If you are thinking of riding to this area, this weekend is the Shades of the Past Rod run and the next weekend is the Grand Fall Rod Run. Both are great BUT when you add 10-15K hot rods into the standard crowded traffic it can be a nightmare. I drove my Cobra up there 5 years ago, took three hours to go about 20 miles and i found a way out of the area and went back home.

 

Yeah. I grew up about 1.5 hours northeast of there. It gets CRAZY at times. Too many people in too small a place.

 

To make matters worse this weekend is also Thunder in the Smokies in Maggie Valley. There will no doubt be traffic coming from Tennessee into North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will probably be a pretty busy place since it lies between. I'm not trying to discourage anyone. I say ride and enjoy the sights. Just be prepared for heavy traffic and make sure you have plenty of fuel before you go into the park.

 

Yep, it can get crazy around there, especially on hotrod events. My parents live in Sevierville, so I know some of the back ways to get around. But even then, it can be a hassle. The best thing to do is to get out really early and do your sight seeing while most folks are still eating breakfast. It's great then.