Looking for advice for the Tennessee area

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm planning on riding to Roanoke for Inzane. I've got to do it in 4 days. My plan is to make a Bonzai ride of 2 days to the Memphis vicinity. About 1550 miles for me. And then do the rest in a more leisurely route to enjoy some of the roads I've heard so much about there. I've pretty much talked myself out of The Tail of the Dragon, being that it will be the weekend by the time I get there. And I've just seen too many videos of people crossing into the wrong lane. What I'm looking for is some advice on a good route. It doesn't have to be full of 15 mph corners. Nice sweepers, nice scenery of what it's like for real people there vs. touristy stuff would be ideal. Keeping it to about 800 miles for the last 2 days would be best. Thanks

[LandElephant]

If you can stretch you first 2 days to Cookeville TN then you would have a better kick off point for better roads to Roanoke.  That also puts you in Big Wolfs neighbor hood. I would head up through Big South Fork and cut across to Bristol TN. I'd use that thrid day to tour part of Eastern Ky. Then my fourth day would be at least the western part of the Snake, then up to Va 80, across to 19 and up to Tazwell. Back across The Backbone of the Dragon then work my way to Roanoke.

Don and Tracy are out of Tazwell. It may not be a lot of miles but you will see a lot of great scenery and who knows maybe get a hot dog or two from Don and Tracy on the Backbone of the Dragon.

These members are also a great wealth of knowledge on the roads in that area. OBTW, VA 80 is a hidden gem of a road and between VA 80 and Hwy 16 (Backbone of the Dragon) you'll do more curves and technical riding than heading down to "The Dragon" and have much less traffic.

An added bonus you might be able to hook up with the Evil Twins. They live in that area also.

Charlie Morse
Landelephant

[The emperor has no clothes]

If you can stretch you first 2 days to Cookeville TN then you would have a better kick off point for better roads to Roanoke.  That also puts you in Big Wolfs neighbor hood. I would head up through Big South Fork and cut across to Bristol TN. I'd use that thrid day to tour part of Eastern Ky. Then my fourth day would be at least the western part of the Snake, then up to Va 80, across to 19 and up to Tazwell. Back across The Backbone of the Dragon then work my way to Roanoke.

Don and Tracy are out of Tazwell. It may not be a lot of miles but you will see a lot of great scenery and who knows maybe get a hot dog or two from Don and Tracy on the Backbone of the Dragon.

These members are also a great wealth of knowledge on the roads in that area. OBTW, VA 80 is a hidden gem of a road and between VA 80 and Hwy 16 (Backbone of the Dragon) you'll do more curves and technical riding than heading down to "The Dragon" and have much less traffic.

An added bonus you might be able to hook up with the Evil Twins. They live in that area also.

Charlie Morse
Landelephant

Thanks, I scour the map and try to figure it out. 

[hubcapsc]

We rode all day to get across Tennessee, we were going west from
Knoxville. We left I-40 and used road 100 across the country side
after we got past Nashville. If you are time limited, you might
want to cross Tennessee on I-40. Based on road 100 I'd say there's
a lot of nice country side in the west part of Tennessee, but the
mountains don't start until the east side of the state...

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

We rode all day to get across Tennessee, we were going west from
Knoxville. We left I-40 and used road 100 across the country side
after we got past Nashville. If you are time limited, you might
want to cross Tennessee on I-40. Based on road 100 I'd say there's
a lot of nice country side in the west part of Tennessee, but the
mountains don't start until the east side of the state...

-Mike

Thanks. Any experience with taking 64 across the state ?

[Crackerborn]

While I am sure many of our southern brothers have more up to date advice, Memphis and Nashville are areas I would avoid on two wheels and I ride into Chi-town regularly. I pass through Nashville twice a year as a rule and would prefer another route to FL if time allowed. Missouri and Kentucky have a lot to recommend for sweet rides and then an easy dip south once closer to eastern Tennessee for some awesome back roads. I try to spend an extra day in northern Georgia, eastern Tennessee, and eastern Kentucky whenever possible. Two days would be so much better. Sadly, you may be stuck with both the Tennessee urban sprawls based on the time restraints you are proposing.

[hubcapsc]

Thanks. Any experience with taking 64 across the state ?

It would probably be good some and certainly suck some, around
big towns... I don't remember going through Nashville on I-40
being all that bad, especially as compared to going through
Nashville from North to South...

