Hi

I'm planning a Road trip from Chicago to Atlanta this weekend. I was hoping to hit up the dragon on my way there and/or back. Yes, a slight detour, but from what I hear well worth it (this will be my first time). Anyway, I was hoping for some advice on where to start and where to end, how much time I should plan out, and what other roads I should hit up. Basically, what's the best, most exciting, but not too out of the way route to take? Thanks for all your help!

 

Your best resource will be to go to this website:
Tail of the Dragon

The location is hard to get to. You will need to look at the maps on the website and plan how to come down to it from Chicago.

An unobstructed run on the dragon takes about 20 minutes. The north end of the dragon starts at a lake and then runs south to Deals Gap. Deals Gap has a store and is a motorcycle place. You can take right on Hwy 28 and ride out to Fontana Dam. 28 is a fun run and you can run it fairly hard.

Cherohala is a decent drive but if I had limited time I would spend it on the Dragon and then take Hwy 72 west over to 411 and then back to 72 west over to I-75 south down to Atlanta. Coming back up and if time is limited take the same route to I-75 north to 72east to 411 to 72east over to 129south. This is the fastest route to the Dragon. When you leave out you will need to check a map and see how to head back to Chicago.

If you drive on the weekend be sure to check Killboy to see if you have any photographs of you driving.

Have a great time and pace yourself. The road is a great experience but can bite you in the ass real quick. Also if you are behind slow traffic it is better just to pull over and get some distance and then start out again.

Enjoy

 

11 minutes 58 seconds

 

Is that running stock or modified??

Remember you are slower now that you have been stripped down to the bare esentials.

 

Thanks caneintn! That's exactly the info I was looking for!

it looks like it's going to get a bit crowded this weekend, so I think I'll try to run it on the way back up (wednesday). My schedule is more flexible at that time anyway.

 

Weekday runs are a lot better than fighting traffic on the weekend. That would be your best option and you would have a much better time.

 

Be aware this is a public highway and you need to keep a sharp lookout.Beleive it or not, I encountered 2 tractor trailers in my lane as I was rounding hard corners. Also, watch out for the turkeys. Another story but you get the idea. Have fun.

 

Now Jason , I thought that you weren't keeping time on how fast you have run it. . So I take it next time when the coment comes up on who is the fastest out there you can tell them that its you right . It shouldn't matter if he is stock or not, cause its part car, but mainly all driver.
Bryan