No they don't but I get what you're saying. Much easier to stay in a lane when your vehicle doesn't even take up half of it.




Since people bumped this, I guess I'll throw in my 2 cents. The dragon is a lot of fun and a must at least one time for any sports car or driving enthusiast. Go in the morning like others have stated. I highly recommend running it slowly at least once to make sure you know what you're getting into. I also highly recommend buying or renting a gopro (they rent them out there). I didn't last time and I regret it massively. Avoid the car days. The ones I know of are the Z one, Miatas at the gap, and an S2000 one.


Someone mentioned other roads and Asheville before. I came from the East and once you get decently high up in elevation on the blue ridge parkway, most of the parkway exits that you take are tons of fun. Many are every bit as fun as the dragon, if not more. There is also the diamondback road a few hours away that circles a mountain. I personally found the elevation changes and layout of the road to be more fun than the dragon. It reminded me of the Japanese mountain roads in all of the cartoons and racing games, and is probably the closest I'll ever get to driving on them. I stayed in Asheville on the way back and was impressed with how much fun the downtown area was. Check it out if you get the chance.

Not sure if I've shared this in this thread, but its a quick dragon run:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBjjJfFm-tM&t=101s"]Tail of the Dragon - Quick version - YouTube[/ame]

Classic track from Queen. We'll done!

Downtown Asheville is a fun time, though for people not local to the area it's worth mentioning that Asheville is 110 miles away from the Tail. Asheville has been named Beer Town USA on more than one occasion too, if that's your thing. ;)

I'm heading up to the Tail for some driving on the 21st of this month. Gonna combine the trip with good viewing of the total eclipse!

Here's a shot from my last visit:
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...3d&oe=5A271487

Asheville is a great town & the dragon is a good time at night when you can have it all to yourself:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ALJVtzrVAc&t=750s"]TT-East 2016: Tail of the Dragon Night Run - YouTube[/ame]

Look rock overlook on the Foothills Parkway is a really great spot for night sky viewing.

I'm heading up there with a buddy in a WRX STI on sept 16-18, cant wait! Very interested to see if I can keep pace with the STI.

You definitely could. Your speed will ultimately become dependent on how well you know the road. During my last visit I had to pull over and let a Miata pass me by. He was way faster than me and I quickly lost sight of him. And he had a passenger! AND his car was mostly stock, lol.

Talk about humbling...

My wife and I did the Dragon back in June on a trip from TX to DC. Her in the passenger seat slowed us a bit. The stock tires scream like piglets at mealtime on some of the new asphalt on the skyway and 68 (I think) between Ducktown and Telico Plains. The louder the tires complained the tighter she gripped the door handle and the less enjoyment there was in pushing the car.

On the skyway a couple of guys on Harley's caught us. The BRZ was substantially faster in the corners but they'd wind me up on the straights. It was interesting to watch them in the mirrors. They obviously knew the road and their bikes. They'd be showering sparks off the foot pegs and mounts.

Eventually, the preservation of my marriage overtook my enjoyment of jousting with the bike guys and I found a pull out and waved them by. A mile later we came up on a group of 5 or 6 Harleyites sight seeing and that put an end to the fun and games.

On the Dragon we did fine for about 8 miles and then I noticed her color wasn't so good. Rather than clean her lunch off the dash and floor, I slowed considerably.

All in all though, it was a very cool experience. We took 28 back toward Asheville. It, too, is a very cool drive. Next time, we're bringing some Dramamine for her.

Another trip to the Dragon
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1ofxqpl42A"]I'm Back 2016 10 29 Dragon Drive - YouTube[/ame]

Anyone have much experience with the Cherohala Skyway? Is it a fun road to drive on? The route looks pretty cool but I'm worried that this road is too much like the Blue Ridge Parkway, i.e. touristy with a strict 45 mph speed limit.

Additionally, I'm open to suggestions of other roads in Western NC to drive on. Already took note of the Diamondback.

The Skyway is fun, but is certainly a little more scenic than the Dragon. It's nowhere near as bad as the BRP for gawkers and sight-seers, though. If you're headed to Deals Gap, you might as well hit both, since they're so close.

Other fun roads in western NC are the Diamondback like you pointed out, the Rattler (NC-209), NC-197 between I-26 and 19E, NC-80 (Devil's Whip). If you want to venture up to VA, the Back of the Dragon (VA-16) is fun.

The Cherohala is great, although maybe similar to the BRP. They repaved the NC side last year and it feels amazing. Not too much traffic or enforcement, although I usually have gone during the week. I believe 40 speed limit in TN and 45 in NC. I had a TN park ranger witness me make an illegal pass and get up to 72mph once. He was cool and told me to keep it closer to 40 than 100 and I wouldn't have any problems with him. It might have helped that the girl on the back of my bike was cute though.

When my brother and I went and met up with one of his buddies from high school, the intent was to check out most of those that you mentioned. His buddy swerved off the road to miss a dog while circling the mountain on the diamondback about an hour before we got there to meet him, and totaled his car. Ironically, he wasn't even driving spirited when it happened, but he was the "guide" who had planned everything out and he had to opt out before we even started. We ended up doing the dragon and the diamondback, and having an amazing time but I still wish we could have seen some of the other ones.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice.