Modern Vespa

All - I'm planning a long trip for later this year in the eastern US. Probably mid-September.

I was thinking of beginning at the northern end of Skyline Drive in VA, then ride the Blue Ridge Parkway down through NC to TN, and finish up with Cherohala Skyway and Tail of the Dragon in TN.

I can get to the start of Skyline Dr in a single day from home - if I push hard (400 miles).

How many days should I allow for these sections listed above? Any help from those who may have ridden these roads would be appreciated.

I know speed limits on Skyline and Blue Ridge are 45 MPH max (so I could probably buzz along at 50 when possible).

Skyline Dr is 105 miles, so it will be 4-4.5 hours at the slower speeds with a stop to eat.

Blue Ridge Parkway is about 430 miles. Accounting for slower speeds, traffic and multiple stops, is 2 days enough time? Or should I allow for a 3rd day?

Cherohala and Tail of the Dragon look to be most of a full day as well. Is that accurate?

Also, while travelling in that corridor - What are some of the can't miss features? Wheels through Time Motorcycle Museum?

Thanks in advance!

The Skyline Drive speed limit is 35mph I think, and the BRP is a closely enforced 45. The curves and switchbacks will slow you down more, and only a Philistine would drive through without stopping at the overlooks. Add another day to your plan and enjoy.

Day 9 of this year's Cannonball begins with the Cherohala Skyway, then picks up the BRP just east of Smoky Mountain National Park, where we ride it to the Virginia border.

All in one day.

Might need a radar detector.

Bill You should be able to ride the Tail of the Dragon a few times, then hit the Cherohala Skyway. Long day, but you can do it.

I'd still be careful of LEO's in that area even with a radar detector. Looks like an awesome ride! I so wish I had the time for a ride like that. I love my wife but no way she'd let me take off for a few weeks to go on a trip or I would do it. At least we're up to the cottage in a few weeks and I'll have the time to ride plenty.

https://tailofthedragon.com/law-enforcement/

My commonly made suggestion when in the S VA area is the website-
www.vistvirginiamountains.com
The day rides listed there originate from Marion,VA where a riding friend lives and his bunch takes off from there for weekday day rides. He put there regular routes together for the tourist folks. They are an eclectic riding group varying in age and machine from scoots to big MC's. Most of them have ridden the USA & some the world. Most are far more less traveled than them Dragon, thank goodness! All are scenic rural roads great for scootering.
I am open to coming over that way and riding with you-it's about 240k from my place to Marion. I will be doing some planned riding near there in May with some scooter riders staying @ Hot Springs MC CG.
I am absent from another group I've ridden with staying in another MC CG near there right now-The BMW Chain Gang. Too many chores, knee torn up & healing, and much nasty weather has me working, not riding.
E TN has some dandy riding. Near the Cherahola Skyway take a look at TN 89 that runs S from Cleveland area down to there. Also look at the Unicoi Turnpike Trail at where 89 gets close to Murphy, NC. Pretty much every road in that whole area is a great place to meander on two wheels!

Been a while since i've been to that neck of the woods. I lived i Richmond a C'ville for about 10yrs. T is right, your going to stop and take in the views. When i lived there radar detecters were illegal. Apparently they still are. There is usually lots of traffic so not much chance of being able to speed. Relax and enjoy the ride. I do miss the birch and other trees. Have fun Will you be spending the nite in the cabins up there? If so i'd make reservations because they fill up fast.

Crazy Carl

Yes you can do the trip you have laid out.
Skyline Drive 105 Miles @ 35MPH
Blue Ridge Parkway 469 Miles @45 MPH or less
Getting over to Tail of the Dragon 100 miles plus
Cherohala Skyway 100 + miles.
Then Home to Springboro @ least 250 miles

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?

Why not just get a crotch rocket and see how fast you can do the whole ride?

We started Skyline Drive about 10:00 am stopped at some of the lookouts stopped and had lunch finished outside of Waynesboro, VA. stayed the night there, take 340 north to Purple Cow RD. and eat there Wonderful Burgers.

Blue Ridge Parkway 469 Miles spend at least 3 days 4 is better. Side trips Mt Micheal, Grandfather Mountain, stop and enjoy the spectacular beauty all along the parkway.

