VOI Caravan Planning - Tail of the Dragon/Smoky Mountain Route

2012 Tail of the Dragon/Smoky Mountain Run - Viper Club of America VOI Road Trip The VCA AL/TN Region's largest event is the annual running of the "Tail of the Dragon" and surrounding roads. Several groups have expressed interest in running this road during their drive to or from VOI and part of the excitement of attending VOI is the journey. Granted, driving for long hours is usually not exciting unless you plan for some interesting stops along the way or back. The mountains of TN and NC offer a unique opportunity to drive some roads that will help you remember why you own the car! The Cherahola Skyway connects the two states on a ridge-running, limited access road that lets you unwind (in more ways than one) with a scenic drive. The famed Tail of the Dragon is just past the end of the Skyway on the NC side and will be the opposite type of mountainous road than the Cherahola Skyway. With 318 turns in 11 miles, you'll never take your eyes off the vehicle in front of you as you experience a different way of driving your car. The journey continues there through the Smoky Mountains, or from the Smoky Mountains, depending on which way you're traveling. The attached information will help you plan your trip to or from VOI. You or your group may not get another chance to experience one of the best viper group road trips you can have, so "make the time to take the time" and take advantage of the opportunity. The attached is an edited version of the most recent itinerary of the AL/TN's annual Tail of the Dragon/Smoky Mountain Run weekend. Our cars are made for the Cherahola Skyway, but the "world" is more aware of the Tail, so try to hit them both.
Feel free to email any of your AL/TN/GA friends or [email protected] if you have any questions or want further recommendations.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
I40 only (Lenoir City, TN – Asheville, NC) 2.5 hours Tail/Fontana Dam Route -- 3.5 hours -- http://mapq.st/OpuyHv
Skyway/Tail/Fontana Dam Route -- 6.25 hours -- http://mapq.st/Q07sGQ
Skyway/Tail/Smoky Mountain Route -- 6.5 hours -- http://mapq.st/NcRCDK
I75/I40 only (Cleveland, TN – Asheville, NC) -- 3.5 hours
Skyway/Tail (twice)/Fontana Dam Route -- 6.5 hours -- http://mapq.st/QCqG2e
Skyway/Tail/Smoky Mountain Route -- 6.75 hours -- http://mapq.st/PcOyb8
The above are driving times only, stops are not factored in.
FOOD/FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Gas – Exxon Gas station at entrance of Skyway in Tellico Plains, TN Deal’s Gap (Dragon) and Fontana Village have gas stations Food - Tellico Grains Bakery – 423-253-6911 www. tellico-grains-bakery.com/
Fontana Village Resort (Wildwood Grill) - (828) 498-2211
Tail of the Dragon/Smoky Mountain Route Planning Guide
The attached PDF contains the body of this post and a handout used in our AL/TN yearly planning if you need more details

Thanks for passing this along. Is there a best time / day to run the Tail? Debating whether I hit it on the way down or way back or both?

Might overnight in Knoxville on Tuesday and hit the Tail on Wednesday.

Looks fun to me. Leaving Charlotte on Monday after VOI heading to Nashville. Tail of the dragon is right on the way

Just a FYI,
I had a few shirts from our last Tail of the Dragon trip. If anyone is interested, feel free to shoot me a PM. Very nice shirts and a great souvenir!

ROCKET62 said:

Thanks for passing this along. Is there a best time / day to run the Tail? Debating whether I hit it on the way down or way back or both?

Might overnight in Knoxville on Tuesday and hit the Tail on Wednesday.

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Best time is NOT weekends. Mon-Thu is better than Friday...Saturday/Sunday is pretty much when the crowds come specifically for the run. Plan to hit it on the way so you'll know whether you'll want to do it again...also gives you a better chances at getting good weather (not that there's been much rain to worry about).

National Corvette Museum group will be there Fri Sep 29.

