United States · NC
Appalachian ridge driving with the two most famous corner sequences on the east coast within an hour of each other.
Scored roads
3
Combined length
489 mi
Driving time
20 hr 13 min
Best season
April to June and September to early November
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Scores combine driving quality and scenery, checked against current closure notices for North Carolina. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 19 April 2026
Ranked
01 · Tennessee and North Carolina
318 curves in 11 miles, the most famous stretch of asphalt in America.
11.2 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10 · 34 min
Busy with bikes at weekends, heavily policed
02 · Tennessee and North Carolina
Wide, fast and empty, the grown up alternative to the Tail of the Dragon next door.
42.9 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10 · 2 hr 9 min
Ice and closures possible in winter
03 · Virginia and North Carolina
A ridgeline parkway with no trucks, no billboards and endless mountain overlooks.
435 mi · Rating 9.1 / 10 · 17 hr 30 min
Sections close for ice and snow in winter
Planning
Asheville
April to June and September to early November
Allow roughly 2 days to drive all of these without rushing, plus transit time to reach the state.