I'm planning a trip to Nashville, ride the Tail of the dragon and ride most of the blue ridge parkway. We will be going the second week of June.

I'm planning on staying in Nashville the first night(wed), running the dragon then staying in Ashville the second night(thurs). Tour the Builtmor the next morning then ride up the parkway 150 miles or so.

Thats where I get stuck. Where to stop and stay? What are some good places to stop and eat along the way?

Ill be trailering my bike to nashville then need to get back there sunday.

Any help planning my trip would be great. Thanks.

 

Go to Gatlinburg and stay a night there. Decent ride from the dragon

 

Where from?

 

The Biltmore is an expensive tour. Good move on Gatlinburg ( tourist trap ) is better during the week. The Parkway is what you make of it.

 

Try to do the Dragon during the week. Its bananas on the weekend.

 

Im leaving from Milwaukee. I've heard that about the dragon. Ill be there thursday. Its just going to be just me and my wife. She wants to do more than just ride so I have to find things she would like too.

 

Well if you stay in Gatlinburg as some have suggested. In Pigeon Forge is an Italian restaraunt. More along the line of real italian not a pizza shop type. It is Johny Carinos. Apperently a chain but we have none around where I live. It has hands down the best lasagna I ever had.

 

Also if it is your first time riding the dragon keep your eyes open for the websites to the photographers along the road. Nice way to get a professional photo of yourself riding.

 

If you take the Blue Ridge Parkway north out of Asheville, you will intersect with Highway 80. Take that road south. It is an amazing little off route that has some amazing scenery and great switchbacks. You wind up in a little berg called Pleasant Gardens. You can either take it back to Asheville from there, or another route back up to the Blue Ridge. Easy day ride....I highly recommend it.

 

Knoxville is cool town to launch from as well with Univ Tenn there. They got nice downtown area with bar/restaurants called Market Square all walking distance. I've stayed in Holiday Inn downtown Knoxville several times hs nice covered garage etc. From Knoxville short rides to either Tail of Dragon or Devils' Triangle near Oak Ridge, Tn. Don't miss Devil's Triangle its a blast too and underrated!