Taking a trip to the Draon / Deals Gap in May. Need some help please.

[jrp0629]

My cousin and I are taking a trip out to the dragon in mid May. We are looking to go in mid May because the weather should be good, not too hot or too cold I dont think. Can anyone confirm how the weather is in mid May? We will be trailering the bikes out from Michigan and I need suggestions on places to stay that are somewhat close for four nights. I called Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort but the dates were looking at going are all booked up. Any suggestions? Thanks

[nevinfs327]

I was there last year in mid-May and the weather was really good with mild temps (wore perf'd leather jacket) and only one day of rain.  Camped all but one of the 7 nights I was on the road.  Rode down along Skyline Drive and the BRP among other roads which were also plenty warm, but certainly not hot.  

[zer0netgain]

Be prepared for anything.

Every time I've been there in May, it might be warm and sunny or cold and rainy.  No guarantees.  It will be nippy at night.

[Peter_MA]

We rode down from western Mass the second week of June last year. Rode the Blueridge down from the NC border. It was hot and dry with one day of rain.

I strongly suggest staying at the Kickstand Lodge http://kickstandlodge.com/. It isn't really a lodge, but a campgound along a brook with cabins for rent that are just big enough for a bed and a place to put your gear. She even has tents setup to rent with futons. It just a few miles from the Dragon. "Mo" the owner is a hoot and she usually cooks up a big bunch of chow for everyone for dinner. It's a dry county so bring some beer and share it around the campfire with other riders. She also has the cleanest bath house you'll every find and provides towels. Staying there was one of the memorable highlights of the trip. It's mellow and low key, away from the circus at Deals Gap.

[Burnspot]

No suggestion on where to stay with a trailer...never done that before. When dealing with the Smokies in May, expect a mixture of sun and rain...it's just the way it is that time of year...kind of a crapshoot. We camped at BRMC in Cruso, NC right in the middle of May last year and, while we had some great days, we also had some doses of heavy rain, fog, and t-storms. Temperature was generally okay. YMMV. Have fun and hit the Dragon early before it clogs up...there are PLENTY of other roads around there to run (Cherohala for example) while the Dragon is congested.

[dietDrThunder]

A good friend of mine runs a motorcycle-only campground in Tellico Plains TN right at the far end of the Cherohala Skyway. It's called Hunt's Lodge...couldn't be run by better people, cheap, everything there you could want in a campground includihng heated/cooled cabins, bike work space, etc. And, it's at the end of a _really_ good road.

www.huntslodge.com

[dietDrThunder]

We rode down from western Mass the second week of June last year. Rode the Blueridge down from the NC border. It was hot and dry with one day of rain.

Hi there! Where in the 413 are you? I live in Nashville now, but grew up in Southampton. I still have many friends there, one of whom has an FJR too...

[vulcanbill]

http://www.twowheelinn.com/

every time

[kyzrex]

Iron Horse Lodge is another one to try.  

KentuckySportbikes will be at the gap May 5-7

[Mastros2]

http://www.fontanavillage.com/

Never stayed but received some good recommendations from Fontana.  

[HipGnosis]

http://www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp  Weather Underground "Trip Planner"  You type in a location along with a date range...  it gives you the average high and low temps for that location, historical temp ranges, average daily precipitation, average cloud cover, average wind and humidity... and a table of historical weather stats for those dates at that location.

[gradus]

I've taken a trip to the Gap area for about 10-yrs in mid-late April.  You have no worries of it being too cold in May.

Standard 'decent' forecast that time of year is Scattered Showers with 40% chance of rain.  So don't worry if you see that as your forecast.  They can't predict the weather up there anyway.

[tthompsr]

I had a good stay at Docks Motel in Townsend Tenn., Very motorcycle freindly people,Clean rooms,and close enough to a lot of good riding!

