I live real close to you, other side of Massilon, Ohio. We have been down the BRP and Dragon 6 times in 10 years. Don't try to do this in 3 days. You won't have time to get off the bike, you can't make any time down there especially on a holiday weekend. Do the math, most freeway traveling you are hardpressed to average 55-60 miles per hour over the course of the day. Breaks for gas, food, restrooms, water etc. On the backroads and Dragon, BRP, you will be lucky to average 25-30 .Also do not ride those roads while tired, could cost you everything, friend of mine was tired when he got there, but thought he was fine to ride the Dragon, he went down hard, lives in pain every day now for 7 years. He knew better, having ridden for 25 years.

 

First of all avoid the "Tail of the Dragon" like the plague, on a long holiday week end.... every boy(and girl) racer who believe they have "the right stuff" will be out in force .... which then leads to Blount County TN to enforce... and enforce with a heavy ticket writing finger.
I saw on Face Book... there was plans to get a lot of H-D riders up on the dragon as well.. (yet another reason to avoid)

Ditto for US-421 AKA the snake... great road... but a "secret"?? on the week ends, the store's parking lot loots like they are giving away free money...

If you just HAVE to get away.... I'd suggest checking out the Little Switzerland NC area... several good places to stay, and 226A (Diamondback) is a fun road... plus it's just south of Spruce Pine NC, and right on the BRP.


Oh... and Queen of Clubs...
The Ironhorse has both private, and semi-private rooms/cabins... as well as "bunk houses" besides camping.
The semi-private cabins, share a bathroom... which works if you go with a small group of friends...
The bunk house, is just what it sounds like... a building, with several beds, and no privacy...
The private cabins are pretty nice... my wife and I were their first "honey moon couples" way back when... great place to stay.. and meals (breakfast and dinner) are available.
The only drawback (for some... but a selling point for others) in it's in a "dry" county (or was) you will have to stop off in the next county, to stock up on adult beverages... if THAT is your thing... but... remember... the first sound of a bottle opening.... will attrach a host of "new friends"

 

Thanks for the info Scootch....one day I hope to visit there. And you are right about the county being dry. It's the last totally dry hold out in all of NC.

 

Update. just got back, thanks for all the advise. We stayed off the parkway, and rode to pigeon forge via 77 and 81 on Friday afternoon for 525 miles. Saturday we did the dragon and rode there thru Cherokee and looped around to get the foot hills parkway back to pigeon forge where we stayed Friday and Saturday. Today's trip home was absolutely fantastic, we decided to cut a path straight home that took us thru some of the most beautiful country and pristine roads on the way home. We ended up taking rt 23 just west of Bristol north to rt 119 which took us right in to Charleston WV, no traffic, rain or big rigs and the scenery was incredible. Took us 10 hours and was also about 525 miles. 2 and half days of time well spent. Had plenty of time for relaxing in the evenings and dinner in Gatlinburg.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway: Great road and ride.....You're gonna want to exceed the speed limit-- by a lot......

 

But don't!!! Some curves come up quickly, the road can be damp and slippery in the trees and going in and out of tunnels can make visibility problematic if you're wearing sunglasses. Like the dragon, be aware of vehicles crossing the center line coming in the opposite direction.

 

Absolutely, Spy11. I am embarrassed that I did not mention that...

 

Our group was up there 2 weeks ago and rode the BRP from Ashville down to Cherokee. Excellent ride!!! Lots of crotch rockets out but just let them by and all is good. A lot cooler up in the trees as well.......

 

A few of the tunnels screw with me big time, some have no reflectors and with sun glass on your in trouble if going to fast

 

Noice...