1,443 Miles To Ride The Tail of the Dragon – Our First Big Motorcycle Trip
We traded the flat cornfields of Illinois for the winding mountain roads of Tennessee and North Carolina on our first big motorcycle adventure together.
Over six days, we experienced some of the most famous motorcycle roads in the country, including the Tail of the Dragon, Cherohala Skyway, and Foothills Parkway.
But it wasn’t all scenic overlooks and beautiful curves. We encountered rain, long riding days, unexpected challenges, and a few surprises we definitely hadn’t planned for.
Follow along as we make our way from the familiar cornfields of home into the Smoky Mountains and back again.
1,443
MILES RIDDEN
6
DAYS ON THE ROAD
5
STATES TRAVELED
JULY 12-17
2026
Our Six-Day Adventure
Our First Motorcycle Road Trip Begins | Illinois To Evansville
Our first big motorcycle adventure begins as we leave Illinois behind and head toward Evansville, Indiana. Nearly 200 miles of riding kick off our six-day journey to the Smoky Mountains.
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300 Miles From Our Comfort Zone | Headed To The Tail of The Dragon
Day 2 takes us from Evansville, Indiana, to Athens, Tennessee. Over 300 miles of riding, rain, and unfamiliar roads push us out of our comfort zone as we make our way toward the Smoky Mountains and the Tail of the Dragon.
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We Rode the Tail of the Dragon
Day 3 takes us through some of the most famous motorcycle roads in the Smoky Mountains, including the Cherohala Skyway, Tail of the Dragon, and Foothills Parkway. After incredible mountain scenery, hundreds of curves, and a few unexpected surprises, our plans for the night take an interesting turn.
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Cherohala Skyway and Fontana Dam | Lost Keys, Close Calls, 255 Miles
Day 4 brings another day of motorcycle adventures in the Smoky Mountains as we explore Moonshiner 28, Fontana Dam, and more beautiful mountain roads. With winding curves, scenic overlooks, and plenty of stops along the way, there's still so much to discover before we head back toward Tennessee.
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The Long Ride Home | Our 6 Day Smoky Mountains Motorcycle Trip
Days 5 and 6 bring our first big motorcycle road trip to a close as we make our way from Cookeville, Tennessee, through Evansville, Indiana, and back home to central Illinois. Along the way, we enjoy scenic highways, impressive rock cutouts, a little motorcycle fishing gear talk, and one last memorable meal before trading the mountains and curves for the familiar cornfields of home.
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Our 6 Day Smoky Mountains Motorcycle Trip | Route, Budget and Best Roads
Six days, 1,443 miles, and plenty of stories! We sit down to look back on our first big motorcycle road trip through the Smoky Mountains, sharing our favorite moments, unexpected surprises, and what we'd do differently next time.
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