-Mike

[Reb]

An alternative to I-40 once east of Nashville is US 70, it will take you East for a Good distance and runs close to I-40. Just make your way to Greeneville TN and we can navigate the rest from there 

[The emperor has no clothes]

An alternative to I-40 once east of Nashville is US 70, it will take you East for a Good distance and runs close to I-40. Just make your way to Greeneville TN and we can navigate the rest from there 

Thanks   

[Pete]

US64 is a descent road, you will encounter several small towns, some now have a bypass.
Scenery is good especially as you pass through middle and east Tennessee.

US64 passes close to several distilleries in  middle/east Tennessee (Jack Daniels, etc.).

An alternate that is somewhat faster is US72/US72A through north Mississippi and north Alabama.

From either you could catch the northern part of the Natchez Trace to just southwest of Nashville.

In east Tennessee 64/72 merge at Jasper/South Pittsburg take Tennessee 28/127 north up the Sequachie Valley for  a nice 70/80 mile ride. That will get you close to Big South Fork.

US27 out of Chattanooga will also get you to Big South Fork but I would prefer Tennessee 28/127.

I tend to avoid I40 and I24 and i75 because of traffic and large towns. 

Once you get into east Tennessee if is hard to pick a bad route if you avoid Interstates and Knoxville and Chattanooga.

[The emperor has no clothes]

US64 is a descent road, you will encounter several small towns, some now have a bypass.
Scenery is good especially as you pass through middle and east Tennessee.

US64 passes close to several distilleries in  middle/east Tennessee (Jack Daniels, etc.).

An alternate that is somewhat faster is US72/US72A through north Mississippi and north Alabama.

From either you could catch the northern part of the Natchez Trace to just southwest of Nashville.

In east Tennessee 64/72 merge at Jasper/South Pittsburg take Tennessee 28/127 north up the Sequachie Valley for  a nice 70/80 mile ride. That will get you close to Big South Fork.

US27 out of Chattanooga will also get you to Big South Fork but I would prefer Tennessee 28/127.

I tend to avoid I40 and I24 and i75 because of traffic and large towns. 

Once you get into east Tennessee if is hard to pick a bad route if you avoid Interstates and Knoxville and Chattanooga.

Thanks, that sounds exactly what I'm looking for. 

[hubcapsc]

Thanks, that sounds exactly what I'm looking for.

Now that I think of it, it probably is. On the same trip I'm remembering,
I came back through north Mississippi and Alabama, it beat the snot
out of crossing Tennessee. Me and Punisher came south out of Memphis
to Tupelo Mississippi, and I mostly crossed over to North Georgia on
78 and 74. Tupelo and Cullman and Fort Payne were on the route I
took...

We stopped in the shade on the Natchez trace:


After we split up I stopped at Alabama's Natural Bridge:


Here's Fort Payne, the kind of small towns you 'd see...


-Mike

[bill-jr]

 I would haul arse right thru memphis
30 over to tellico plains and across the sky way .beautiful
Not much to see in west tennessee
Maybe you could stop into skullbone tennessee . . .  .

[Pete]

When you set your route, let us see it and we can point out any problem areas.

+1 on the get the hell somewhat east of Memphis before any stopping, especially at night.

West Tennessee has some nice riding but it is north of Memphis and west of Nashville, which is somewhat out of the way - Reelfoot lake and Land-between-the-lakes.

[Bigwolf]

There are probably as many good routes to ride as their are riders that use this forum.  I do not know about the other routes but here is one possible solution:
Take 64 out of Memphis,  to 100, take 100 to us412/tn20,  ride that to Columbia, take us31/tn6   from there to Spring Hill,  take 65 to 840 and ride 840 to Lebanon (both 65 and 840 are interstate - there are alternatives but they are much more complicated to explain), at Lebanon get on 70N (I think you will like this better than 70), ride that to Cookeville,  At that point you will be just 11 miles from my home and a spare bedroom with a clean bed.  My home is just 1 mile off the route if you choose to follow these directions.  Using this route, my house is about 335 miles or 8 hours from Memphis. 

If everything works out for me I would be happy to ride on to Roanoke with you.

From my house to Roanoke, I would be riding 85 out of Livingston,  picking up 52 at Jamestown,  ride 52 over to 29 at Elgin, take 29 to 63 and ride 63 to Harrogate, take 25E out of Harrogate towards Tazewell.  From that point on to Roanoke I am sure other members can lay out a much better route than I can since I am not familiar with that territory.  However, looking at Bing maps for this route including some miles on 81 which I would avoid,  I am seeing  380 miles at 8 & 1/2 hours.

Crazy B and I would love to have you spend the night here and it is near the half way point between Memphis and Roanoke in both miles and time if taking these routes.  If you choose another route and find yourself around Cookeville at the end of the day, let us know. Food and drinks will be available as well as the bed.