[Snowbird]

My cousin and I are taking a trip out to the dragon in mid May. We are looking to go in mid May because the weather should be good, not too hot or too cold I dont think. Can anyone confirm how the weather is in mid May? We will be trailering the bikes out from Michigan and I need suggestions on places to stay that are somewhat close for four nights. I called Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort but the dates were looking at going are all booked up. Any suggestions? Thanks

Yes, the weather should be good, but only God can confirm.

HTH.

[sleazy rider]

A good friend of mine runs a motorcycle-only campground in Tellico Plains TN right at the far end of the Cherohala Skyway. It's called Hunt's Lodge...couldn't be run by better people, cheap, everything there you could want in a campground includihng heated/cooled cabins, bike work space, etc. And, it's at the end of a _really_ good road.

www.huntslodge.com

Tell Jack and Lori  that I said hi.    

I've stayed there several times too and have chatted with them online for years.  I was going to recommend their place and saw your post.  A really excellent campground with very good pricing, IMHO.  Hey, they even have wireless internet to post your pics after the day's riding is done, a great big campfire ring near the picnic pavilion and easy access to the Skyway.

[bluespecv03]

I have stayed at the Two Wheel Inn a few times and have to agree that it is a great place!

As for mid-May weather, we went last year at that time, and for the most part it was great, with some cooler/cold temps in the higher elevations and some hit and miss rain.  Always carry the rain gear with you.

[Peter_MA]

Another option is to stay at the Skyline Village Inn http://www.skylinevillageinn.com on the Blueridge and use it as a jumping off point. The owner is a great guy, provides good food and is really into microbrews. We stayed there on the way down and had a great ride from there down the parkway, picked up "Hellbender" and rode it to the Dragon. There are some spectacular rides around the Little Switzerland area where the Inn is located.

Just my nickel (inflation)

[spd2918]

http://www.fontanavillage.com/

Never stayed but received some good recommendations from Fontana.  

I stayed there.  Nice and very central.

You can expect very slow guys riding in parade mode.  You can expect very fast local kids bombing past you.  You can expect a heavy LE presence.  But go and have fun.  Try the Cherohala Skyway, too.  There are far fewer bikes and "Crown Vics" and it is much longer / faster.

[sprint_st]

This years weather has been pretty much of a crap shoot.  I was over there about a month ago and it was in the sixties and sunny, now there was sand and pine needles all over the road too.  It "could" snow there in May, has happened before and could again.  Weather doesn't get stable until about a week before, BUT "normally" that time of year it is wonderful.  Most of Saturday and Sunday will be a three ring circus.  The ignorant dumb ass, oops shouldn't call the pirates what they are make the place a zoo.  You also have to contend with squids who have the entire route memorize, then there are cars and even tractor trailers.  Have I left something out?  If you don't mind the road being wet, you can get there early and you'll most likely have the road to yourself.  Then there is Monday through early Friday, that's when it is just a very good twisty road where you can have a lot of fun.  Finding a place to stay isn't hard at all.  Stecoa, Robinsville, Telico, Marysville, etc, etc are all within an hour's run at the most.  There are plenty of places to stay.

[NoGear]

We're heading back there again at the end of April. We are staying at the Great Smokies Lodge since we have a 10yr old going also (They have 2 indoor water-parks).  Also, it gives us a central location to hit all of the good rides (Devils Triangle....) not just the Gap.

[cb919er]

The weather at the Dragon should be pretty nice during the day mid-may. If you ride the Cherohala Skyway will be cold near the top. Check the Microtel in Robbinsville, NC.  About 20 miles from the dragon, and it's a beautiful ride to and from.

I'll be up there May 21st with a group of Hornet Riders, but I'll be camping out the KOA in Tellico Plains...

[blackbuell]

Robbinsville is a nice place to stay, but it's in a dry county.  

Jon

[sprint_st]

Robbinsville is a nice place to stay, but it's in a dry county.  

Jon

That's what they made luggage for  

[tpierce (MP)]

Anyone know if any of the parts of the Blueridge Parkway are still closed?  The website mentions early spring as opening time for a few parts, i plan on riding it from the south to the north this coming week, after hitting the skyway and 129 along the way.

