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Seeing so many nice driving roads getting widened and straightened has me pining for those two-laners still left in NC. I've been all over this state, but my traveling schedule can't keep up with development, so I'm sure some great roads I've driven are no longer there, particularly in the Raleigh area. What do the prettiest roads in NC look like? (I'm talkin' pictures)
Seeing so many nice driving roads getting widened and straightened has me pining for those two-laners still left in NC. I've been all over this state, but my traveling schedule can't keep up with development, so I'm sure some great roads I've driven are no longer there, particularly in the Raleigh area. What do the prettiest roads in NC look like? (I'm talkin' pictures)
Except for roads like 321 to Blowing Rock (ongoing construction to widen and straighten) and 421 to Boone (4 lanes, now), I'd say that NC has more twisty back lanes than urbanized straight lanes. This from a motorcyclist who prefers the back roads. Get away from the cities and you'll find some nice drives.
Western NC still has plenty of 2 lane, winding, heart-stopping roads. It's a long haul from Wilmington, but US 129 along the NC/TN "Tail of the Dragon," the Cherohala Skyway (gets above 5000 ft), and US 64 from Rosman to Highlands (winding with some of the coolest waterfalls in NC) are some of the best country road drives in the whole country. If you ever get the chance, you won't be disappointed.
I drive these roads in a car and my heart stopped a few times. I can not imagine how insane these roads would be on a motorcycle.
NC194 between Boone and Elk Park (Watauga and Avery Counties)
Old Greensboro Rd / Greensboro-Chapel Hill Rd (Guilford, Alamance, Orange Counties)
NC49 between Mount Pleasant and Asheboro (Cabarrus, Stanly, Rowan, Davidson, Randolph Counties)
US221 through almost the entire length of western NC
There's been realignment and freeway-ification, but OLD US64 from Tarboro to Manteo - beautiful, and a real showcase for how subtle and complex the prettiness of interior eastern NC can be. Best in spring or fall however.
One of the few really jaw-dropping stretches of interstate, and technically not in NC: I-77 from the NC/VA border to Fancy Gap VA. I-77 curves right and then left, and the northbound and southbound lanes are terraced along the Blue Ridge, so if you are driving north (ascending the rigde), you curve hard to the east and then back to the north. As you are doing so, if you look to the right, you are looking straight off of the Blue Rigde, and back southeast into NC (out of VA), with Pilot Mountain looking like a mini-Devil's Tower to the right horizon, and the entire skyline of Winston-Salem spread out just to the left of that. It's one of the more intense wow views - interstate or not - anywhere in NC or VA.
I used to love them, too, but with so many people driving fast and texting and texting while driving fast, I try to avoid them like the plague these days. It is a shame cause I know what you mean, but I have seen too much oncoming traffic, in my lane, over the last several years to be able to enjoy the tranquility.
Highway 19 between Waynesville and Cherokee....that is one scenic route...and for me, scary--I don't do heights well, but it's the only way to get to the casino. Very curvy and very mountainous!
Grassy Island Road , from 109 to Rockingham.
Hwy. 109 , from Denton to Troy.
2X votes for 49 , from Mt.Pleasant to Asheboro.
Ophir Road , from 109 to Low Water Bridge Road(unpaved , I think)
Good luck!!
NC194 between Boone and Elk Park (Watauga and Avery Counties)
Definitely. Also 105 south from Boone, hop on 181 at Linville to Newland, 226 through Little Switzerland, or any of the roads off 19E like 197 or 80. Basically an alternate Blue Ridge Parkway. Also worth hopping off 226 to go through Penland. North of Jefferson hop off 221 to 88 then to 18 up to Sparta. About ten minutes on 18 you start picking up the West Virginia bluegrass stations. Also worth taking 421 west out of Boone past Mountain City up to Bristol, just for the adventure when you hit Cherokee National Forest.
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