If you’re deep into motorcycles or cars, it’s probably on your bucket list. The Tail of the Dragon doesn’t need hype; it’s already legendary. This 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129 straddling the Tennessee–North Carolina border packs in 318 curves. Oh, and half a million drivers a year. Many of them are there to fulfill a rite of passage. But the thrill can also turn deadly.

Josh Vandergriff, who runs Smoky Mountain Drives and organizes Dragon Rally, says too many visitors underestimate how unforgiving the Tail of the Dragon is

He explains in a recent interview that locals once called it “the Gap,” but the road took on its dramatic nickname thanks to Ron and Nancy Johnson. They opened the Tail of the Dragon store in North Carolina.

Ron, considered the grandfather of the Dragon, passed away recently, but his creation keeps pulling in thrill seekers from around the world.

Vandergriff grew up around here, by the way, and has driven it countless times. His number one rule to avoid kicking the bucket while checking this one off your list is really very simple.

Stay in your lane

Every foot of the road is double yellow, and with blind corner after blind corner, drifting across the paint is a quick way to cause a head-on crash.

Vandergriff puts it like this: “Keep it between the mustard and the mayo.”

He also stresses a few other essentials

Stay alert. You won’t have cell service, and you never know when a bear, deer, or another driver’s mistake will be waiting around the bend.

Use pull-offs. With 104 paved areas, there’s no excuse not to let faster traffic by—or give your queasy passengers a break.

Forget passing. It’s dangerous and unnecessary.

Check your tires. Worn rubber plus 318 curves equals a tow truck ride you don’t want.

Drive smooth. This road rewards balance, not jerky braking.

Law enforcement also patrols the Dragon heavily, writing tickets for crossing the double yellow faster than for speeding. The limit is 30 mph, by the way, and for good reason.

Is driving the Dragon still worth it?

The short answer is yes…but with an asterisk. The Tail of the Dragon remains a bucket-list road, but it’s also a victim of its own fame.

Plenty of Redditors pointed out that timing is everything.

One driver explained that sunrise runs are almost magical, with empty pavement and no cops in sight. Another said weekends turn the place into a circus of slow Harleys, Instagram stunts, and heavy patrols. Early spring and late fall were recommended more than once, since crowds thin and the air is crisp.

Several people stressed that the Dragon itself is only part of the story

A few recommended the Cherohala Skyway as the real gem of the region. It’s longer, faster, and far less congested. One person said they left the Dragon behind, found the Skyway nearly deserted, and liked it more.

Others pointed to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Moonshiner routes, or Georgia’s Richard B. Russell Parkway as alternatives that deliver the same thrills without the tourist traffic.

That doesn’t mean the Dragon is washed up

Multiple commenters insisted it’s still worth doing once, just to say you did it. A few said their early-morning laps in a sports car were the best drives of their lives. Others noted there was no flood damage to the road itself, so it’s open and waiting.

The Tail of the Dragon is worth it, even now, if you treat it like a theme park ride: go early, avoid peak hours, and don’t expect to have it to yourself. The payoff is real, but so are the crowds. And if you want the kind of mountain road that makes you forget the outside world, the Smokies are full of them. You just have to keep exploring.

In the end, the Tail of the Dragon isn’t just about one road

The surrounding region is filled with spectacular drives, from the Cherohala Skyway to the Hellbender. But if you want to survive the bucket-list run everyone talks about, take Vandergriff’s advice: stay in your lane, respect the mountain, and save the heroics for somewhere else.