So 2 friends of mine and me are hittin the road may24th for a week of riding. We are leaving from springfield il and heading south then heading east kentucky,tennessee,north carolina,alabama, gorgia, south carolina maybe into west virginia. We plan on hitting deals gap but other than that it's an open book trip. planning on 90% back road and avoid the freeways as much as possiable. Any opinions on places to see? Campgrounds to for sure hit up? We plan on camping mostly with maybe a night or 2 at a hotel. And last what are the must have things camping. Any opinions on gear and any links are greatly apperciated!

 

Washington DC rolling thunder.

 

Sounds like quite a ride! As long as you are in the Deals Gap area, be sure to see these nearby roads as well:
- Foothills Parkway (from the north end of the Dragon)
- Cherohala Skyway (greatest road in the area IMHO)
- Highway 28 to Fontana Dam (from the south end of the Dragon)
- Any road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Blue Ridge Parkway (southern terminus is in Cherokee, NC)

Be sure to bring good rain gear, since regardless of the forecast, any day can bring rain in the mountains. A sweater to wear under your jacket will be welcome as even as late as Memorial Day it can get cool at night.

Have fun!

 

Living in Virginia I ride all the roads Pastor John listed a few times a year. They are all top notch. I would bump that sweater up to an electric vest. When riding in the rain at 5-6,000 feet it gets real cold.

 

I've planned out a trip through Skyline, Blue Ridge and Dragon Tail. I haven't stayed at these campgrounds, but they're made for two-wheel travelers, and I've heard some good things about a couple of them. These are all relatively close to Deals Gap.

Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campgrounds
http://blueridgemotorcyclecamp.com/

Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge
http://www.ironhorsenc.com/index.html

Punkin Center Motorcycle Resort
http://punkincentermotorcycleresort.com/

Of course, you can camp right at Deals Gap:
http://www.dealsgap.com

I'd be very interested to know if you camp or motel at any of these places during your trip. If so, let us know how they are and if you recommend them.

Sounds like a great trip. Enjoy!

 

Ive stayed at deals gap motel and camped...i would HIGHLY recomend it. place is clean people are super friendly, was nothing but a good time!

 

Deals Gap tends to have a bit of a party atmosphere, which can be good. Unless you wanted to get to sleep before midnight. But it's clean and well kept.

Iron Horse is great. Haven't stayed there, but visited some friends that were camping there and the atmosphere and facilities were terrific.

Another place you might consider is Hunt's Motorcycle Cabins and Campground in Tellico Plains, TN if you find yourself on the west side of Cherohala Skyway.

 

Check you atlas.
I'd recommend that y'all head east to Front Royal, Va on day one.

From there, the Skyline Drive to Waynesboro, VA.
35 MPH and toll, but a beautiful 105 mile ride!

From Waynesboro, VA on to the Blue Ridge Pkwy.
45 MPH 460+ plus miles (IIRC) will put you into Maggie Valley, Smokey Mt Nat'l Park and not far from Deals Gap, the Dragon Tail, etc.
I'd allow at least two days for the BRP.

Take your cameras (and rain gear).

 

Deals Gap is good but everything there shuts down early. Long ride to any local bars or just plan on sitting out by the fire with a drink. Iron Horse is great! Everything you need. If I had to chose it would be Iron Horse. Last time at Iron Horse the Prime Rib was real good!

 

Might as well go to the New River Gorge in WV. Ride down the old road to the bottom, very challenging for me. West Virginia was interesting to me.