Tennessee

A collection of 57 posts

Destinations Premium Content

Great Smoky Mountains National Park—A Green Paradise

If you haven’t ridden in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park yet, what are you waiting for? Set time for a trip and get in the saddle, because you’re missing out. Covering 522,000 acres on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National

Destinations

From Hardware to Music—Bluegrass at Bellamy

Bluegrass music is all about celebrating the history and folk traditions of the Appalachian region where it was born (in addition to the nice tunes, that is). While the music sounds good over the stereo, the experience gets a whole lot better if you go catch a concert at a

Travel Guide

12 Extreme Twisties in Southeast US

Ruler-straight pavement running by the seaside or through the bayou… You certainly can find such roads in the Southeast U.S., but the region also has plenty of twists and turns up for grabs. After all, this is where you’ll find arguably the curviest road in the country. There

Destinations

In the Middle of Middle Tennessee—Watertown, TN

Middle Tennessee is known for its rich history, unique cedar groves, and—of course—Nashville the Music City. Watertown, TN, is a charming little burg that gives you easy access to all of this and more astride your motorcycle. Watertown is located along US 70, merely 10 miles from Lebanon

Travel Guide

8 Best Places for A Fall Color Ride Near the Smokies

The Smoky Mountains are covered in deciduous trees. Their dense canopies are already gorgeous in the summer, but once fall comes around, the mountains burst into flame. Figuratively speaking, that is. No matter where you go in the Smokies in the fall, you’re bound to see some stunning leaves.

Accommodations

Review: Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground—Tellico Plains, TN

In the rolling hills near Tellico Plains, TN, the Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground (CMTC) offers a haven for motorcyclists seeking adventure and relaxation in the Appalachian Mountains. Kellie and Wayne have owned the CMTC for over a decade now and are outstanding hosts. Not only are riders welcomed with a

Destinations

Destination: Lynchburg, TN

Riding south from Nashville, TN, takes you through some of the most picturesque green rolling hills on this side of the Mississippi. Before long, you’ll find yourself in Lynchburg, one of the region’s cute small towns that makes for a perfect lunch stop while riding. While it may

Destinations

Tennessee’s Oldest Town—Jonesborough

It’s pop quiz time! If you heard the name “Jonesborough,” how would you spell it? Whether you’d go for “Jonesborough” or “Jonesboro,” you’d be correct either way. The town has been officially known by both names over the years. And there are quite a few of those

Mar/Apr '24 Premium Content

Tennessee & North Carolina: Theme Rides, Biodiversity, and Casinos

It was a bright morning in late May. A leisurely breakfast at Pete’s Coffee Shop & Restaurant in the delightful town of Knoxville, TN, set us up for the start of our Great Smoky Mountains motorcycle tour. After the breakfast (with eggs, bacon, pancakes, and the works), my wife

Travel Guide

12 Cities to Visit for Amazing Mural Art

Not all fine art is confined to museums and galleries. Many American cities are chock-full murals and other works of street art that rival whatever you may find in the local art museums. Your motorcycle is an excellent vehicle for ferrying you from one mural to the next. With so

Classic Roads

The Great River Road

Ah, the mighty Mississippi—the great river of the United States. With the Mississippi’s legendary significance to our nation, it only makes sense that the road that follows its meanders bears a name worthy of its traveling companion. The Great River Road is certainly an appropriate moniker. For 2,

Accommodations

5 Hotels to Get You in The Christmas Spirit All Year Long

Do you wish the holiday season lasted all year long? Your motorcycle can’t change the seasons, but it can take you to places where the festive cheer never ends. There are many hotels across the U.S., from the South to Alaska, that draw in Christmas-starved visitors with a

Travel Guide

Top 10 Curviest Roads in the U.S.

Motorcycle enthusiasts are on an eternal quest to find an experience the curviest of roads. I decided to look into some choice asphalt spread out over the nation to help you satiate your desire for a compelling ride. In no particular order, and without attempting to say which is the

Accommodations

Review: MeadowView Marriott—Kingsport, TN

Located in the heart of Kingsport, TN, the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center sits close to some of the most scenic routes in the area. Just a short ride from the hotel, you'll find some of the best motorcycle routes in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia,

Travel Guide

10 Unique Summer Motorcycle Trip Destinations in the U.S.

At RoadRUNNER, we are always searching for new routes that take you to historically and socially significant destinations—and offer a fantastic riding experience. Here are 10 destinations to spark your wanderlust this summer. Cody, Wyoming Voted the Best Western Small Town by USA Today, Cody, WY, sits in the

Columns

AMA National Dual Sport LBL 200: A Blueprint for Cooperation

The LBL 200 is one of the iconic American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) National Dual Sport events, based in the Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. For two days, riders follow old-school enduro-style road books along hiking trails which are usually closed to motorized vehicles. These

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Fall in Appalachia: Abundant Turns and Autumn Tones

October is probably my favorite month in general, and it’s definitely my favorite time to ride a motorcycle. As such, Marisa and I were excited to get on the road and had turned in early the previous night. To our dismay, we woke to drizzling rain. Fortunately the temperature

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

The Rejuvenating Coast

For me, the ride is restoration—a way to refresh the soul. I take a few solo trips each year just to recharge and it was about time. My destination was somewhere sunny, windy, and warm—Pensacola, FL. I slipped out of bed, trying my best to match the quiet

Classic Roads

Classic Roads: Cherohala Skyway and Tail of the Dragon

These two classic roads, taken together, offer motorcyclists one of the most challenging days of mountain riding available anywhere. The full 138-mile route starts and ends in Tellico Plains, TN, at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center. From there the road rapidly gains altitude on SR 165. At around the halfway

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Following The Cherokee Trail of Tears

Missionary Daniel Butrick kept a journal of his travels with the Cherokee People as they were force marched to Indian Territory during the winter of 1838-39. It is one of the saddest episodes in American history, with the depths of despair grippingly described by him in this entry: “… the government

Jul/Aug '22 Premium Content

Racing Thoroughbreds From Tennessee to Kentucky

We are lucky, living in the Nashville area, to have so much spectacular riding within a few hours of our house. Regardless of the type of bike we may be on, there are options to suit. While usually finding ourselves on dual-sport styled bikes capable of off-pavement exploration, we also

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Kentucky Adventure Tour: Delayed Gratification

I hear the sharp pop of metal moving. An orange flash falls into the maple tree, getting caught on the handlebar like a makeshift kickstand. The bike has fallen against the tree, settling into it's final resting place. This is a fairly good outcome, as the tree safely

Events

Adventure Cross Rally

It doesn’t get much better than spending a few days in the woods with new and old friends, riding dual sports on asphalt, gravel, dirt, and everything in between. A new event popped up last year, and it’s on our radar to attend. The ADVxRally, or Adventure Cross

Racing

2021 Tennessee Knockout Hard Enduro

We humans have always enjoyed watching people perform tasks with extreme proficiency. This seemingly unique quality has been studied by psychologists and helps explain the advent of spectator events in virtually every society that we know of. Whether it’s the Tokyo Olympics, the gladiators of ancient Rome, or an

May/Jun '21 Premium Content

Johnson City, Tennessee Shamrock Tour®

Johnson City lies just on the edge of the Cherokee National Forest in the northeastern corner of Tennessee. The city is claimed to be one of the first settled areas in the state, originating in the late 1700s, but it didn’t get its name until 1856 when Henry Johnson