About this event
Buckeye Chapter Members,
For the second consecutive year, we are pleased to announce the Red River Gorge Driving Tour on Sunday, May 17. The nationally famous Red River Gorge Geological Area is an incredible 29,000 acres of breathtaking scenery and challenging roads. This scenic canyon system spans east-central Kentucky, Daniel Boone National Forest, and the Appalachian Plateau. The planned routes will traverse mountains, bridges, along lakes and rivers, and many other natural attractions. The tour will include a stop for lunch at The Brickhouse in Prestonsburg, KY with the journey concluding at Butterbee's in Mt. Orab, Ohio.
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. Red River Gorge 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. We will meet at 8:30 AM ET, get situated, fueled up, confirm online waivers, and drivers can begin the route around 9:00 AM.
The morning segment is 146-miles southeast to Prestonsburg, KY where we will stop for lunch at The Brickhouse.
Parking is located immediately next to the restaurant.
The afternoon segment is 157-miles to Mt. Orab, OH for a final gathering at Butterbee's American Grille. Parking is located directly in front of the building.
Important notes:
- For those that cannot make the start of the drive, feel free to meet up with us anywhere along the route. Drivers are also welcome peel off after lunch. 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 is 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 maps will be used for tour navigation. Rallista is a mobile app designed specifically for driving events and requires no intervention.
Junior Williamson Rest Area in Slade, KY to Prestonsburg, KY:
Prestonsburg, KY to Mt. Orab, OH:
Lodging:
If you are interested in lodging, there are numerous hotels, motels, cabin rental, camping, and glamping opportunities. Please refer to the information provided at this link. There are also dozens of cabin rental opportunities outside of the national park system.
Sunday, May 17, meet at 8:30 AM ET
>>> Rendezvous Point <<<
Junior Williamson Rest Area
24 L&E Railroad Pl
Slade, KY 40376
>>> Lunch <<<
The Brickhouse
358 S Central Ave
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
>>> Drinks / Appetizers <<<
390 N High St
Mt Orab, OH 45154
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 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.
