North/South Carolina Fun/Scenic Road Suggestions

[MRichmond]

I am driving from Richmond to Spartanburg for the M5 Driving Experience on Monday. Can anyone suggest a more fun and/or scenic route than I-85 to properly exercise the car?

[rodman31]

Hey Mrichmond!!

Were you been?? Office had you busy lately?? Your class was full when I tried booking at the beginning of March, so I won't be there. The wife and I are going May 2nd.
You could take the Blue Ridge Pkwy, I believe it exits 30-40 miles from the PC. No doubt I-85 blows!! I use it to go to Pensacola FL on vacations.
Well, anyway have a great time!! We'll have to get the beer another time!!

Robert

[mfisher702]

I have some slightly off-topic advice for you. If you even remotely like guitar-based blues, one of the best kept secrets in the country is the Contagious Blues Band based in Charlotte. You might check their web page and maybe catch them in NC or SC.

http://www.contagiousblues.com/index.htm

I saw these guys in Austin last year (on a rare tour away from the southeast US) and believe me, Zack and his band are like the next Stevie Ray and Double Trouble. I am going to specifically plan my M Experience trip based on the band's schedule to make sure we catch a show while in the area.

If you are not into the blues, well then just forget all that rant.

Cheers!

[M3Racer]

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

This is supposed to be awesome.

[mkerouac]

Originally Posted by M3Racer

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

This is supposed to be awesome.

I second the Tail of the Dragon near Fontana Village, NC. It's 11 miles of pure Grin Factor. I ran it 4 times in a Mini Cooper S Works.

[rsteele]

Originally Posted by M3Racer

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

This is supposed to be awesome.

It's a nice drive, but it's relatively short, it begins and ends in the middle of nowhere, and it's also very out-of-the-way on a route from Richmond to Spartanburg.

I've taken the Skyline Parkway from Front Royal, VA all the way through the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Smoky Mountain Park to Gatlinburg, TN. several times, and more limited trips innumerable times. I think this is the best drive in the Southeast. You would go west through Charlotte to get on the northernmost park of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then take the Parkway south to Asheville. It's a straight shot from Asheville to Spartanburg on I-26. I would check on road closures before you leave. Such closures are quite typical in the Mt. Mitchell vicinity this time of year until ice clears out of the tunnels. Call (828) 298 0398 for this information. The closure information is given in reference to "mile markers," so it's helpful to have handy reference to a Parkway map. There are many of these on the internet.

If time and road closures permit, there are some nice short hikes to take from the roadside, e.g. from the top of Mt Mitchell along the crest to Mt. Craig. There's also an interesting and somewhat challenging hike along the top of Grandfather Mountain just south of Boone.

I don't think that Richmond to Spartanburg passing through Charlotte, the Parkway, and Asheville is a reasonable one day trip. I would break this drive up into two days with an overnite in either Roanoke or Boone, or just pick a comfortable one day drive that includes some of the Parkway, particularly if there are a lot of road closures just north of Asheville. As a matter of fact, I suspect that you'll have to leave the Parkway at highway 80 just north of Mt. Mitchell, but you can usually get to Mt. Mitchell this time of year coming from Asheville. Closed Parkway segments often require significant detours, so you don't want to discover closures by surprise.

Richard

[MRichmond]

Thanks, guys. I will not have time for these roads on this trip, but they are reason enough for another voyage. In addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Tail of the Dragon, the Cherohala Skyway looks very enticing: http://www.cherohala.com.

[rsteele]

Originally Posted by MRichmond

Thanks, guys. I will not have time for these roads on this trip, but they are reason enough for another voyage. In addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Tail of the Dragon, the Cherohala Skyway looks very enticing: http://www.cherohala.com.

The Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway are different names for the same road. The latter is the official name.

Richard

[JiAvW]

Actually this is not true. The Cherohala Skyway is a different loop. It is much longer and larger than the Tail of the Dragon. The dragon is only an 11 mile stretch that begins at the NC/TN border and continues into TN.

[rsteele]

My mistake. You are correct. I've only been on the Cherohala Skyway. I'll have to check out the Tail of the Dragon.

Richard

[JiAvW]

No worries. You are fairly close to the area as I am. I would HIGHLY recommend checking out the Dragon.