Tail of the Dragon 2026: From New Jersey to 318 Curves.

Some motorcycle trips are about the destination. Others are about everything it takes to get there. This one was both.

Over Labor Day weekend, a group of riders from New Jersey and New York headed south for one of the most famous motorcycle roads in the country: Tail of the Dragon. We weren’t just heading straight to North Carolina, though. The plan was to enjoy the roads on the way down, including Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Dragon was the main attraction, but some of our best stories happened before we ever got there.

Day 1: From Fort Lee to Virginia | Friday, September 4

We met at the LUKOIL on Route 9W in Fort Lee, New Jersey, at 7:15 in the morning. Kickstands were up at 8:00, and we were on our way. We headed through Pennsylvania, passing Allentown and Carlisle, and continued toward Front Royal, Virginia.

From Front Royal, the route took us onto Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park, then toward Thornton Gap. After the highway miles, getting into the mountains and onto winding roads was exactly what we had been looking forward to.

We spent our first night in the Staunton area of Virginia. Day one was behind us, but there was still a long way to go.

Day 2: The Blue Ridge Parkway Had Other Plans | Saturday, September 5

Saturday morning we headed out again, aiming for Robbinsville, North Carolina. Our planned route took us through Roanoke and along parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with stops around Mabry Mill, Fancy Gap, Blowing Rock, and Linn Cove Viaduct.

The Parkway delivered the scenery and curves we came for. Then, about halfway through, we ran into a closure and had to turn around.

That would have been simple enough with a working map. But we had no cell phone service, nobody could pull up directions to the next gas station, and some of the bikes were getting low on fuel.

The Harley-Davidson navigation was the one system that managed to find us a way out. The problem was the road it chose.

We ended up on a tertiary mountain road where gravel would have been an improvement. There were deep craters, loose dirt, and hairpin turns. On fully loaded touring bikes, every turn demanded concentration. Stopping in the wrong place felt like a good way to drop a bike, so we kept moving.

Harleys and Indians were picking their way down rough switchbacks that had no business being part of a comfortable touring route. One of our friends cracked a joke that we had turned our Harleys and Indians into enduro bikes. At that moment, it really felt like it.

It was frustrating while we were in it, especially with fuel on everyone’s mind. But we made it through and got back on our way. That detour became one of the stories we kept talking about afterward.

Eventually we reached Robbinsville. We parked the bikes, got together for dinner, shared some laughs, and talked about what was waiting for us the following morning.

Riding Tail of the Dragon on US 129: 318 Curves in 11 Miles

Sunday morning was finally here. After all those miles from New Jersey, it was time for Tail of the Dragon.

We headed out from Robbinsville toward Deals Gap and US-129, but rather than try to ride all together in one long line, we split into smaller groups to take on the Dragon. Eleven miles and 318 curves, one after another. Everyone could settle into their own pace and enjoy the road.

We finished at the famous Motorcycles High Crash Area sign and got together for a group picture. We'd come a long way to get there, so of course we had to capture the moment.

Then came one of those stories that will probably get brought up every time we talk about this trip. One rider, who will remain unnamed, ran out of gas and started to panic because the next gas station was still a long way off. Luckily, William was prepared. He pulled out his handy gas pump and gave him a gallon of gas. Problem solved. We're still laughing about that one.

Alberto and I also decided to trade bikes for a bit. I took his Honda Rebel while he got on my Harley, and we rode a couple of miles over to the 129 Dragon Harley-Davidson shop. We compared notes afterward, which made for another good memory from the day. It's funny how different the same road can feel on another bike.

We shopped around a little before getting back on the bikes, heading into the Dragon again, and eventually making our way to Robbinsville for lunch with everyone.

One Last Lunch Together in Robbinsville

After the riding, the photo stop, the little fuel rescue, and a bit of shopping, we all met for lunch at El Pacifico Grill, a Mexican restaurant close to our hotel.

It was a chance to sit down, enjoy a meal, laugh about the past few days, and spend a little more time together before we went our separate ways. After everything we'd ridden through, including that unforgettable gravel detour off the Blue Ridge Parkway, it felt good to have everyone around the same table one more time.

Different Directions, More Miles Ahead

After lunch at El Pacifico Grill, we said our goodbyes. The rest of the group began the ride back toward New Jersey and New York, with a return itinerary through the Back of the Dragon and Princeton, West Virginia. Alberto, William, Gloria, Donnie, and I still had more riding to do.

We headed back to the Airbnb, took a little time to relax, and then got on the bikes again. Our next destination was the Cherohala Skyway.

43 Miles of Sweeping Curves and Mountain Views

The Cherohala Skyway runs about 43 miles from Robbinsville, North Carolina, to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, following NC-143 and TN-165 through the Nantahala and Cherokee national forests. It climbs from around 900 feet near Tellico Plains to roughly 5,400 feet at its highest elevations. Unlike the Dragon, with its famous count of 318 curves, the Cherohala is known for miles of long, flowing sweepers rather than one official curve count.

After the tight, nonstop turns of the Dragon, riding the Cherohala felt like a whole different experience. The curves opened up, the mountain views seemed to go on forever, and we found ourselves climbing higher and higher. We pulled over near the high point to take some pictures and enjoy the view before continuing on toward Tennessee.

Apparently Every Road Leads to a Harley

And wouldn’t you know it, near the end of the Skyway in Tellico Plains there was Cherohala Skyway Harley-Davidson. Of course there was.

Everybody started giving me a hard time. We had already stopped at US 129 Dragon Harley-Davidson, and now here we were at another Harley shop. Apparently, according to the group, it didn’t matter which scenic route I picked. Somehow every road I took led straight to a Harley-Davidson. I told them I was just following the curves. Nobody believed me.

Ice Cream, Rain, and the Ride Back

We turned around and started making our way back toward the Airbnb. On the return, the weather changed and rain started coming down. We found a little roadside ice cream stop along the Cherohala, pulled in, and decided it was a good time for a break while we waited for the rain to ease up.

You can plan the roads and the stops all you want, but sometimes the weather makes the next decision for you. We hung out for a while, watched the rain, and eventually got back on the bikes to finish the ride.

By the time we returned to the Airbnb, it was dark. After the Dragon, the Cherohala, the jokes, and that rainy ice cream stop, we were done for the night. It was time to get some rest and get everything ready. The next morning, the five of us would point the bikes south toward Florida.

The Ride Was Bigger Than the Dragon

Looking back, what stands out isn’t just the 318 curves. It’s the early meetup in Fort Lee, the miles through Pennsylvania and Virginia, Skyline Drive, the Parkway closure, that wild gravel detour, dinner together in Robbinsville, and finally riding the Dragon in smaller groups, taking that group photo, and swapping bikes along the way.

Those are the miles you remember. The roads matter, but so do the people beside you, the unexpected detours, and the stories that come out of them.

The following morning, we packed up and pointed the bikes south instead of north. Next stop: Florida. That part of the trip deserves a story of its own.

Miles & Memories

We’ve got more photos from the trip in our Tail of the Dragon gallery, including the bikes, roads, and moments along the way.

Explore the Tail of the Dragon photo gallery →