Best Driving Roads You've Taken Your 1'er On

[chris_flies]

Joplin Road in Dumfries, Virginia. Some may call it NoVA's Tail of the Dragon. It's a fantastic road that was recently repaved, a decent 45 mph speed limit, and it dives and twists and undulates through the trees, which are just feet from the roads edge. The absolute best part is that there is NOWHERE for a cop to safely/effectively hide! The worst part is that there is no passing, but there are turn-offs if needed (definitely needed). What are the best roads you've driven on in your 1'er, or any other bimmer? Where are they located and what are the risks/benefits of blasting along these roads?

Have fun with this!

[YearOneOne]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Joplin Road in Dumfries, Virginia. Some may call it NoVA's Tail of the Dragon. It's a fantastic road that was recently repaved, a decent 45 mph speed limit, and it dives and twists and undulates through the trees, which are just feet from the roads edge. The absolute best part is that there is NOWHERE for a cop to safely/effectively hide! The worst part is that there is no passing, but there are turn-offs if needed (definitely needed). What are the best roads you've driven on in your 1'er, or any other bimmer? Where are they located and what are the risks/benefits of blasting along these roads?

Have fun with this!

I just moved to central va thanks for this!!

[NVHoo]

125 miles of mountain forest road with incredible vistas, 460 curves, 8000' elevation change, and known as the least used federal highway in the US. A group of us drove the route at speed and passed just 1 car and encountered only 2 in the opposite direction the entire trip.

[Tenspeed]

Highway 28 north of Franklin, NC on the way to the Tail of the Dragon was a really fun road.

The Tail of the Dragon was fun too, with beautiful views, but you get tired of turning after a while because it is seems to be never ending (we went over into TN and back without stopping). We drove it at the end of the day, so the traffic wasn't heavy. Also look into staying at the Tapaco Lodge near the Dragon if you go. Great place.

[Matticus91]

VA is a terrible state to have fun driving in - that said I think Skyline Drive is one of the best roads in the area, with by far the best vistas.

20170609_142554 by Matt Steele, on Flickr
20170609_142611 by Matt Steele, on Flickr
20170609_143250 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Tenspeed

Highway 28 north of Franklin, NC on the way to the Tail of the Dragon was a really fun road.

The Tail of the Dragon was fun too, with beautiful views, but you get tired of turning after a while because it is seems to be never ending (we went over into TN and back without stopping). We drove it at the end of the day, so the traffic wasn't heavy. Also look into staying at the Tapaco Lodge near the Dragon if you go. Great place.

Big vote for highway 28. I enjoy it much more than the dragon. Great road for a car, and a little more high speed which is fun too. Definitely get tired of nonstop switchbacks with no straights on the dragon. Any road in that area will deliver amazing vistas!

[desertman123]

Wish I had decent roads like you guys! Over here in flat&straight Florida - I've been on a few twisty backroads but they're far and few. Usually love taking onramps really quickly.

[atr_hugo]

Trail Ridge Road - the turbocharged engine comes in handy, good road but prone to gathering aluminum overcast (RVs).

Blue Ridge Parkway from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Asheville, NC - posted at a max of 45 MPH, it still is an engaging road, and depending on day and time of year, blissfully clear of campers (and cops ; -).

[PhillyfaanM3]

Here in PA (Bucks County) I've been out to PA 125 which is 18 miles of switch backs, turns & if done early enough, no traffic.

In addition, every Sunday( when weather permits) I head out through beautiful Bucks county and cross into NJ & take Rte 29 River road then cross back into PA & jump on 611 scenic heading to Easton pa.

[ultimated]

Originally Posted by Frank 135i Vert

Here in PA (Bucks County) I've been out to PA 125 which is 18 miles of switch backs, turns & if done early enough, no traffic.

In addition, every Sunday( when weather permits) I head out through beautiful Bucks county and cross into NJ & take Rte 29 River road then cross back into PA & jump on 611 scenic heading to Easton pa.

You can keep going on 611 up to the Delaware Water Gap for some fabulous scenery and great jazz at the Deer Head Inn in the village. One of my favorite rides as well.

[swagon]

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by swagon

That's a sight to behold!

Are you in that group of 1ers?

