Tail of the Dragon (US 129)

TN · United States

The road, north up. 18 km end to end.

Climb along the road — 350 m to 600 m · 303 m of climbing

Highest: 600 m
Lowest: 350 m
Climb: 303 m
Descent: 463 m
Start to end: 513 → 350 m

18 kmEnd to end

0h 10m Riding time

Very twisty Twistiness

Paved Surface

The twistiest stretch of US 129, the most famous short run of road in the eastern United States: hundreds of corners from Deals Gap toward Calderwood.

SeasonApril to October; weekdays are quieter

Tight, continuous and relentless. It rewards precision, and it punishes mistakes: crashes here are common, and the road is a regular among riders and the police.

Treat it as a technical road, not a race. Stay on your side of the line, watch for oncoming riders cutting corners and stop at the pull-offs rather than on the bends.

It is busy on weekends and in summer, so a weekday morning is the best time to go.

More on this road: The best motorcycle roads in Tennessee

Plan a ride on it More roads

Photos are contributed by riders and reviewed before they appear here. Conditions change — check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.