Dragon Area Drives
04-25-2015 | 02:46 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 35,823
Likes: 169
From: 262 miles N of the Dragon
Dragon Area Drives
OK..... figured I'd start to post some of the drives we have done while at the Dragon. I've also started to list the drives others have done (no written directions!)....
If you have a navigator, you shouldn't have any issues following the routes that are attached. Just reset your trip odometer at each turn, and you should be in good shape.
The Google map links at the bottom of each drive may not be totally correct, as Google doesn't allow more than 7-8 waypoints.
As I get more drives in this format, I will post them.
Have fun on the drives!
__________________________
From darcyw
this is an excellent drive which starts with a drive down 28 to Franklin, and incorporated lunch at Highlands BBQ. it then snakes north towards 215. Jvf1 and I found the pavement to be broken up when you're north of the blue ridge parkway intersection. 281- CANADA road- has many fast areas and is to be enjoyed.
the last leg of the drive takes you up the blue ridge to cherokee, then over to bryson city and then back to fontana.
Here is another of my favourites from 2015 RTD. Leaving from Fontana going to Tellico plains for Lunch then down to the Olympic rafting site, up to candy mountain road and Hiawasee dam, then back home. If you have the time, Wayah road can be incorporated in as well.
https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/35.18...5836!3e0?hl=en
This one appears to be similar to our Saturday Farmhouse Restaurant run!
__________________________
From onu2002
"Loop to Nowhere". Neat drive, but long. Features the Dragon, Foothills Pkway, Gatlinburg, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Clingman's Dome, Road to Nowhere, and Hellbender 28.
Roaring Fork heads to the southeast from 'B' and loops back up to 'C' on the map. I think the road was closed for the season when I created the map, so Google wouldn't let me include it in the route.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...o.ki1z2GiRYctA
__________________________
From Bama Dave
Micheal (DragonDigd) and I did a lot of scouting during DFR 2015 we did this route on the way up to Fontana on thursday. GA-180 and GA-60 were freaking awesome. Better have good brakes on 180. Beware of cyclists on the weekend. TN-68 was also a great road to drive on also. We ate at a great sandwich shop in Ducktown just north of US-74. If you get a chance check out GA-129 its the super dragon with some three lane sections to pass on. I would recommend not do this route on the weekend with heavy traffic and cyclist present.
Here is another route we did during RTD 2015. Pretty long route but worth the driving. When you get to TN-32 at the end of the twisties the pavement ends just turn around and go back thru it. Make sure that all cars are going in the same direction on that road. Tn-339 is another Foothills Parkway with some good curves and great pull offs for some great pictures. NC-209 is one of the best roads in that area. You will enjoy the road period. Enjoy people!!!
Another day of driving during DFR 2015. The day we found NC-209 and then headed south of Waynesville to do NC-215 and NC-281. NC-276 too is a great road to drive on. The bypass around Waynesville is a must. We were caught in all the local and tourist traffic thru downtown. We did this in around 5 hours and still headed to Wayah Rd and a did it too. Enjoy people.
_________________________
.
If you have a navigator, you shouldn't have any issues following the routes that are attached. Just reset your trip odometer at each turn, and you should be in good shape.
The Google map links at the bottom of each drive may not be totally correct, as Google doesn't allow more than 7-8 waypoints.
As I get more drives in this format, I will post them.
Have fun on the drives!
__________________________
From darcyw
this is an excellent drive which starts with a drive down 28 to Franklin, and incorporated lunch at Highlands BBQ. it then snakes north towards 215. Jvf1 and I found the pavement to be broken up when you're north of the blue ridge parkway intersection. 281- CANADA road- has many fast areas and is to be enjoyed.
the last leg of the drive takes you up the blue ridge to cherokee, then over to bryson city and then back to fontana.
Here is another of my favourites from 2015 RTD. Leaving from Fontana going to Tellico plains for Lunch then down to the Olympic rafting site, up to candy mountain road and Hiawasee dam, then back home. If you have the time, Wayah road can be incorporated in as well.
https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/35.18...5836!3e0?hl=en
This one appears to be similar to our Saturday Farmhouse Restaurant run!
__________________________
From onu2002
"Loop to Nowhere". Neat drive, but long. Features the Dragon, Foothills Pkway, Gatlinburg, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Clingman's Dome, Road to Nowhere, and Hellbender 28.
Roaring Fork heads to the southeast from 'B' and loops back up to 'C' on the map. I think the road was closed for the season when I created the map, so Google wouldn't let me include it in the route.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...o.ki1z2GiRYctA
__________________________
From Bama Dave
Micheal (DragonDigd) and I did a lot of scouting during DFR 2015 we did this route on the way up to Fontana on thursday. GA-180 and GA-60 were freaking awesome. Better have good brakes on 180. Beware of cyclists on the weekend. TN-68 was also a great road to drive on also. We ate at a great sandwich shop in Ducktown just north of US-74. If you get a chance check out GA-129 its the super dragon with some three lane sections to pass on. I would recommend not do this route on the weekend with heavy traffic and cyclist present.
Here is another route we did during RTD 2015. Pretty long route but worth the driving. When you get to TN-32 at the end of the twisties the pavement ends just turn around and go back thru it. Make sure that all cars are going in the same direction on that road. Tn-339 is another Foothills Parkway with some good curves and great pull offs for some great pictures. NC-209 is one of the best roads in that area. You will enjoy the road period. Enjoy people!!!
