The Gauntlet
The signature ride. Ridge-to-ridge.
Best for: Sportbike, cruiser, touring, experienced riders
133 mi5–6 hrs
- Tight switchbacks
- Three gaps
- Forest tunnels
Scenic Drives · GA · WNC · S. TN
Three states. One ridge. Every road worth driving.
From The Gauntlet in North Georgia to the Cherohala Skyway and the Blue Ridge Parkway — curated scenic drives and motorcycle routes across the Southern Blue Ridge. Riders and drivers welcome.
Choose Your Ride
The Best Mountain Roads in GA, NC and TN!
Hand-curated by riders who live these mountains. Featured rides first — expand to see every route.
Six Gap
The classic North Georgia loop.
Best for: Experienced riders, scenic touring, sport touring
98 mi4 hrs
- Six named gaps
- Dahlonega start
- Climb after climb
Blue Ridge Day Ride
Lake views, downtown stops.
Best for: Touring riders, couples, small groups
80 mi3 hrs
- Downtown Blue Ridge
- Lake Blue Ridge
- Mountain food stops
Ocoee River Ride
Whitewater scenery, sweeping curves.
Best for: Touring, adventure, and group riders
110 mi4 hrs
- US-64 river road
- Whitewater views
- Mountain pass
Suches Loop
The valley locals call home.
Best for: All skill levels, group rides
64 mi2.5 hrs
- Two Wheels of Suches
- Open sweepers
- Pasture vistas
Richard Russell Scenic Hwy
Smooth pavement, big elevation.
Best for: All skill levels, fall color rides
41 mi1.5 hrs
- GA-348
- Hogpen Gap
- Fall color
Routes are for trip-planning inspiration only. Always ride within your skill level and verify conditions before you go.
Interactive Scenic Rides Map
Scout The Ridge
Scenic routes and route-side stops across North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Southern Tennessee. Tap a route line to focus it. Toggle categories to filter the stops.
Legend
- Lodging
- Towns
- Overlooks
- Waterfalls
- Lakes
- Hiking
- Food
- Wineries
- Breweries
- Attractions
- Photo
- Moto Stops
- Gas
On the Map
Stops Along the Route
Fuel, food, scenic overlooks, and the in-between stops that make a Blue Ridge drive day. Tap a category to expand.↑ Add a route to your Ride Plan first, then tag any of these stops to it.
Ride Start
Sautee Nacoochee Trailhead
Sautee Nacoochee, GA · Recommended ride start
Central launch point for the North GA gap loops
Fuel
Chevron — Helen
~15 min
Last reliable fuel before heading up GA-75/GA-348 — easy in/out for bikes
Fuel
Ingles Gas — Blairsville
~12 min
Top off before the Gauntlet or Six Gap — pumps with room for full tour bikes
Fuel
Two Wheels Suches Pump
~45 min
Tiny pump in the middle of the Suches valley — a literal lifesaver mid-loop
Fuel
RaceTrac — Cleveland
~25 min
Big modern station on US-129 — fuel, snacks, restrooms, easy to roll a group through
Fuel
QuikTrip — Blue Ridge
~50 min
Clean stop on the way to/from the Ocoee — generous lot for bikes + trailers
Fuel
Shell — Dahlonega
~50 min
Last fuel before Woody Gap / GA-60 — pair with a coffee on the Square
Food
Blairsville Square
~10 min
Classic small-town lunch stops and easy parking
Food
Helen, GA
~45 min
Bavarian village, riverside dining, ride-through scenery
Food
Blue Ridge, GA
~50 min
Downtown food, coffee, mountain shopping
Food
Dahlonega Square
~50 min
Historic gold-rush town, coffee + lunch stops
Food
Hole in the Wall
~15 min
Local favorite — hearty plates, cold beer, rider-friendly atmosphere
Food
Jim's Smokin' Que
~12 min
Pit-smoked BBQ, tender brisket, rider-sized portions
Know a spot we missed?
Suggest a rider-friendly stop — we'll review it and add it to the map.
Trip Planner
Build Your Ride Weekend
Two clicks and we'll lay out a day-by-day ride weekend tuned to how long you're staying and the kind of riding you want. Use it as your starting point — then build the actual GPX ride pack below.
01
Pick nights & style
Tell us how many nights you're staying and the type of ride you're after — scenic, technical, waterfalls, wineries, or mixed.
02
Get a day-by-day plan
We map out each day: arrival, the main ride, side stops, and checkout — built around your lodge as basecamp.
03
Download the ride pack
Open any route below, add it to your Ride Plan, then unlock to download every GPX file + the full Rider Guide PDF in one pack.
Start here ↓
How long are you staying?
1 night? That's barely enough to fog your visor — commit to the ride.
What kind of ride do you want?
Free Rider Guide
The Full Scenic Drives Guide
Every route, fuel & food stops, biker-friendly waterfalls, scenic stops, and a lodging discount code — all in one printable PDF for the road.
Locked
Unlock the Full Rider Guide
One short form — name, email, phone — and you'll get the PDF guide plus every GPX file on the site. We won't spam ya, but we may send updates on new routes and partner offers.
