Eastern TN/Pre TOTD lodging suggestions

[kidsmoke]

Hoping those of you familiar with the area between Knoxville and Asheville can chime in with lodging and route suggestions.

I've got a work meeting in Asheville in June requiring a Sunday midday arrival. I live in Indy, so this seems like a rare chance to take the bike and run through the western NC roads that people long for. While the chaos of the TOTD in June is of little interest, it does seem like a golden opportunity to put that notch in my belt. I driven and hiked in Eastern TN and Western NC, but always by cage. This will be my first time riding these roads.

Plan is to ride to the Knoxville area on Saturday, lodge, and hit the dragon early, then take a scenic route into Asheville.

I'm looking for recommendations for moto friendly lodging for Saturday night, and suggestions of roads for Sunday. the screen shot shows Google Maps default Knoville to Asheville via 129 Route. I do pretty well with route planning generally, but I know many of you are VERY familiar with the region and would welcome your input.

Feel free to make 'must see' and 'must avoid' recommendations. Anecdotal stories and photos are always encouraged!

thanks in advance!

[twowheeladdict]

 Too close to Knoxville for my tolerance level.

If you haven’t ridden the BRP I recommend hopping on it and riding it to Asheville. 

I know some stay in Sweetwater if they plan to hit the Tail early.

[cliffrod]

I “only” lived around there- actually on both ends- so I never really stayed at any lodging and can’t really offer help there.  There are a lot of roads I enjoy in the region but I have little recent time riding on any of them.  Even riding I-40 between Knoxville and Asheville is fun on a bike as long as there’s no construction or wrecks snarling traffic.

I would expect the dragon will be bumper-to-bumper filled with weekender traffic and THP in June.  If there was a way to ride it on the way home (mid week?) after your Sunday arrival in Asheville, it will probably be noticeably less crowded & chaotic.   

I’m an hour south of Asheville now but still go back & forth between here and Knoxville area regularly with daughter in college up there.  When I-40 is compromised or closed, I regularly travel from Newport TN to Asheville on 25/70 and 19/23.  I always liked that route on my V7 Sport because the roads are bigger with longer sweepers than the endless tight switchbacks on the dragon.  The dragon is a lot more fun imho if you only go one direction.  Going both ways can become tiring or at least redundant, especially if you’re dealing with lots of traffic.

The biggest caution is that some of the small towns up there can be voracious in terms of policing speed limits.  Hot Springs (not on your current mapped route, but on 25/70) is a no-tolerance small town.  Don’t do it.   If you’re on the interstate The area around I-40 Exit 24 Lake Junaluska, especially under the overpass (NC- 209) at the exit, is the most consistently active & likely speed trap on interstate between Knoxville & Asheville.

The riding up there is hard to beat.  There’s so many great roads in the region that it’s hard to go wrong.  Hope you have a great trip!

[kidsmoke]

Too close to Knoxville for my tolerance level.

If you haven’t ridden the BRP I recommend hopping on it and riding it to Asheville. 

I know some stay in Sweetwater if they plan to hit the Tail early.

I hear that, TWA, Hoping to snake around it to a degree. And your right about BRP, I appreciate the callout. Although on a Sunday AM I suppose all those roads will be packed.

The riding up there is hard to beat.  There’s so many great roads in the region that it’s hard to go wrong.  Hope you have a great trip!

Great info there, thank you!

So is one direction of the TOTD better than the other?

[cliffrod]

I hear that, TWA, Hoping to snake around it to a degree. And your right about BRP, I appreciate the callout. Although on a Sunday AM I suppose all those roads will be packed.

Great info there, thank you!

So is one direction of the TOTD better than the other?

Not really.   I lived west, so always went to the dragon from the west end.  I would usually ride to the store & turn around to go home.

You should have a great ride.  Hopefully traffic won’t be a drag.   Especially when I was living in Asheville before moving to Knoxville area, I enjoyed just riding out in that general region and getting lost.  There are so many enjoyable roads up there, even if they’re not famous, that it’s hard to not have a good time riding..

[Chuck in Indiana]

If there was a way to ride it on the way home (mid week?) after your Sunday arrival in Asheville, it will probably be noticeably less crowded & chaotic.   

This. There are also many roads near there that are quite good. Almost any road going down from the BRP is worth doing. We've done the BRP from end to end. Dorcia loves it, "it's like a slow ballet."  It *is* slow.. maybe you can get by with 50 or so. Just smell the roses and enjoy the views.
The Sierra Nevada brewery is in Asheville.. a worthwhile visit if you have time.

[kidsmoke]

BTTT

I depart Saturday AM, will stay outside Knoxville and head to Asheville on Sunday morning. TOTD has just been repaved, so if weather is decent, I imagine it will be even busier than usual, so I'm inclined to skip and find other roads, Cherohala to the BRP being the most likely route. Starting early and taking my own sweet time.

Couple of questions. GPS

Rever
Scenic
Riser

Google Maps
WAZE
Apple Maps

Does anyone have strong opinions or anecdotes for or against any of these tools?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Have a great trip, Kip! Unfortunately, WG is a shadow of it's former self. A few years ago, you would have had more recommendations than you could shake a stick at, but for whatever reason, those guys (and girls) are gone. 

[Ham42]

I live about an hour south of the area your talking about.
Here's some good roads in the area most are just south of
Parkway. Hwy215 is right off parkway is Great!, Hwy28, 107,
178, 276 which is off parkway.. I ride these often.

[kidsmoke]

Here's the plan. Spend the night at a no tell in Maryville, head for Tellico Plains at first light. Cherahola Skyway, then to Cherokee to pick up the BRP and ride it all the way to Asheville.



Very excited and a bit nervous. Have some phone numbers thanks to a couple of Guzzisti, should the need arise. Long ride with no throttle lock. The mileage of the GRiSO builds in lots of stop and stretch opportunites however. Should be Epic.

[twowheeladdict]

You will be fine.  I have done the entire BRP on the following bikes.

2007 ninja 650
2011 Versus 650
2010 Vulcan Voyager
2012 Concours 1400
2018 Road Glide

and large sections of it on
2001 Voyager XII
2014 Trophy SE
2018 V7III
2019 Himalayan
2021 KLX300SM

Get a map and note the exits off the BRP with gas nearby.  need gas at the wrong time and you might have to ride up to 20 miles off the BRP to get it.

[MerleLowe]

Going right by Maggie Valley but not stopping at Wheels Through Time.   

[Chuck in Indiana]

Going right by Maggie Valley but not stopping at Wheels Through Time.   

That would take an extra day that he may not have.  Certainly worth it if it can be arranged, though.

[kidsmoke]

Going right by Maggie Valley but not stopping at Wheels Through Time.   

You're the 2nd person today to suggest this is criminal...

That would take an extra day that he may not have.  Certainly worth it if it can be arranged, though.

Exactly, I could roll on the BRP OR take 19 eastbound, But not both. I have to be in front of a camera in a jacket and tie @ 5 pm precisely on Sunday, followed by a dinner. Rather have a liesurely ride and meet my commitments than try to shoehorn other very worthy stops in. Next time!

[Sykestone8886]

I stayed at Smitty’s Campground when I was there, really close to the Dragon it a really nice place well equipped with hot showers cold beer and coffee in the AM the people that own it are very accommodating they also have cabins.