Part of the AZ group will be leaving Charlotte on Monday, Oct 1st and driving to Nashville that night. This is a pretty short day, 'Tail of the Dragon' looks to be right on the way, so considering doing at least a part of it - any suggestions of where to start and exit the 'Tail?'

Rich

There isn't an exit on the tail. You'll just start from the NC side and run it through into TN.
If you're wanting to really "run" it, the best thing to do is to run from the NC side all the way through to make sure no cops are in there, and then turn around and really get on it heading back to the NC side. Since there's no entrance or exit in the Tail, as long as you don't pass a TN cop in there on your first pass, you know there's none in there because the only way they could have gotten in would have been to pass you (since the other end is in NC). NC cops might sometimes go into the little bit of it on their side, but I've been there many, many times, and never seen one.

TowDawg said:

There isn't an exit on the tail. You'll just start from the NC side and run it through into TN.
If you're wanting to really "run" it, the best thing to do is to run from the NC side all the way through to make sure no cops are in there, and then turn around and really get on it heading back to the NC side. Since there's no entrance or exit in the Tail, as long as you don't pass a TN cop in there on your first pass, you know there's none in there because the only way they could have gotten in would have been to pass you (since the other end is in NC). NC cops might sometimes go into the little bit of it on their side, but I've been there many, many times, and never seen one.

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If you do this, pay a lot of attention to hiding spots, because if you just cruise through it and only casually look, you might not notice one hidden, especially because the angle of view is different coming and going.

Thanks guys - we'll take a look at it, may just do the Cherakola Skyway

Rich

There are a few of us leaving St. Louis (most are shipping) on Wed morning. We plan to leave about 6:30am and head to the Tail of the Dragon by 3pm. We plan to head to Knoxville for the night after we drive "the tail". If anyone is coming in from further west of STL, please feel free to join us. Also, it sounds like there will be a group leaving Knoxville area on Thurs morning. Hopefully we can head over together.

Shoot me a PM.

Cheers,

Michael

One last post/advert for the Tail of the Dragon shirts. I have 4 XL and a couple of Long sleeve shirts too. PM me if interested:

The Itinerary for the AZ Club is set - we will be in Nashville Tuesday night (attending the Grand Ole Opry), and on Wed, Sep 26th will drive to Charlotte via the Cherohala Skyway. On the return after VOI, we will leave Charlotte on Mon, Oct 1st and drive again to Nashville via the 'Tail of the Dragon.' Anyone want to join us?

What time you leaving out Wed. morning and where you staying Tues. eve.? PM if you need to.
-chip

Chip,
We will probably plan on leaving around 8am from the La Quinta Inn & Suites Nashville Airport, 531 Donelson Pike.

Do yourself a favor. Buy the Tail of the Dragon t-shirt, skip the Tail, and enjoy the Skyway. It is beautiful and worth every mile. The Dragon, in a Viper, not so much.

Rich Link said:

Thanks guys - we'll take a look at it, may just do the Cherakola Skyway

Rich

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Rich Link said:

Chip,
We will probably plan on leaving around 8am from the La Quinta Inn & Suites Nashville Airport, 531 Donelson Pike.

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Cool, We'll have a few heading to K'ville about that time too. I think Motor City is running the Dragon wed. and we plan on hooking up with them.
Lots of groups coming in from all directions wed/thurs. gonna be a blast (as usual)

OK..I'm in for the Cherahola with the AZ group...Rich, PM me your number and I'll try to hook up with you guys. We were above the clouds at this year's event and didn't see much of the SkyWay (well, we saw the Sky, but not much along the Way). Besides, my car still has some scratches and bruises from running off the Tail and neither of us are in a hurry to go back this soon. Joel, you wanna hook up?

Rich,
I will plan on meeting your group at hotel wed. morning. I have your cell #.
-chip

I'm hitting the Tail of the Dragon on Thursday morning after staying in Knoxville on Wednesday evening in the event there are any stragglers.

Check this out. Could change some plans. http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/656554-Change-of-time-for-Petty-Driving-Experience-Q-amp-A-Session