I'm bringing our RV with Gunner in tow, what is the best route to get there? have a 36' Diesel and will have Gunner on trailer.

 

I suggest that you plan a route that has you approach Fontana Village from Robbinsville, via 143 to 28. You will see what I mean once you get to the area. 129 has so many tight turns, you will find it just about impossible to stay within your lane with such a long rig.

Get a good map from www.tailofthedragon.com and plan accordingly.

 

MINIclo's suggestions are golden. Whatever you do, stay off Hwy-129 north of Robbinsville with that monster rig. Come into Fontana from the east on hwy-28, even then it's a bit twisty, but the least twisty around.

 

Actually US129 from Robbinsville to the intersection with 28 is no problem
except for a couple of turns between the bridge and the crossroads. The
drive from there to Fontana is a piece of cake.

Either way will work but you definitely don't want to take it through the
Dragon itself.

 

Thanks for the information, i knew that some of you would know the best route in and out for bigger rigs. I read the info n the dragon and 18 wheelers trying to go through there, wow. Looking forward to seeing everyone down there. I'll have two perspectives one from driving a RV in and then driving Gunner around down there, should be interesting.

 

may I also suggest, that if you go through Robbinsville, that you gas up before you start the climb. There is a gas station near Fontana and at the Crossroads of Time, but space is very limited in both. I'd hate to have to manoever a trailer in either of those 2 places, whereas in Rville you'd have the room.....just a thought.

 

Roger that thanks for the tip. We hae a 90 gal tank for Diesel so I won't have to worry about that going in or out, and Gunner should be full for the trip and getting gas for him shouldn't be any problem in Fontana. I just didn't want to get caught in tight curves with a 36' box and trailer. I've checked the maps and I'm planning to come down from Interstate 40 via 129 to 28 and in to Fontana that way. With the diesel the hills shouldn't be that much of a problem, plus we can bring our own meals other then the dinners that we will attend. We are getting excited to make the trip, get the mods, and meet everyone there.

Thanks.

 

And at least the Texaco at Fontana does not have diesel IIRC.

Steve

 

At least at the crossroads they sometimes limit sales to a couple $ each when there are or are about to be a lot of bikes around...

 

That route will take your right down the Dragon and earn you no friends
at all.

 

Looking at the map that route brings me in from the Northwest down skyline drive/parkway and into Fontana from what they are calling the "hellbender" not the dragon to the Southeast. If this is not a good road to come in from, for those with experience of the local area, please let me know. I looked at going way around through Robinsville but it brings me in on 28 from the Northwest or the only alternative is coming through the Dragon and after reading about the tight turns there i don't want to be on that road with a 36' box. I'll try to look at the satellite imagery fo the road through that area and see if there is any glaring problems that I have to watch out for to get in from that direction.

Thanks.

 

Maybe I'm confused but I don't see any way to come off I-40 on US129 and get to NC-28 without driving the section of US129 which is the Dragon.

 

without looking at a map.....you'll have to cut though Piegon Forge to do that (i think / pretty sure)

 

If you want, I can try out your tentative route on my CoPilot 9 nav software. It has a RV routing awareness that's SUPPOSED to avoid bridge clearance issues and too tight turns. I don't know if it would avoid the Dragon, but it might be useful to run through your route once you've decided to see if it chokes on anything.

I just bought a copy for my aunt and uncle for their RV. We played with it a bit and it DID have them go around the block vs turning around in some testing so the RV routing setting does seem to work. Just not sure how complete the data is.

 

mmatarella that would be great if you can take the time to do so. I worked the route through Good Sam Club route planning which is supposed to take in account RV friendly route too but that sounds more detailed. On the map I see coming out of Knoxville South on 129 past Maryville and through Tallasseeto get to 28 at the junction North of Tapoco which looks like it avoids the Dragon which looks to be on 28 past Fontana to the Southeast.

I'm open to suggestions for the best route since I have not been there before though.

Thanks.

This is the route I'm looking at now.

 

Yikes! You don't want to do that! That's driving through the Dragon! Most of the 'Dragon' is north of where you split off to Fontana on 28...

Oops, Will have to play with it tonight at home... This laptop at work has the older non RV aware version on it.

 

Perhaps Krenzkes is confusing State Road 28 with US 129.
The "Tail of The Dragon" is the stretch of US 129 from the Tabcat Bridge east of Tallassee, 11 miles southeast to Deals Gap at the TN/NC state line. Shortly past that, you can take SR 28 east to Fontana and on to Stecoah, or continue south on US 129 to Tapoco and on to Robbinsville.
To avoid US 129/the Dragon, you may need to stay on I 40 to US 441 and go south through the Great Smokey Mountains Park, or further on I 40 to US 276 at Cove Creek, and then US 19 to SR 28 and back to Fontana.

 

Oh boy, I thought the route in from the Northwest to Fontana was the best route but this sounds like coming up from the Southeast on Hwy 28 into Fontana is the best route. yes I want to avoid the Dragon in our RV and I thought the Dragon was Southest of Fontana. Boy am I mixed up. I'm glad I opened this thread now instead of planning on the other route and getting into a pinch.

Thanks for everyone's help I'm still continuin the route planning so please let me know on any suggestions.

Thanks,

Scott

 

I will get back to on this this eve or tomorrow. Ended up heading out of town that night (Thur) on no notice. A doc appoint I was taking my dad to out of town got moved up two weeks with a few hours notice.

Will get home this eve and depeonding on how late try runing the route for you this eve or tomorrow (Monday).

Mark

 

Thanks for your help Mark, no hurry in getting this out just want ton confirm the best route in to Fontana so I don't get on a road that is a problem for a big vehicle like ours. I hope your Dad is doing ok.

Scott

 

...That it took me forever. Been a rough few days.

CoPilot was of no help on this route. I set it for Festus to Fontana Village, set it to be RV routing and it went right down 129

Looking at the map there are options, but I haven't traveled those other roads so we're going to need someone with local knowledge to help.

Sorry, I ended up no help at all!

 

Thanks for your help Mark. I think I'm covered now for the route. I ran the same thing with planning on Good Sam Club web site and it took me down 129 too. I've talked to a few guys local to the area down there and I'm going to come in via Interstate 40, to Hwy 19, to Hwy 74 to Hwy 28 to Fontana Village. I'll try and look you up down there and thank you in person for your help.

Scott

 

Scott, that looks like your best route for the RV. Hwy. 28 has a few tight turns before you get to Fontana, but you should be able to handle them. See you soon!

 

Roger that MINIClo, hope to see you down there too. Have you seent he campground that Fontana Village has, is anyone else planning on being down there too?

We have some strong storms coming in again tonight, sleeping in the basement again. We dodged a bullet about a month ago, the homes that were destroyed in Jefferson County, Festus, MO are right behind us and the tornado went over our house but wasn't down on the ground yet.


Thanks,

Scott

 

That's the route I was guessing might be best, but didn't know for sure...

Safe trip!
Mark