Bigwolf

[The emperor has no clothes]

There are probably as many good routes to ride as their are riders that use this forum.  I do not know about the other routes but here is one possible solution:
Take 64 out of Memphis,  to 100, take 100 to us412/tn20,  ride that to Columbia, take us31/tn6   from there to Spring Hill,  take 65 to 840 and ride 840 to Lebanon (both 65 and 840 are interstate - there are alternatives but they are much more complicated to explain), at Lebanon get on 70N (I think you will like this better than 70), ride that to Cookeville,  At that point you will be just 11 miles from my home and a spare bedroom with a clean bed.  My home is just 1 mile off the route if you choose to follow these directions.  Using this route, my house is about 335 miles or 8 hours from Memphis. 

If everything works out for me I would be happy to ride on to Roanoke with you.

From my house to Roanoke, I would be riding 85 out of Livingston,  picking up 52 at Jamestown,  ride 52 over to 29 at Elgin, take 29 to 63 and ride 63 to Harrogate, take 25E out of Harrogate towards Tazewell.  From that point on to Roanoke I am sure other members can lay out a much better route than I can since I am not familiar with that territory.  However, looking at Bing maps for this route including some miles on 81 which I would avoid,  I am seeing  380 miles at 8 & 1/2 hours.

Crazy B and I would love to have you spend the night here and it is near the half way point between Memphis and Roanoke in both miles and time if taking these routes.  If you choose another route and find yourself around Cookeville at the end of the day, let us know. Food and drinks will be available as well as the bed.

Bigwolf

Excellent ! I'll take a look at the map tonight and look your route up. Thanks for the offers. It is very kind of you.  right now I'm still in the figuring stages, but if I can time it I'd love to ride the last day with you.  YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST !

[Mr Whiskey]

I'm planning on riding to Roanoke for Inzane. I've got to do it in 4 days. My plan is to make a Bonzai ride of 2 days to the Memphis vicinity. About 1550 miles for me. And then do the rest in a more leisurely route to enjoy some of the roads I've heard so much about there. I've pretty much talked myself out of The Tail of the Dragon, being that it will be the weekend by the time I get there. And I've just seen too many videos of people crossing into the wrong lane. What I'm looking for is some advice on a good route. It doesn't have to be full of 15 mph corners. Nice sweepers, nice scenery of what it's like for real people there vs. touristy stuff would be ideal. Keeping it to about 800 miles for the last 2 days would be best. Thanks

There's the problem! I know 1500+ miles in 2 days is a bear, but there's another 300+/- miles from Memphis to Cookeville, Tn. (and that's if you're still super slabin' the 3rd day) before you get to the good stuff. Now before all you West/Middle Tn. folk start hollerin, I'm not sayin' there aint good roads in the area, jus' they tend to be straighter, longer, & have more small towns. Gotta admit the really good stuff starts as you're commin' off the Cumberland Plateau & into E.Tn.
That basically only leaves ya 1 day for the "twisty" stuff, & ridin' 400/500 miles of that is a serious sunup to sunset endeavor! (Cookeville, Tn. to Roanoke, Va. is 361 miles on the super slab, the way we do it 'round here it's at least 500 & takes 3 times as long.)
Once ya make the Cookeville/Crossville area (or anywhere North/South of it) I'd love to be in the mix on that ride!
7734, I already caint help myself...gotta "tweek" Bigwolf's route
(please don't be offended Bro, they're jus' suggestions)
52 outta Livingston to Jamestown (outstanding road! only place I've ever spooked Sugar!)
154 to 297 (through Big South Fork) to Oneida
stay on 297 in Oneida to 63
63 to I-75S (short hop)
63 toward La Follette/Speedwell (& I'll get ya on Helms Ferry to Sharps Chapel)
33 from Sharps Chapel to Tazewell
25E through Bean Station to Morristown
11E to Greeneville (hooks ya up with Reb)
11E through Johnson City to Bristol (not the best part of the ride)
421 "The Snake" to Shady Valley
133 to Damascus (Backbone Rock Tunnel, shortest in the world)
58 through Independence, Va. (a "must see" IMHO!)
turns into 221 through Galax, direct into Roanoke
(We actually liked 221 better than BRP from Hillsville to Roanoke.)

