Cherohala Skyway
Tellico Plains, TN → Robbinsville, NC · ~43 miles · half day
Stylized illustration, not a photo — the real place looks different (and that’s half the fun).
A quiet alternative to the Tail of the Dragon, the Cherohala Skyway climbs to over 5,400 feet across the Cherokee and Nantahala forests — long, sweeping curves and big ridgeline views.
Updated July 2026.
A mile-high ridge run with no crowds.
Far less traffic than the nearby Dragon, with overlooks every few miles and fall color that rivals the Smokies. Bring a jacket — the top is cool even in summer.
States on this route
The signature stops
What to pull over for.
The best stops on the Cherohala Skyway are the places that define the drive, not just the nearest towns. Roamward orders them for the road: start with Tellico Plains, Bald River Falls, Santeetlah Overlook, Robbinsville, then open each stop guide for the pull-over context.
01Tellico Plainsthe western gateway and river town — open the stop guideTN
02Bald River Fallsa roadside waterfall just off the route — open the stop guideTN
03Santeetlah Overlooka 5,390-ft high point with sweeping views — open the stop guideNC
04Robbinsvillethe eastern end near Joyce Kilmer’s old-growth forest — open the stop guideNC
Where to eat
Restaurants along this route.
Restaurants on the Cherohala Skyway are chosen for trip usefulness: gateway-town location, a clear reason to stop, and enough quality to make a traveler save the pick. Start with Crow's Nest Tavern, Iron Works Grille, La Loteria, Tellico Beach Drive In.
A curated set of trip-useful meals near the route — enough to anchor driving days without turning the guide into a phone book.
- Crow's Nest Tavern
A Tellico Plains tavern stop for the Cherohala Skyway approach, built for the kind of hungry mountain-road day this route creates.
- Iron Works Grille
A riverside Tellico Plains grill at the western Cherohala gateway.
- La Loteria
A Tellico Plains Mexican stop with easy gateway-town utility before the Cherohala climb or as a recovery meal after it.
- Tellico Beach Drive In
A low-key Tellico Plains burger-and-ice-cream stop that fits the slower east-end rhythm of the Cherohala Skyway.
- Tellico Grains Bakery
A Tellico Plains bakery and pizza stop at the western gate of the Cherohala Skyway.
- TK Grill and BBQ
Small-town barbecue and grill plates on the Cherohala gateway, useful before the climb toward Bald River Falls.
- Lynn's Place
A Robbinsville comfort-food stop that works for both Tail of the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway days.
- Roy's Nutz & Buttz
Small-town barbecue for the North Carolina end of the Cherohala Skyway, especially useful for riders and late arrivals.
Build a trip around Cherohala Skyway drive.
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Where to stay
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