Today's Ride Conditions
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Local PartnersComing Soon
Featured Rider Stops
Local businesses worth a stop, curated across our scenic-drive corridors.
Food · ~15 min
Featured Rider StopHole in the Wall
Local favorite — hearty plates, cold beer, rider-friendly atmosphere near Blairsville
Rider-friendly seating & parking
Visit Website →Food · ~12 min
Featured Rider StopJim's Smokin' Que
Pit-smoked BBQ, tender brisket, rider-sized portions in Blairsville
Plenty of parking for bikes
Visit Website →New Sponsors
More featured rider stops being added. Check back or reserve your slot below.
Advertising Packages
Become a Sponsored Rider Stop
Put your business in front of riders planning scenic drives across North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and East Tennessee. Choose a visibility package, request your placement, and our team will review it before anything goes live.
- Targeted rider trafficReach motorcycle travelers and scenic-drive planners across the Stay Near family of sites.
- Featured placementLogo + offer card on the rider page, in route detail pages, and on the interactive map.
- Cross-brand visibilityOne signup covers Stay Near It All, Scenic Drives, and Where Leaves Peak (Premier tier).
- Reviewed before publishingAll placements are reviewed by our team before going live — no auto-publishing.
Advertising Packages
Three tiers powered by Stay Near. Pick the one that fits your goal.
- Local VisibilityShow up on nearby route pages and category listings.$299/yr
- Featured PlacementFeatured Rider Stop badge + priority in route POI section.$599/yr
- Premier NetworkCross-brand exposure across the Stay Near family + route sponsor eligibility.$1,499/yr
All placements reviewed before publishing
Community
Rider Wall
Ride photos, favorite routes, and road condition tips from Scenic Drives travelers. Submissions are reviewed before publishing.
The GauntletApproved
Brasstown Bald summit
"Scenic Drives helps riders plan routes, stops, views, food, and nearby lodging without jumping between five different sites."
Scenic Drives editorial · —
Helen LoopApproved
Anna Ruby Falls
"The route pages make it easier to turn a good ride into a full day trip — waterfalls, food, and a Stay Near basecamp in one place."
Scenic Drives editorial · —
Six GapApproved
Wolf Pen Gap
"Built for travelers who want scenic roads, rider-friendly stops, and a basecamp nearby — group-friendly and easy to plan."
Scenic Drives editorial · —
Georgia TriangleApproved
Vogel State Park
"Tight twisties and quiet overlooks paired with route notes that flag gravel, pace, and pavement quality before you head out."
Scenic Drives editorial · —
Waterfall LoopApproved
Anna Ruby Falls
"Smooth pavement, scenic stops, and a curated shortlist of places to eat and stay along the corridor."
Scenic Drives editorial · —
Blue Ridge RunApproved
Lake Blue Ridge overlook
"Group-ride friendly — waypoints, road conditions, and nearby lodging surfaced on a single page."
Scenic Drives editorial · —
Stay Near The Road
Drive the road. Then pick the stay.
You came for the drive. Stay near it — cabins, lodges, B&Bs, inns, and group rentals minutes from the gaps, gorges, and skylines you just rode. Rider- and driver-friendly hosts across the greater Blue Ridge.
Find Your Stay on Stay Near →Beyond North Georgia
Explore the rest of the region
North Georgia is home base. Scenic Drives now covers Western North Carolina and Southern Tennessee too — new guides going live as we drive and ride them.
North Georgia
The Blue Ridge foothills where it all started.
Hubs: Blairsville · Helen · Dahlonega
Western North Carolina
Smoky Mountain switchbacks and parkway overlooks.
Hubs: Asheville · Murphy · Bryson City
Southern Tennessee
River gorges, copper country, and the Cherohala.
Hubs: Tellico Plains · Ocoee · Reliance
Part of the Stay Near Family
Three sites. One way to travel: experience-first.
Lodging & trip planning hub
Stay Near It All
Plan the experience, then pick the stay — cabins, lodges, and inns across the greater Blue Ridge.
Live fall color reports
Leaf Looker
Real-time leaf-peeping conditions across the Southern Appalachians.
You are here
Scenic Drives
The roads worth the drive — scenic routes and motorcycle roads across GA, WNC, and S. TN.
For Business Owners
Own a Rider-Friendly Business?
Get discovered by riders planning scenic routes through North Georgia, Western North Carolina, Tennessee, and the Southern Appalachians. Scenic Drives helps motorcycle riders and road-trip travelers find great routes, local stops, lodging, restaurants, fuel, attractions, and services along the way. Claim or add your business through the Stay Near business network so riders find you while planning their trip.
About
Three States. One Ridge.
Scenic Drives is the road-trip resource for the Southern Blue Ridge — North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Southern Tennessee. Curated mountain roads, waterfall loops, motorcycle routes, fall color drives, and weekend itineraries, from The Gauntlet and Six Gap to the Cherohala Skyway, the Ocoee gorge, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Frequently Asked
Scenic mountain routes, waterfall loops, motorcycle roads, fall color drives, and weekend road trips across North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Southern Tennessee.