Time is the big thing. The ride reasonable direct route Milwaukee to Gatlinburg 750 miles. Can be done wife on back in one day with out much effort and still have time to stop enjoy a meal and coffee. When you start taking back roads two lane ect it can become a 3 day ride.
And that is fine. How we do it depends on the goal of the trip. It the plan is to ride the heck out of the area then get there rest that night get up a go. Once out of IL Even the main roads are a nice ride going down head over take 75 south then jump on 25 and have a great ride and still make darn good time.
If you really want an adventure, pick take dumbest route you can on the HD GPS. Hang on for one interest riding. You will see the sights in all there wonder. Make sure you keep the tank full. We have done this a few times. The ride down 25 from around London KY south is well worth the ride.

 

Always fun when they all stop block the road to see the Bear and her cubs when you are sitting there on the bike. It is a worthy ride as is Roaring forks road. Heck hard to go wrong anywhere with in 200 miles or more.

Cades Cover. Now they tell you to stay away from bear. They tell you if the bear has cubs really stay away. Stay in you car. Ever wonder why Bear kill people. They climb through the fence and some how got the idea that the Bear wanted to be friends. Lucky for them Park personal got them get come back. If you are smart in most cases bear will not bother you, but push your luck it may not end well.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/26BbQP3]

 

I made this mistake once.....ONCE. Best to just stay away, unless you're there during a very slow time.

 

I liked where they park in the middle of the road next to the sign that says pull off to stop and get out to go chase the bear.

 

here you go.... more loops than you'll use

https://www.appalachianbackroads.com/

 

I did Cades Cove last Fall, wish I had that hour and a half back...

 

Big reason we like to go the last two weeks of May. Still good weather and not as crowded . You get the Holiday rush 1 1/2 day and it is pretty much over.

 

we did cades cove a few years ago the first time we went. neat in a car wouldn't want to do it on the bike.

we plan to go the last part of may and take advantage of the holiday which I know it will be somewhat crowded in most places but will hopefully thin out during the week.

 

There's alot to do and see in the Asheville area. Cherokee to Asheville on the Blueridge parkway is a good day ride. There'also a Harley dealer.

 

Most dealers in this area will have a map with the ride for the area. Thing is there aren't any bad roads around here. Even going to the store for bread can be fun. Just hard to explain why it took two hours.