[vulcanbill]

Anyone know if any of the parts of the Blueridge Parkway are still closed?  The website mentions early spring as opening time for a few parts, i plan on riding it from the south to the north this coming week, after hitting the skyway and 129 along the way.

Which website?  

Try blueridgeparkway.org?

[tpierce (MP)]

Which website?  

Try blueridgeparkway.org?

yes

[R Doug]

http://www.fontanavillage.com/

Never stayed but received some good recommendations from Fontana.  

+1

I've stayed there twice.  It's a great place.

[jfurf]

Anyone know if any of the parts of the Blueridge Parkway are still closed?  The website mentions early spring as opening time for a few parts, i plan on riding it from the south to the north this coming week, after hitting the skyway and 129 along the way.

There are still two sections closed. One section is to the southwest of Asheville, just outside the city. There's also a section to the northeast of Asheville that has been closed for like a year or two due to rockslides. That closure has a well marked detour.

Also... watch your speed. Even though there's no one on the road, I got paced by a Park Ranger who wrote me a ticket a few days ago.  

[tpierce (MP)]

Made the trip last week south to north.  No problems with the few rangers i encountered.  Parkway as d-e-a-d through most of it thankfully.  Great time.

[kawboyCAFE]

We will be trailering the bikes out....

dude, your on a sport-touring website, and your talking about trailering your bike somewhere? are you serious, or was this meant as a joke?

[lightnin4]

Fontana Village is a nice place to stay.  I've stayed there 3 times during the Women's Sportbike Rally.  They've got hotel rooms and cabins.  Plenty of room to park trailers too.  There were several trailers parked around when we were there last September.

[dgshaffer]

Getting excited yet? I'm headed there the end of may and this is gonna be a long four weeks!

[TriumphTiger1050]

There are still two sections closed. One section is to the southwest of Asheville, just outside the city. There's also a section to the northeast of Asheville that has been closed for like a year or two due to rockslides. That closure has a well marked detour.

Also... watch your speed. Even though there's no one on the road, I got paced by a Park Ranger who wrote me a ticket a few days ago.  

And that is federal property and must be payed to federal courts.  If not...........they will actually send a US Marshal to pick your butt up!

[rajflyboy]

Man

There is a bunch of great places to stay on here.    I love the Tapoco Lodge.   Its as close to the dragon as you can get other than the gas station (Lodge).    People are nice and plenty of room to park a trailer.  

This place is suppose to open up again soon (its getting remodled.

check it out:    http://tapocolodge.com/

[Ryan381]

I was up there a little bit ago, we stayed at a place called Hog Heaven. They have 3 little cabins for rent. They had a queen size bed and a futon, bathroom, mini fridge, coffee pot, flatscreen and a awesome little view. Only like 2 miles from the cherohala skyway and only $75 a night. If I head up that way again I will be staying there again.

http://www.hogheavenresort.com/

[jfurf]

And that is federal property and must be payed to federal courts.  If not...........they will actually send a US Marshal to pick your butt up!

Yeah. The ticket is kind of a generic "excess speed" ticket. Nothing about 5-15 over or whatever, like state agencies.

But I actually sent the ticket to the Virginia district court (in Blacksburg, I think), so they actually administer the fines.

And yes, I did pay. I consider speeding tickets a cost of doing business. Plus the ranger who pulled me over was a nice guy.  

[dgshaffer]

As I understand it, since its park property, there aren't any points assessed. Is that correct?  

[jfurf]

As I understand it, since its park property, there aren't any points assessed. Is that correct?  

I asked the park ranger that and he said that if your state has a mutual agreement with the park service, then there could be points assessed. He looked it up on the spot and said Georgia was one that did have the agreement in place, but I haven't heard anything from the state dmv or my insurance company about any points.  

[dgshaffer]

Not like it would have slowed me down anyway. I'll be there this Saturday!