Tail of the Dragon motorcycle ride
The Tail of the Dragon is the stretch of US 129 that climbs over Deals Gap on the North Carolina and Tennessee line. It is famous for packing 318 curves into about 11 miles, with no side roads or driveways along the way, and riders come from every state to ride it.
Opens Deals Gap to Tabcat Creek in the MotoCurve planner on the Curvy style. Change the start to your home or hotel, then send it to the app for voice navigation.
Highlights
- Deals Gap at the south end, a classic meeting point for riders, with the Tree of Shame of broken motorcycle parts.
- Tight, constant curves from end to end with almost no straight road between them.
- Easy to combine with the Cherohala Skyway and the Moonshiner 28 for a full day in the Smokies.
Before you ride
- The speed limit is low and the road is patrolled. Photographers shoot every rider and sell the pictures online.
- Traffic includes cars, trucks and many other riders who may be riding beyond their limits. Stay in your lane: oncoming vehicles cross the center line in the tight turns.
- There is no fuel on the Dragon itself. Fill up before you start.
When to ride
Open all year, but the busy season is spring to fall, and weekends are crowded. Ride it early on a weekday for the cleanest run.
Questions
- How long is the Tail of the Dragon?
- As MotoCurve routes it, Deals Gap to Tabcat Creek is about 12 miles, roughly 26 min of riding without stops.
- When can you ride the Tail of the Dragon?
- Open all year, but the busy season is spring to fall, and weekends are crowded. Ride it early on a weekday for the cleanest run.
- How high does the Tail of the Dragon go?
- The route runs between about 1,080 and 2,030 feet above sea level.
- Can I get turn-by-turn directions for the Tail of the Dragon?
- Yes. Open it in the free MotoCurve planner, change the start to your home or hotel, and send it to the MotoCurve app for voice navigation on Android or iPhone. You can also download the GPX for a Garmin or another GPS.
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Ride these next
More roads in North Carolina and Tennessee
Ride it from
Distance, time and elevation are measured on MotoCurve's own routing. See every road.