’ve come to expect from a motorcycle vacation in the Smokies.

Paving – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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The National Park Service is beginning an 18 month long project to repave 6.5 miles of Newfound Gap Road (US 441), the only road which crosses through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The section to be repaved starts at the south boundary near Cherokee and climbs to the Collins Creek Picnic Area intersection. Last paved in 1983, the road is in sore need of attention.

Road closures on Newfound Gap Road are nothing new. Sections have required maintenance resulting in lane closures for years. It’s been a rare day when you can make an uninterrupted transit from Cherokee, NC to Gatlinburg, TN. While this is one of those “must do” rides to see the park, it’s never been one of my first choices for a days ride. If you’re not pausing for road maintenance, you’re crawling along behind some lumbering RV straining to make the climb or smoking his brakes on the way down. Considering the thousands of miles of fabulous empty mountain roads in the surrounding area I prefer to go elsewhere.

Still, to see the park you gotta do the ride. If you haven’t done it, it’s worth the time and effort. Fill up, pack a snack and some water, bring the camera, don’t have a deadline, and take the time to enjoy the views. There’s a reason it’s the most visited national park in the nation and it is the Park’s 75th anniversary this year.

Lane closures will be staggered to reduce the impact on traffic. The contractor may close up to four areas at a time with delays at each closure which may not exceed 10 minutes. The park has a toll free recording providing details on lane closures at (888) 355-1849.

If you haven’t done this ride, you should. It’s included in one of the four loop rides on America Rides Maps “Maggie Valley to Deals Gap and the Cherohala Skyway“. However, if you crave more deserted roads that not only give you wonderful scenery but a challenging ride, there are another 600 miles or so of routes on that map that will keep you carving through the curves and rolling along the back roads where RV’s, Grandpa, and van loads of kids never tread.