How long does Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap) take to ride?

About 11 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.

Where does Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap) start and end?

It runs between Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort, NC and Tabcat Creek Bridge / Chilhowee Lake, TN. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap) a twisty road?

We count about 318 corners across 11 miles, which is relentless.

Is there a GPX file for Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap)?

Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Motorcycle Ride Planner · Routes · United States

Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap)

United States · US-129

11Miles

318Corners

28.9Per mile

9.5/10Difficulty

The undisputed benchmark of technical mountain motorcycle riding in North America, packing 318 continuous banked curves into an 11-mile stretch through the Great Smoky Mountains with zero intersecting roads or driveways. Renowned apexes like Gravity Cavity, the Whip, Copperhead Corner, and Beginner's End demand precise throttle-to-lean discipline and constant line maintenance. Heavy commercial trucks are legally banned, but enforcement of the 30 mph speed limit by Blount County deputies and TN Highway Patrol is relentless. Beware oncoming lane crossers on blind turns and leaf litter or wet patches under dense tree cover.

Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap) runs 11 miles between Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort, NC and Tabcat Creek Bridge / Chilhowee Lake, TN. We count about 318 corners along it, which is relentless. A hard road that rewards experience and punishes bravado.

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Tank-bag quick reference

StartDeals Gap Motorcycle Resort, NC35.4725, -83.9189
High1,088 ft - 1,988 ftelevation range
EndTabcat Creek Bridge / Chilhowee Lake, TN35.5348, -83.9877

T-CLOCS before you go: tyres and wheels, controls and cables, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, chassis and stand.

Repair within reach

11 miWheeler's PerformanceRobbinsville, United States
20 miSmoky Mountain Harley-DavidsonMaryville, United States
23 miDual Sport TouringFriendsville, United States
50 miWaynesville Cycle CenterWaynesville, United States

Straight-line distance from the start of the route, not driving distance.

Somewhere to stop

3 miHistoric Tapoco Lodge & River TavernRobbinsville, NC
3 miDeals Gap Motorcycle Resort & The Tree of ShameRobbinsville, NC
12 miLynn's Place & Historic Robbinsville SquareRobbinsville, NC
44 miWheels Through Time Motorcycle MuseumMaggie Valley, NC
45 miJoey's Pancake HouseMaggie Valley, NC

Questions riders ask

How long does Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap) take to ride?: About 11 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.
Where does Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap) start and end?: It runs between Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort, NC and Tabcat Creek Bridge / Chilhowee Lake, TN. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.
Is Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap) a twisty road?: We count about 318 corners across 11 miles, which is relentless.
Is there a GPX file for Tail of the Dragon (US-129 Deals Gap)?: Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Where these numbers come from

Distances and corner counts come from the route's own geometry, not from ratings or votes. Nothing here is crowdsourced and nobody paid to appear.