Bagger ... You'll enjoy the trip and that's what counts

 

That's my hope, just need guidance on how to go through the Smokies and why I started the tread.

 

Riding the BRP from Galax to the end, in one day, and then riding some more might be a stretch.....

We usually ride from the Galax area to Asheville, spend the nite, then ride on to the end......then to Cherokee or into Maggie or over the mountain to Gatlinburg........

The southern half of the Parkway is money!....

 

That is great to know and I built in some time after Erie for weather or doing exactly what you wrote. I have a friend a couple hours away from Asheville that was thinking of meeting me there. Could have him and his wife come over on Monday night and ride all day Tuesday and be to Fairfield Glade on Tuesday night. I've never been riding in Smokies so looking for all the guidance I can get. Thanks!

 

a Smokey virgin?.....ha......

I'm about 5 minutes off the Parkway around Sparta N.C.....when ya cross hwy 21, wave!.....lol.....enjoy the ride....you can't go wrong riding most any route thru the hills........even I-40 is a nice ride thru........

 

My wife and I live in upstate South Carolina and we do most of our riding in the smokies and surrounding areas. You are getting some fantastic advice. All of the routs mentioned are amazing. The BRP is one of the most scenic roads you can ride. If you have the time it is a must see, however, I caution you to make sure you have plenty of time for that stretch of road. In June lots of cages are sightseeing on the BRP and the pace can be quite slow. Not a problem if your taking in the sights but can be troublesome if you have somewhere to be.

You also mentioned stopping and spending the night near the dragon. I would highly recommend that you check out blue waters mountain lodge. https://www.bluewatersmtnl.com
This is a small 7 room lodge on lake santeetlah, just outside of robinsville. This is about 10 min from the dragon. Mike and Maurry are wonderful hosts, the meals are amazing and breakfast is included with the room and you will love the breakfast. Now the dragon is one of those biker rights of passage and it would be a shame to not ride the 318 curves in 11 miles since you will be so close, but honestly it's not my favorite road in the area. One of my favorite roads in that area is the cherohala skyway. It is much more scenic and far less traveled than the dragon and you don't have the crotch rockets riding wheelies by you on the skyway. all of this is just food for thought. You really can't go wrong riding in this area. It is all beautiful country.

 

Thank you very much. With the information that has been provided by all you fellas, my plan is the following as it sits right now:

-Sunday - leave Erie, PA and spend night in Galax, VA (Interstate most the way)
-Monday - leave Galax and take BRP down to Robbinsville (assume I can make it there in a day, weather permitting, from what was presented earlier).
-Tuesday - ride wherever I'm directed by you folks and take TOD north so I can make Fairfield Glade, TN that evening.

Sound like a good plan???

 

we will be doing close to same trip in June, what date are you in Abingdon? we are staying there sat the 20th? here is my maps hope it helps you route your trip...
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Cinc...m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bris...35.5181575!3e0


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Magg...78!1m0!1m0!3e0

 

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. Be sure you have a good rain suit for this trip. In the south we get frequent pop up thunder storms in June. Not usually a big deal. They usually don't last long. My wife and I just consider it part of the experience now. We have logged quite a few rain miles on the bikes, and contrary to popular belief, Harleys do not melt in the rain.

On an unrelated note: be sure to document your trip and post it. I am wanting to make a trip up north on the bikes. I'm thinking up the coast line to Maine or something like that. It's a trip I probably will not be able to take until next year but it is on a short list of trips I want to make soon so I will be very interested on how your trip goes and when the time comes I will be asking you for route advice.

 

I'm actually going to be staying in Galax, VA on Sunday night , June 14 and down by Asheville on Monday night (don't know where yet). I'll take a look at your maps and see if I can glean any ideas. Thanks, SB.