About this event
Buckeye Chapter Members,
We are excited to introduce the Back of the Dragon Driving Tour for 2026. This two-day travel tour features incredible driving roads through Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Famous route segments include the Back of the Dragon, Claw of the Dragon, Corkscrew, Roadrunner, and Scorpion. This will be far and away the most advanced driving tour for 2026.
For those unfamiliar, Back of the Dragon is one of the most celebrated driving roads in the country. Not to be confused with the Tail of the Dragon, Back of the Dragon consists of 438 turns, 4,399 feet of elevation gain, and three distinct mountain ranges. This exhilarating route includes immersive technical sections, undulating elevation shifts, blind hairpins, tight switchbacks, deep forested areas, and open vistas. By any measure, it is the equivalent of driving euphoria.
Difficulty levels are specified for each driving tour and take into consideration the number and types of turns, elevation changes, tour duration, and the potential for motion sickness. This is especially important for drivers who are considering passengers. Level 1 is low, Level 2 is medium, and Level 3 is high. The Back of the Dragon is a Level 3 driving tour.
What to drive? BMW club members are automotive enthusiasts at heart. Many own multiple brands and models of vehicles. We encourage you to drive the vehicle of your choice and enjoy the experience.
The tour will originate at the Junior Williamson Rest Area in Slade, KY, located off of the Bert T Combs Parkway at Exit 33, near Red River Gorge. We will meet at 8:15 AM, get situated, fueled up, confirm online waivers, and drivers can begin the route around 9:00 AM.
Day 1 - The morning segment is 136-miles south/southeast to Big Stone Gap, VA where we will stop for lunch and relaxation at Curklin's.
Day 1 - The afternoon segment is 189-miles east/northeast to Tazewell, VA to wrap up day one at the Back of the Dragon Welcome Center.
Day 2 - The morning segment is 178-miles south/southwest to Bristol, TN for lunch and relaxation at Cootie Brown's.
Day 2 - The afternoon segment is 272-miles northwest to Richmond, KY for a final gathering at Buc-ee's.
Important notes:
- Drivers have full flexibility to enter and exit tour segments as they wish. Please email me directly if making alternate plans.
- With the exception of severe weather or related road condition issues, the tour will take place rain or shine.
Driving Directions:
Please refer to links below for turn by turn directions for each route segment. Route guidance can be easier to follow with a navigator. Google Maps static images are provided for preview purposes only. Due to dynamic routing, rerouting, and required driver intervention issues, Google Maps will not be used on the day of the tour. Rallista routes will be used for tour navigation. Rallista is a mobile app designed specifically for driving events and requires no intervention.
- Slade, KY to Big Stone Gap, VA:
- Big Stone Gap, VA to Tazewell, VA:
- Tazewell, VA to Bristol, TN:
- Bristol, TN to Richmond, KY:
Lodging options are provided below. Marion, VA is a central location to stay. However, participants are welcome to stay in the area of their choice. If unfamiliar with the area, we can assist you further with lodging options.
General Francis Marion Hotel, 107 E Main St, Marion, VA 24354, 276-783-4800
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lebanon, 228 Regional Park Rd, Lebanon, VA 24266, 276-880-0159
Tru By Hilton Wytheville, 245 Boyd Ave, Wytheville, VA 24382, 276-335-2290
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Wytheville, 200 Marriott Way, Wytheville, VA 24382, 276-228-8080
The Bolling Wilson Hotel, 170 E Main St, Wytheville, VA 24382, 276-223-2333
Emory House Bed and Breakfast, 30461 Oxford Ave, Emory, VA 24327, 276-274-3324
>>> Day 1 <<<
Saturday, August 22, meet at 8:15 AM ET
>>> Rendezvous Point <<<
Junior Williamson Rest Area
24 L&E Railroad Pl
Slade, KY 40376
>>> Lunch <<<
Curklin's
314 Wood Ave E
Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
>>> Drinks / Appetizers <<<
Back of the Dragon Welcome Center
592 W Main St
Tazewell, VA 24651
>>> Day 2 <<<
Sunday, August 23, meet at 8:45 AM ET
>>> Rendezvous Point <<<
Back of the Dragon Welcome Center
592 W Main St
Tazewell, VA 24651
>>> Lunch <<<
Cootie Brown's
118 Volunteer Pkwy
Bristol, TN 37620
>>> Drinks / Snacks <<<
1013 Buc-ee's Blvd
Richmond, KY 40475
Please contact me with any questions.
We encourage you to consider all of the 2026 Buckeye BMW CCA Driving Tours:
April 26 - NKY Spring
May 17 - Red River Gorge / Natural Bridge
July 12 - Triple Nickel
August 22-23 - Back of the Dragon / Scorpion / Roadrunner
September 27 - OH / WV
October 25 - Hocking Hills / Wayne National Forest
Tracey Harris
BMW CCA Buckeye Chapter
drivingtours@buckeyebmwcca.org
buckeyebmwcca.org
Event requirements
Preregistration is a two-step process. Both steps are required for drivers and guests.
Step 1 is Motorsport Registry via this link. This is necessary to get an accurate count of drivers and guests, and to determine drive groups and staffing at the restaurant. Please complete all steps during registration, select Complete Registration on the last page, and receive email confirmation from the Motorsports Registry system.
Step 2 is the BMW CCA Electronic Waiver via this link. The waiver requires a digital signature and photograph, thus a mobile device is best for this step. Signed waivers for past events do not apply to this event.
Note: Preregistration DOES NOT take the place of driving event waivers. All Participants MUST electronically sign the waiver form BEFORE starting the tour.