Got me so dog-gone excited, I'm gonna hafta go ride it

[Bighead]

+1 on staying as far from Memphis as possible. If you must stay in that area stay in west Memphis Arkansas. As Whiskey said your best ridding will be east of the Cumberland Plateau. Can't go wrong east of there.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm planning on riding to Roanoke for Inzane. I've got to do it in 4 days. My plan is to make a Bonzai ride of 2 days to the Memphis vicinity. About 1550 miles for me. And then do the rest in a more leisurely route to enjoy some of the roads I've heard so much about there. I've pretty much talked myself out of The Tail of the Dragon, being that it will be the weekend by the time I get there. And I've just seen too many videos of people crossing into the wrong lane. What I'm looking for is some advice on a good route. It doesn't have to be full of 15 mph corners. Nice sweepers, nice scenery of what it's like for real people there vs. touristy stuff would be ideal. Keeping it to about 800 miles for the last 2 days would be best. Thanks

There's the problem! I know 1500+ miles in 2 days is a bear, but there's another 300+/- miles from Memphis to Cookeville, Tn. (and that's if you're still super slabin' the 3rd day) before you get to the good stuff. Now before all you West/Middle Tn. folk start hollerin, I'm not sayin' there aint good roads in the area, jus' they tend to be straighter, longer, & have more small towns. Gotta admit the really good stuff starts as you're commin' off the Cumberland Plateau & into E.Tn.
That basically only leaves ya 1 day for the "twisty" stuff, & ridin' 400/500 miles of that is a serious sunup to sunset endeavor! (Cookeville, Tn. to Roanoke, Va. is 361 miles on the super slab, the way we do it 'round here it's at least 500 & takes 3 times as long.)
Once ya make the Cookeville/Crossville area (or anywhere North/South of it) I'd love to be in the mix on that ride!
7734, I already caint help myself...gotta "tweek" Bigwolf's route
(please don't be offended Bro, they're jus' suggestions)
52 outta Livingston to Jamestown (outstanding road! only place I've ever spooked Sugar!)
154 to 297 (through Big South Fork) to Oneida
stay on 297 in Oneida to 63
63 to I-75S (short hop)
63 toward La Follette/Speedwell (& I'll get ya on Helms Ferry to Sharps Chapel)
33 from Sharps Chapel to Tazewell
25E through Bean Station to Morristown
11E to Greeneville (hooks ya up with Reb)
11E through Johnson City to Bristol (not the best part of the ride)
421 "The Snake" to Shady Valley
133 to Damascus (Backbone Rock Tunnel, shortest in the world)
58 through Independence, Va. (a "must see" IMHO!)
turns into 221 through Galax, direct into Roanoke
(We actually liked 221 better than BRP from Hillsville to Roanoke.)

Got me so dog-gone excited, I'm gonna hafta go ride it

I was hoping you'd chime in   I'm just not sure I can do 1800 in 2 days. But I've got a few months to get my old man brain psyched up.  

[Bigwolf]

I already caint help myself...gotta "tweek" Bigwolf's route
(please don't be offended Bro, they're jus' suggestions)
52 outta Livingston to Jamestown (outstanding road! only place I've ever spooked Sugar!)
154 to 297 (through Big South Fork) to Oneida
stay on 297 in Oneida to 63

No offence taken Mr Whiskey.  I happen to like 154 and 297 also.   

[3fan4life]

I'm planning on riding to Roanoke for Inzane. I've got to do it in 4 days. My plan is to make a Bonzai ride of 2 days to the Memphis vicinity. About 1550 miles for me. And then do the rest in a more leisurely route to enjoy some of the roads I've heard so much about there. I've pretty much talked myself out of The Tail of the Dragon, being that it will be the weekend by the time I get there. And I've just seen too many videos of people crossing into the wrong lane. What I'm looking for is some advice on a good route. It doesn't have to be full of 15 mph corners. Nice sweepers, nice scenery of what it's like for real people there vs. touristy stuff would be ideal. Keeping it to about 800 miles for the last 2 days would be best. Thanks

