Deal’s Motorcycle Resort marks the start of the Tail of the Dragon for bikers beginning on the North Carolina side; the end for those starting in Tennessee.
The resort is a popular stop for bikers needing fuel, a T-shirt to commemorate their trip or a room for the night. Eighteen miles further on is Robbinsville, North Carolina, a Graham County town with restaurants, shops and more overnight options.
The Tail of the Dragon itself runs for 11 miles and is a stretch of U.S. 129 that contains 318 curves in its short distance through North Carolina and into Tennessee.
Overall speed limit on the section is 39 mph, with many of the curves posted at 15 mph. It’s important for riders to heed the speed-limit signs, especially newer riders. More than a few of the curves are technically challenging. Many are switchbacks or hairpin curves.