Nice Drives
Photo by Washuotaku, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Tail of the Dragon, US-129
📍 North Carolina, United States
Mountain Passchallengingmountaincurvesswitchbacksmotorsport
- Distance
- 57 mi
- Est. duration
- 1 hr 49 min
- Difficulty
- challenging
About this drive
US-129 near Deal's Gap covers 11 miles through the Great Smoky Mountains with 318 curves — averaging one roughly every 180 feet — and almost no driveways, side streets, or intersections to interrupt the sequence. It is not a fast road; the posted speed limit is 30 mph, the curves are tight enough that any carry-over speed from one bend can compromise the next, and the road sees enough motorcycles and sports cars that a measured approach is prudent. It is, however, an exceptionally satisfying road to drive well. The Dragon earns its name from the tree canopy that closes over the road in most sections, the sinuous line the pavement traces through the forest, and the particular intensity of driving a road that offers no straight-line relief for 11 miles. The Killboy Photography operation parks a camera at the most photogenic section and sells shots taken as you pass. The Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort at the eastern end is a gathering point for riders from across the southeast. Combine the Dragon with the Cherohala Skyway for a full day — the two roads meet up near Robbinsville, about 15 miles apart. Midweek visits in May or September offer the best combination of light traffic and good conditions.