Tail of the Dragon/Atlanta

[Hoonin]

I have a conference for work in Atlanta this week and opted to drive down there in my Stinger GT2 with a goal in mind.... finally checking out the Tail of the Dragon on my way back up to Detroit. I’m basically getting paid 54 1/2 cents per mile to take my car there, which is something I’ve wanted to do for the past 10 years. Luckily it’s almost directly on the way back. Do any of you guys have any tips or suggestions? Is there anything else I should check out that’s not too far off of my path?

 

[eflyguy]

There is some fantastic driving (and riding) in North GA, NC and TN, much of it better than the dragon itself. I could give you a list for days worth of fun, some of it more enjoyable than the dragon itself. Also some of the finest dining in the land (not kidding..) We would typically do 300 miles in a day just tootling around on bikes.

How much time can you spend in the area?

 

[eflyguy]

Here's a message I sent to a person with a similar plan, but on short notice so it doesn't have many options and excludes a lot of what I hinted at above (but still some great roads..)

You'd take GA400 to get started, thru Dahlonega to the Rock Pile (Intersection 60 & 9/19).

Tight and twisty:
60 to Suches (Int. 60 & 180/Wolf Pen Gap)
then 180/Wolf Pen Gap to US129

OR

Fast and twisty:
9/19 to US129 at Turners Corner
US129 over Blood Mountain

Let your GPS take you to Hiawassee, GA, then Franklin, NC.

If at all possible, stop at Cafe Rel in Franklin for lunch. Unless you have the tastebuds of a goat, you won't regret it. CASH ONLY!

From Franklin, set GPS for Deals Gap, which will take you via Hwy 28.

It's about 3hrs from I-285 to Franklin, and just over an hour to Deals Gap from there. You could get three runs in (a "sighting run" up, then fun runs back down and up again) and then head towards Knoxville (use GPS).

Note, although the Dragon is technically 11 miles, the last 2 are not very interesting, so 99% of people "running" the Dragon stop and turn around at "the overlook" which is just over 9 miles from Deals Gap Resort. You'll see a sign for "scenic overlook" (or similar) and there are pull-offs on both sides of the road.

Would suggest you take Foothills Parkway when you get down the hill - you'll run alongside a huge lake for a while, the turn is 6 miles from the overlook, just past a bridge over a creek (there are signs). It adds 5 minutes to the trip and as well as being another great road, there are some great views as well. Overlook to Knoxville is just over an hour.

 

[Hoonin]

There is some fantastic driving (and riding) in North GA, NC and TN, much of it better than the dragon itself. I could give you a list for days worth of fun, some of it more enjoyable than the dragon itself. Also some of the finest dining in the land (not kidding..) We would typically do 300 miles in a day just tootling around on bikes.

How much time can you spend in the area?

The conference ends at noon Friday, I am considering staying in a hotel near near the Tail of the dragon or somewhere closer to home. I’d like to be home by 3ish/4ish Saturday night, it’s a 6-7 hour drive depending on where I stay.

 

[Hoonin]

Here's a message I sent to a person with a similar plan, but on short notice so it doesn't have many options and excludes a lot of what I hinted at above (but still some great roads..)

You'd take GA400 to get started, thru Dahlonega to the Rock Pile (Intersection 60 & 9/19).

Tight and twisty:
60 to Suches (Int. 60 & 180/Wolf Pen Gap)
then 180/Wolf Pen Gap to US129

OR

Fast and twisty:
9/19 to US129 at Turners Corner
US129 over Blood Mountain

Let your GPS take you to Hiawassee, GA, then Franklin, NC.

If at all possible, stop at Cafe Rel in Franklin for lunch. Unless you have the tastebuds of a goat, you won't regret it. CASH ONLY!

From Franklin, set GPS for Deals Gap, which will take you via Hwy 28.

It's about 3hrs from I-285 to Franklin, and just over an hour to Deals Gap from there. You could get three runs in (a "sighting run" up, then fun runs back down and up again) and then head towards Knoxville (use GPS).

Note, although the Dragon is technically 11 miles, the last 2 are not very interesting, so 99% of people "running" the Dragon stop and turn around at "the overlook" which is just over 9 miles from Deals Gap Resort. You'll see a sign for "scenic overlook" (or similar) and there are pull-offs on both sides of the road.

Would suggest you take Foothills Parkway when you get down the hill - you'll run alongside a huge lake for a while, the turn is 6 miles from the overlook, just past a bridge over a creek (there are signs). It adds 5 minutes to the trip and as well as being another great road, there are some great views as well. Overlook to Knoxville is just over an hour.

You are awesome, thank you!

 

[clemson85]

Yes the drive from Dahlonega to Suches is awesome. I have driven on it many times on my way to Trout fish on the Toccoa River in Suches, GA.

 

[eflyguy]

Tapoco lodge is mighty fine and has some excellent dining. Fontana village resort is a few miles back down 28 and has a decent restaurant. Both are South of the dragon.

Leaving ATL at noon gives you an easy afternoon drive up that far.

 

[Hoonin]

It’s insane when you pull up to the tallest hotel in Atlanta and the valets tell you that you have one of the nicest cars they have ever parked. (It may have just been for tips or whatever, who knows.)

There were also people dressed to the nines standing outside the hotel saying wow that’s a nice car and trying to figure out what it was. A brand new G wagon and Maserati were sitting right next to it and no one even batted an eye at either car.

The best part? I only paid $34,500 for it lol. The second best part? A whole bunch of hoity toities just got caught checking out a Kia...... Kia had to piss a lot of manufacturers off with this car.

 

[Hoonin]

So.... I took your advice eflyguy and it was absolutely amazing. It was my first time to the dragon and I must say, that road is pretty batshit insane. I have a full on Trak Pak Roush suspension, 6 piston brakes, two piece rotors, and 274/40 track tires all around, as well as other track setup parts on my Roush Mustang. I felt way more confident in the Kia on the dragon and could not see the Roush doing as good. I’m trying to figure out why reviewers gave the Stinger such a bad review on suspension. The body roll was not that bad, In fact it felt like car leaned more until the turns. It was a great day for a drive with the temps being around 45 and partial overcast. I definitely warped the shit out of my rotors and definitely had to change my clothes due to sweat. I love these cars.

Thanks for the advice!