Great Smoky Mountains and the Tail of the Dragon

Route description

Gatlinburg is a busy gateway town at the northern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. US-441, the Newfound Gap Road, climbs through the forest to Newfound Gap on the Tennessee–North Carolina border, where the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. A parking tag is required for vehicles parked in the park for more than 15 minutes.

From Newfound Gap, a spur road leads to the highest point in the Smokies, now officially called Kuwohi and formerly Clingmans Dome. A steep paved path leads from the parking lot to a spiral observation ramp above the trees; the road is closed in winter. US-441 then descends into North Carolina past the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, where elk graze in the fields, to Cherokee.

Cherokee is the center of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, with a museum and cultural sites that tell their history. From there, head southwest through Bryson City and the Nantahala Gorge to Robbinsville. The Cherohala Skyway, a high road with wide views, begins nearby.

North of Robbinsville, US-129 runs along lakes to Deals Gap, where the Tail of the Dragon packs 318 curves into 11 miles. It is very popular with motorcyclists and sports car drivers, and it is not suitable for long RVs or trailers, so take another route if you are driving a motorhome. Fall color in October brings heavy traffic, and fog is common on the ridges.