US Highway 129 • North Carolina & TennesseeExtreme Technical (5/5)Sport & Technical Twisties

Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap (US-129)

318 curves packed into 11 miles of banked asphalt on the NC/TN border

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FUEL DISPATCH ALERT

Zero fuel on the 11-mile stretch. Fill up in Robbinsville, NC (14 mi south) or Maryville, TN (20 mi north).

CELLULAR COVERAGE

Zero to intermittent cell service through the mountain gap.

SEASONAL ACCESS

Open year-round; best conditions April through November. Watch for early morning damp shade.

Route Telemetry & Topographic Profile

TOTAL DISTANCE

11.1 mi

Paved highway stretch

TECHNICAL CURVES

318

Banked turns and sweepers

SUMMIT CREST

1,988 ft

Peak GPS elevation

ELEVATION CLIMB

+903 ft

Total vertical gain

MAX GRADIENT

8.5%

Steepest road incline

POSTED SPEED

30 MPH (Strictly Enforced)

Enforced speed limits

Interactive GPS Route Map & Topographic Elevation

Tap numbered markers to inspect waypoints • Toggle U.S. Topo (USGS) layer

LAYER:

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Red line = Verified GPS motorcycle route ribbon

Essential Pit Stops, Cafes & Restaurants

Hand-picked roadside diners, coffee shops, historic taverns, and authorized service hubs along this route.

3 Curated Stops

Historic Biker Hub & Pit Stop Grill

Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort & Dragon Grill

The epicenter of Deals Gap at the mountain pass summit. Famous for smoked brisket sandwiches, Dragon burgers, cold drinks, and patio seating under the legendary Tree of Shame.

Address: 17548 US-129, Robbinsville, NC 28771

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Riverside Wood-Fired Tavern & Pizza

Tapoco Tavern at Historic Tapoco Lodge

Perched along the rushing Cheoah River rapids at the southern trailhead. Famous for brick-oven artisan pizzas, craft beer, and an expansive riverside deck.

Address: 14981 Tapoco Rd, Robbinsville, NC 28771

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Northern Highway Coffee & Cafe

129 Hub & Motorcycle Pit Stop

Rider gathering point at the Tennessee base of US-129 in Maryville. Serves pulled pork barbecue, breakfast biscuits, espresso, and cold hydration before hitting the curves.

Address: 4371 US-129, Maryville, TN 37801

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Route Overview & Character

The Tail of the Dragon on US-129 is widely revered as the premier sportbike and technical motorcycle road in North America. Carved along the southwestern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park between the Tennessee state line and the Cheoah Dam, it packs 318 continuous, cambered turns with zero intersecting roads.

Pavement Quality & Road Surface

Pristine High-Grip Grooved Asphalt with Banked Camber

Safety & Enforcement Advisory

Zero driveways and zero cross-streets, but tractor-trailers occasionally stray onto the pass. Stay on your side of the double yellow line at all times.

Verified GPS Waypoints

1Cheoah Dam Terminus (NC)

South entrance near Tapoco Lodge.

1,085 ft

35.4522, -83.9367

2Gravity Cavity Dip

Technical compression turn.

1,420 ft

35.4851, -83.9312

3Deals Gap Summit (NC/TN Border)

State line border crest.

1,988 ft

35.5181, -83.9242

4Calderwood Overlook

Panoramic scenic view.

1,780 ft

35.5264, -83.9431

5Tabcat Creek Bridge (TN)

Northern exit into Blount County.

1,120 ft

35.5397, -83.9747

Scenic Overlooks & Landmarks

Cheoah Dam / Fugitive Dam: Starting point on the North Carolina side with scenic Calderwood Lake views.
Gravity Cavity: A rapid compression dip right before a blind right-hand switchback.
Bikers at the Overlook: Scenic ridge pull-off overlooking Calderwood Lake and the Little Tennessee River gorge.
Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort & Tree of Shame: Historic gathering spot displaying motorcycle parts sacrificed to the Dragon.
Tabcat Creek Bridge: The northern terminus in Tennessee where the road straightens toward Chilhowee Lake.