Another day of driving during DFR 2015. The day we found NC-209 and then headed south of Waynesville to do NC-215 and NC-281. NC-276 too is a great road to drive on. The bypass around Waynesville is a must. We were caught in all the local and tourist traffic thru downtown. We did this in around 5 hours and still headed to Wayah Rd and a did it too. Enjoy people.
_________________________
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Last edited by Lovetodrive2000; 02-12-2017 at 02:22 AM.
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dasyuri23 (06-06-2023)
05-01-2015 | 05:27 PM
#3
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
Laura and I and another couple discovered 281 a couple years ago, and it was a blast. I don't remember there being a speed limit sign, which of course means there IS no speed limit, right? We hit it again the next time we were there, and it wasn't nearly as fun, I think because it rained on us and my tires weren't very good.
I remember passing 1756 and wondering where it would lead. I'm going to have to check it and 215 out next time, cuz they look VERY interesting. And US-276 too. And while we're over there we might as head over to Asheville!
I remember passing 1756 and wondering where it would lead. I'm going to have to check it and 215 out next time, cuz they look VERY interesting. And US-276 too. And while we're over there we might as head over to Asheville!
05-02-2015 | 08:44 PM
#4
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,258
Likes: 359
From: um, a house
this is an excellent drive which starts with a drive down 28 to Franklin, and incorporated lunch at Highlands BBQ. it then snakes north towards 215. Jvf1 and I found the pavement to be broken up when you're north of the blue ridge parkway intersection. 281- CANADA road- has many fast areas and is to be enjoyed.
the last leg of the drive takes you up the blue ridge to cherokee, then over to bryson city and then back to fontana.
https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Fontana+Village+Resort,+50+Fontana+Rd,+Robbinsvill e,+NC+28771/Franklin,+NC,+United+States/35.1966714,-83.2721952/35.2369384,-82.8734819/35.1362813,-83.2813051/Highlands,+NC,+USA/Cashiers,+NC,+United+States/35.3069442,-82.9491097/Cherokee,+NC,+United+States/@35.2644091,-83.6426018,10z/data=!4m46!4m45!1m5!1m1!1s0x885eb8eb781f7471:0x549 94fcf154eeb7!2m2!1d-83.821436!2d35.432503!1m5!1m1!1s0x8859251b3c341e5b :0x7d6abd5c00dca225!2m2!1d-83.3815429!2d35.1823171!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x88 591e43b7493627:0x7a4520f9a0c172d6!2m2!1d-83.1968173!2d35.0525909!1m10!1m1!1s0x88591ca097a38 bf5:0x72ea9f4e0691118d!2m2!1d-83.0996354!2d35.111906!3m4!1m2!1d-83.154301!2d35.1558134!3s0x88591a2d783c4901:0x470c a53559ab24fb!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-83.2242245!2d35.5248697!3s0x885968411eef387f:0x611 4ef4c10aaf1dc!1m5!1m1!1s0x8859431093d68437:0xa3995 7b8c6be1696!2m2!1d-83.3205859!2d35.4770574!3e0?hl=en
1756 is Charley's creek road which becomes Explorer road- it is a worthy drive and is included in the above route. We did it this past year at RTD.
darcy
the last leg of the drive takes you up the blue ridge to cherokee, then over to bryson city and then back to fontana.
https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Fontana+Village+Resort,+50+Fontana+Rd,+Robbinsvill e,+NC+28771/Franklin,+NC,+United+States/35.1966714,-83.2721952/35.2369384,-82.8734819/35.1362813,-83.2813051/Highlands,+NC,+USA/Cashiers,+NC,+United+States/35.3069442,-82.9491097/Cherokee,+NC,+United+States/@35.2644091,-83.6426018,10z/data=!4m46!4m45!1m5!1m1!1s0x885eb8eb781f7471:0x549 94fcf154eeb7!2m2!1d-83.821436!2d35.432503!1m5!1m1!1s0x8859251b3c341e5b :0x7d6abd5c00dca225!2m2!1d-83.3815429!2d35.1823171!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x88 591e43b7493627:0x7a4520f9a0c172d6!2m2!1d-83.1968173!2d35.0525909!1m10!1m1!1s0x88591ca097a38 bf5:0x72ea9f4e0691118d!2m2!1d-83.0996354!2d35.111906!3m4!1m2!1d-83.154301!2d35.1558134!3s0x88591a2d783c4901:0x470c a53559ab24fb!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-83.2242245!2d35.5248697!3s0x885968411eef387f:0x611 4ef4c10aaf1dc!1m5!1m1!1s0x8859431093d68437:0xa3995 7b8c6be1696!2m2!1d-83.3205859!2d35.4770574!3e0?hl=en
1756 is Charley's creek road which becomes Explorer road- it is a worthy drive and is included in the above route. We did it this past year at RTD.
darcy
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dasyuri23 (06-06-2023)
05-19-2015 | 08:31 AM
#7
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
"Loop to Nowhere". Neat drive, but long. Features the Dragon, Foothills Pkway, Gatlinburg, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Clingman's Dome, Road to Nowhere, and Hellbender 28.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...tA&usp=sharing
Roaring Fork heads to the southeast from 'B' and loops back up to 'C' on the map. I think the road was closed for the season when I created the map, so Google wouldn't let me include it in the route.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...tA&usp=sharing
Roaring Fork heads to the southeast from 'B' and loops back up to 'C' on the map. I think the road was closed for the season when I created the map, so Google wouldn't let me include it in the route.
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05-19-2015 | 02:11 PM
#8
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,084
Likes: 219
From: Somewhere in the Sun Belt
Need to check out this road the next time up there. Enjoy the video people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqZe53VZs1I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqZe53VZs1I
