Question 1

What does it cost to attend CHD?

Accepted Answer

CHD is free to attend.  The only costs you will be responsible for are those you encounter during your stay (lodging/food/gas/etc).

Question 2

Do I need to register for CHD?

Accepted Answer

Nope.

Question 3

When does CHD take place?

Accepted Answer

CHD happens during the fall, typically either the 1st or 2nd weekend in October.  Our next event will be held on October 10-11th, 2026.

Question 4

Where do I book lodging for the event?

Accepted Answer

Our event has several meet locations throughout the weekend, spanning a large area surrounding the Tail of the Dragon.  The towns that we meet in are Maryville, TN, Robbinsville, NC and Bryson City, NC.  The Tail of the Dragon is in the mountains between Robbinsville and Maryville.  We would recommend looking for lodging in Maryville, TN.  There are far more options for lodging and food and our main meet location is held in town.  It is only 25 minutes from the Tail of the Dragon.  If you would like to stay closer to the Dragon, we recommend the Fontana Village or an Airbnb nearby.

Question 5

Do I have to own and/or drive a Honda to attend CHD?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not.  Everyone is welcome!

Question 6

Is CHD a family friendly event?

Accepted Answer

It is!  In fact, we have folks that bring their whole family up and make the weekend a short vacation.  We encourage folks to bring their kids.  They will be the next generation of Honda lovers.

Question 7

Will there be cell service during CHD?

Accepted Answer

This is relative to which service provider you have but yes, the majority of the time you will have cell signal.  You won't have any issues at our meet locations in Maryville and Bryson City, but the closer you get to the Dragon, the less signal you have.  There are frequent dead areas in the mountains.

Question 8

Do I need to modify my vehicle to drive on the Dragon?

Accepted Answer

Not at all.  As long as your vehicle can be considered road legal, it will be fine.  The Tail of the Dragon is just a public mountain road after all.  We do recommend making sure that your brakes and tires are in good working order.

Question 9

How do I stay in contact with the CHD group during the event?

Accepted Answer

We recommend saving our event schedule to your phone so you know where the group will be throughout the weekend.  The schedule will include times and locations for each meet during the event.  If you lose the group or miss a meet location, check the schedule and go to the next meet location and catch up with the group there.

Question 10

Rules of the Road

Accepted Answer

1)  Do NOT cross the yellow line.  The Dragon is very narrow with blind curves everywhere so you won't know what's coming from the opposite direction.  Also keep in mind that motorcyclists often lean into the oncoming lane when taking sharp turns.

2)  Do NOT speed.  The Dragon is a public road after all.  It consists mostly of tight turns so you won't have much opportunity to speed, but in the areas where you can, don't.  Local law enforcement knows where these stretches of road are and they will ticket you.

3)  Do NOT drive beyond the limits of your ability as a driver.  Do not push yourself, especially when you feel pressure to keep up with faster drivers.  It will put you, as well as others, at risk.

4)  WATCH OUT for wildlife (especially when driving the Dragon at night)!  There is a lot of wildlife in the area, including bears, wild boar and deer.

5)  Use PULL-OFFs.  Even though you may think you can drive like Mario Andretti, there will always be a faster vehicle on the Dragon.  If one gets behind you, do not try and go faster.  Be courteous, pull over, and let them pass.

6)  BE PATIENT!  There is a high probability that you will get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle who chooses not to use the pull-offs.  Don't intimidate them or tailgate them.  Just pull-off for a while and let them go on ahead of you.  Our behavior on the road will be monitored by law enforcement and locals.  We do not want our group to earn a bad reputation.

7)  WATCH OUT for large trucks and utility vehicles.  Semi's aren't allowed on the Dragon but some manage to find themselves on it anyway.  Slow down immediately if you see one.  They take up both lanes in turns.  Utility vehicles and trucks pulling trailers are allowed on the Dragon and they pose a similar threat.  Just keep an eye out.

Question 11

Safety Tips

Accepted Answer

1)  Before driving on the Dragon, check to make sure any loose items inside your vehicle are secure, otherwise they will end up in awkward places, such as behind your pedals.  You don't want that.

2)  Make sure you have water and snacks with you.  Driving the Dragon is a strenuous activity and you'll be wanting both by the end of your first run.

3)  Unless you are driving a new vehicle or a vehicle with aftermarket brake upgrades, you will experience brake fade during spirited driving.  When you do, just slow down and let them cool off.  If you continue to experience fade, pull off and park for a while so they can cool.  Brakes take a beating on the Dragon.

4)  Towing costs are especially high on the dragon because of its remote location.  We recommend bringing a basic set of tools for making minor repairs to your vehicle.

Question 12

Law Enforcement

Accepted Answer

We recommend doing nothing to give law enforcement a reason to interact with you directly, especially since they will be supervising our main meet in Maryville.  There is also a consistent presence of law enforcement on the Dragon during the day so we do not recommend 'taking chances'.

Question 13

How do I purchase images of my car that are taken on the Dragon?

Accepted Answer

There are several companies that have photographers posted along the Tail of the Dragon taking pictures of passing cars.  To access these images after the event, navigate to the company website, search for your vehicle (either by category or date/time) and order them for downloading.  It usually takes several hours to a day to process your images.  Below are a list of links to the Dragon photo companies that we recommend:

Killboy
https://www.killboy.com/

US 129 Photos
https://129photos.com/

129 Slayer Photos
https://www.129slayer.com/

Question 14

A warning to those prone to motion sickness.

Accepted Answer

If you get motion sick while in a vehicle we recommend you take measures to prevent this from happening while driving on the Dragon.  Imagine being on a roller coaster for a half-hour.  Yes, that is what driving the Dragon feels like.  It's a little easier to handle being the driver, but if you are a passenger, it is much worse.  You have been warned.

Question 15

What are some other local attractions?

Accepted Answer

There is a lot to see in this area.  Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Tellico Plains, and the Appalachian Trail to name a few.  The area is loaded with stuff to do, such as hiking, fishing, horseback riding, golf, rafting, kayaking, and camping.  If you're into getting off-road, there are a number of ORV trails to hit as well.

Question 16

How do I become a volunteer with CHD?

Accepted Answer

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at a CHD event, please reach out to us directly.  Email or direct messages via social media work best for us.  We appreciate your interest in advance!

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