Cherohala Skyway: what to know before you drive it
The Cherohala Skyway is a 43-mile mountain highway from Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville, North Carolina, climbing to over 5,000 feet through the Cherokee and Nantahala national forests. It is wide, smooth and sweeping rather than tight, and it pairs with the Tail of the Dragon for a classic loop.
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What it's like
Where the Dragon is tight and relentless, the Skyway is open: long, fast-flowing curves on a wide road with overlooks across the Unicoi Mountains. The name joins the two forests it crosses — the Cherokee and the Nantahala.
There are no towns, services or fuel between the two ends, so fill up in Tellico Plains or Robbinsville before you start.
When to go
Late spring through fall. The high section is often in cloud, and winter brings ice and snow that can close it. October is the busiest month, for the leaves.
The loop
The classic day is a loop from Robbinsville: the Skyway west to Tellico Plains, north toward Maryville, then the Tail of the Dragon (US 129) south through Deals Gap and back on NC 143 or NC 28.
Routes around the Skyway
Curated drives first, then by how much they bend.
- Cherohala SkywayNear Tellico Plains30 mi411 corners13.5 / miCurated
- Tail of the DragonNear Tallassee11 mi182 corners17 / miCurated
- Fontana to TellicoNear Fontana Dam68 mi565 corners8.3 / mi
- Tellico Ballplay LoopNear Fontana Dam137 mi1,100 corners8 / mi
- Cherohala Skyway RunNear Robbinsville147 mi1,372 corners9.3 / mi
- Cherohala Skyway EastNear Tellico Plains50 mi378 corners7.5 / mi
- Tail of the Dragon (Deals Gap Start)Near Robbinsville15 mi218 corners14.6 / mi
- Tail of the Dragon (Dam start)Near Tallassee15 mi223 corners14.9 / mi
- Fontana Dam to Wears ValleyNear Robbinsville56 mi567 corners10.2 / mi
Questions
- How long does it take to drive the Cherohala Skyway?
- About an hour and a half one way without stops, longer with the overlooks.
- Is the Cherohala Skyway better than the Tail of the Dragon?
- They are different roads. The Dragon is short, tight and busy; the Skyway is long, open and quiet. Most people drive both on the same day.
- Is there gas on the Cherohala Skyway?
- No. Fill up in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, or Robbinsville, North Carolina.
Keep reading
- Tail of the Dragon: what to know before you drive itUS 129's Tail of the Dragon packs 318 curves into 11 miles at Deals Gap on the North Carolina–Tennessee line. Where it starts, the speed limit, when to go, and what to drive next.
- What are the best driving roads near Knoxville, TN?From Knoxville you are about an hour from the Tail of the Dragon and the Foothills Parkway, and not much more from the Cherohala Skyway. The best driving roads near Knoxville, mapped and graded.