Outside of Bryson City take the "road to nowhere" walk the tunnel.
Take 74 to route 28 and follow the lake and river to Tail of the Dragon, do it north then turn around and go south to Robbinsville,NC. take 143 and start the Cherohala Skyway ride to Tellico Plains take 68 to US 27 and have a great ride home.

Looks like you can do it in about 2 1/2 days if you don't want to see or do anything along the way.

I would take 9-10 days and enjoy you will find some good eatin on this route.



Enjoy

Y-not22

Another scenic route north to Ohiho would be US23 as the NC part is VG and there are some even more interesting side road diversions off of US23. Another idea is to end up on VA16/WV16 then ride N homeward through WV. That's easily done via where you'll be plus it also connects with the routes I mentioned in the link above, not to forget to mention that it's also one of the premier two wheeled roads in the whole USA!
We have many great roads here in KY but IMO, WV surpasses KY by a large margin overall. You could also consider gravitating toward the Seneca Rocks, WV then other VG roads north then west to home.
Working all day, ~ 62 degs and it makes me want to RIDE!!![/quote]

and Ohio, only one thing comes to mind.

Your trip sounds like a lot of fun, but it will be a lot of work as well. I've not had any bad experiences with Revenuers on any of those roads, but there's always a first time. They are kept busy by the kids on sport bikes trying to launch off the side of the hill.

As always, twice the money, half the clothes, and at least an extra day for when things don't go as planned. You will make most of your distance the first day, and after that the tendency is to want to ride less each day. Keep that in mind when laying out your route, get the big day that puts you where you want to be out of the way at once, if you can, and then do the fun stuff. Usually, if you are willing to start with one really long darkness to darkness day, you will find the time to stop and smell the roses. After four or five days in the saddle, the thought of riding that thing from darkness to darkness loses a lot of it's appeal.

Thanks very much everyone, I really do appreciate everyone's input.

My biggest takeaway is to take my time and enjoy all that region has to offer. I do have a tendency to blast through on long rides, with greater emphasis on a speed/distance calculation rather than the journey. I think of the ETA on my GPS as a "Time to Beat".

I am thinking I can leave very early on a Friday to get to the Northern start of the journey in one day (near Riverton, VA). I would need to give myself 2 days (the following Saturday and Sunday) to get home from the southern terminus. So that gives me 7 days in between to travel, explore, and enjoy.

I may have to scale back this adventure a bit, but perhaps that would be a good thing to really enjoy the experience.

BRP is federally patrolled.
Last time I rode it... posted was 45. I don't think we ever obeyed the posted! Pricey ticket and of course the time to report to court!

I would probably keep waze running. Those forest cops like to hide.

Also its been my experience to do those roads during the weekdays was much more enjoyable than weekend(s)

VA has not been kind to me in terms of MPH...
I've not had one lately but they are pricey and every brand of LEO patrols I-81 from top to bottom. It's a nasty (18 wheelers neck to neck!) road anyway, especially the N part, say above Richmond and calms some below there.
I realize that with a moniker like "Crazy Carl"that leaves you with a serious responsibility to live up to yer GPS demands, etc., but I highly recommend a relaxing journey at the speed limit down through KY, WV or over to the N terminus of the BRP.
I'll throw this one out given we have reservations for this CG in E TN later this year for a family trip with grandkids. Check out Indian Boundary CG which is on the lower end of the TN89 I mentioned earlier. It is the most popular park in E TN for a reason! Very hard to get into a campsite and a beautiful area.

At the time I was on a much larger bike (Yamaha Venture Royal) and going the other way from Atlanta to Richmond but the Blue Ridge was fantastic. Two things; don't get on the Blue Ridge Parkway without a very full fuel tank, stop at any gas opportunity (not many) and stop at a lot of observation overlooks. You'll love it.

I rode Skyline Drive in the summer of 1980. The day I was there, the temperature was in the low 30s and a light snow was falling at times. In August. Enough said.

The BRP through most of the Asheville area is now 35mph. From Boone to Asheville or Waynesville area, expect to get stuck behind a leaf-looker that doesn't understand the courtesy of pulling over at overpasses to let traffic by. Especially in September, it's not if, it's when and for how long. Adjust expectations and frustration threshold accordingly.

Bringing a spare gas canister is a good idea. I've bailed out numerous bikes with mine.