There's the problem! I know 1500+ miles in 2 days is a bear, but there's another 300+/- miles from Memphis to Cookeville, Tn. (and that's if you're still super slabin' the 3rd day) before you get to the good stuff. Now before all you West/Middle Tn. folk start hollerin, I'm not sayin' there aint good roads in the area, jus' they tend to be straighter, longer, & have more small towns. Gotta admit the really good stuff starts as you're commin' off the Cumberland Plateau & into E.Tn.
That basically only leaves ya 1 day for the "twisty" stuff, & ridin' 400/500 miles of that is a serious sunup to sunset endeavor! (Cookeville, Tn. to Roanoke, Va. is 361 miles on the super slab, the way we do it 'round here it's at least 500 & takes 3 times as long.)
Once ya make the Cookeville/Crossville area (or anywhere North/South of it) I'd love to be in the mix on that ride!
7734, I already caint help myself...gotta "tweek" Bigwolf's route
(please don't be offended Bro, they're jus' suggestions)
52 outta Livingston to Jamestown (outstanding road! only place I've ever spooked Sugar!)
154 to 297 (through Big South Fork) to Oneida
stay on 297 in Oneida to 63
63 to I-75S (short hop)
63 toward La Follette/Speedwell (& I'll get ya on Helms Ferry to Sharps Chapel)
33 from Sharps Chapel to Tazewell
25E through Bean Station to Morristown
11E to Greeneville (hooks ya up with Reb)
11E through Johnson City to Bristol (not the best part of the ride)
421 "The Snake" to Shady Valley
133 to Damascus (Backbone Rock Tunnel, shortest in the world)
58 through Independence, Va. (a "must see" IMHO!)
turns into 221 through Galax, direct into Roanoke
(We actually liked 221 better than BRP from Hillsville to Roanoke.)

Got me so dog-gone excited, I'm gonna hafta go ride it

I was hoping you'd chime in   I'm just not sure I can do 1800 in 2 days. But I've got a few months to get my old man brain psyched up.  

+1 on 421, 133, 58 and 221.

If you get onto the BRP at Bent Mt, VA you can ride it to US 220.

This will save you much traffic heartache.

[LandElephant]

After reading you original post, the nice thing is on the third day you don't have to get up early and pound out some more miles.  That still gives you plenty of time to slowly work your way up to Roanoke VA and enjoy the country side.

Be careful on construction 40 especially through OK and eastern AR.  The most hated piece of road in MWHO is the stretch from Little Rock AR to East Memphis AR.  I'd rather have my balls in a vice than ride that section of construction 40.

Charlie Morse
Landelephant

[Rams]

I'd rather have my balls in a vice than ride that section of construction 40.

Charlie Morse
Landelephant

  Whoa!!!!   This may be advice to seriously consider!!!!   

[NewValker]

Hey Rob, if you meet up with Whiskey, DON'T expect to keep up with him...                             just sayin...
Craig

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hey Rob, if you meet up with Whiskey, DON'T expect to keep up with him...                             just sayin...
Craig

Thanks for the warning Craig. Actually, from reading posts over the years I already knew that. When I'm in an unfamiliar area I rarely push it anyway. Maybe I could get Sugar to throw out some flagging tape every once in a while, so I don't get lost.  You planning on Inzane ?

[Mr Whiskey]

Hey Rob, if you meet up with Whiskey, DON'T expect to keep up with him...                             just sayin...
Craig

Thanks for the warning Craig. Actually, from reading posts over the years I already knew that. When I'm in an unfamiliar area I rarely push it anyway. Maybe I could get Sugar to throw out some flagging tape every once in a while, so I don't get lost.  You planning on Inzane ?

Bread crumbs
(seriously, we wait at every turn )

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hey Rob, if you meet up with Whiskey, DON'T expect to keep up with him...                             just sayin...
Craig

Thanks for the warning Craig. Actually, from reading posts over the years I already knew that. When I'm in an unfamiliar area I rarely push it anyway. Maybe I could get Sugar to throw out some flagging tape every once in a while, so I don't get lost.  You planning on Inzane ?

Bread crumbs
(seriously, we wait at every turn )

hope we get the chance to ride with you guys   

[Mr Whiskey]

hope we get the chance to ride with you guys   

We'll keep an eye out for ya

If you get onto the BRP at Bent Mt, VA you can ride it to US 220.

This will save you much traffic heartache.

Thanks
(filed for future reference)

[NewValker]

(seriously, we wait at every turn cooldude

Or if on the Dragon, the gas pumps...   Sure won't be a boring ride with them!

Yeah Rob, I'll be there! My work "re-configured" how we are awarded vacation time and looks like I'll have 2 weeks to use before 7/1/18. Love it when a plan comes together...
I'll keep an eye on your route, look forward to sharing the wind with ya!
Craig

[The emperor has no clothes]

(seriously, we wait at every turn cooldude

Or if on the Dragon, the gas pumps...   Sure won't be a boring ride with them!

Yeah Rob, I'll be there! My work "re-configured" how we are awarded vacation time and looks like I'll have 2 weeks to use before 7/1/18. Love it when a plan comes together...
I'll keep an eye on your route, look forward to sharing the wind with ya!
Craig

Sounds great  now we need to work on getting Bill to come down with you.