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Esteban

That's a sight to behold!

Are you in that group of 1ers?

right behind them. Jesus taketh the wheel and I shot the photo.

[Esteban]

Breathtaking view! Great shot!

[PhillyfaanM3]

Originally Posted by ultimated

You can keep going on 611 up to the Delaware Water Gap for some fabulous scenery and great jazz at the Deer Head Inn in the village. One of my favorite rides as well.

ultimate...yes, been up that way as well. Another fun road.

[sprp85]

Anyone in NoVA looking for a driving nirvana, drive across the state line into WV.

Extremely twisted mountain roads are shockingly well paved with 18-wheeler lumber trucks that hits the down hills faster than you feel comfortable with (You will have to push fairly hard to catch up with them).

Scenic views are truly awesome as well with beautiful greens and high mountains.

[Stubbie Blue]

Last July I did a 7,000 mile grand tour of the national parks in NM, CO, UT and AZ from Florida. I drove my other car however which is a 2012 Audi A6 because it is much more comfortable on the highway. To be honest, I get dizzy barreling through twisty forest roads, so scenic mountain roads are more my thing. There were plenty of those on my trip like:

1. Pikes Peak, CO
2. Pikes Peak 14,120 ft. Put the turbocharger to good use!
3. Old Fall River Rd in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
4. Trail Ridge Rd in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

From CO, I drove to Moab UT on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon and it was amazing.

5. Shafer Trail Rd in Canyonlands National Park, Moab UT. No I didn't drive down it!

Continuing West through Utah on I-70 near Capitol Reef National Park had some pretty amazing scenery as well. Plus it has an 80 mph speed limit.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by Tenspeed

Highway 28 north of Franklin, NC on the way to the Tail of the Dragon was a really fun road.

The Tail of the Dragon was fun too, with beautiful views, but you get tired of turning after a while because it is seems to be never ending (we went over into TN and back without stopping). We drove it at the end of the day, so the traffic wasn't heavy. Also look into staying at the Tapaco Lodge near the Dragon if you go. Great place.

Get tired of turning, NEVER! Driving on the Tail of the Dragon is on my bucket list for sure!

[02Pilot]

I haven't had my 128i long enough to take it on too many interesting roads, but I've driven a few in other cars over the years. I did the Dragon as part of the BABE Rally a bunch of years ago, which was entertaining but not quite the transcendent experience the mythology suggests. I've climbed Mt. Washington and Mt. Equinox (closed road event, so no opposing traffic) in my 2002, Pikes Peak (in an Audi coupe, before they ruined it by paving too much - for the record, it is possible to "Pass with care" while sideways), and probably a couple others I can't recall. Did the Million Dollar Highway in CO this spring in a late season snowstorm, which added to the challenge, and also had the beneficial side-effect of removing almost all the traffic. I'm sure I'm forgetting some others.

Here's the lower section of 550 in CO:



Have to dig around for photos from some of the other roads.

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by sprp85

Anyone in NoVA looking for a driving nirvana, drive across the state line into WV.

Extremely twisted mountain roads are shockingly well paved with 18-wheeler lumber trucks that hits the down hills faster than you feel comfortable with (You will have to push fairly hard to catch up with them).

Scenic views are truly awesome as well with beautiful greens and high mountains.

There are some nice roads I've driven on my way out to Summit Point for some higher-speed fun!

[minirips2]

Originally Posted by Tenspeed

Highway 28 north of Franklin, NC on the way to the Tail of the Dragon was a really fun road.

The Tail of the Dragon was fun too, with beautiful views, but you get tired of turning after a while because it is seems to be never ending (we went over into TN and back without stopping). We drove it at the end of the day, so the traffic wasn't heavy. Also look into staying at the Tapaco Lodge near the Dragon if you go. Great place.

Plus one on the Historic Tapoco Lodge. Great people, and nice, secluded accommodations. Personally, I didn't get tired of turning. I just wish I'd had the dealer I bought the 128i from bleed the brakes before I picked it up. Not exactly confidence inspiring, and you sure need them on the TOD.

[Jsargevt]

Vermont route 108 from the Canadian border, through Smuggler's Notch and into Stowe. Nice roads, beautiful countryside and not a ton of traffic (except for Stowe).