TN 165 · USA

Cherohala Skyway

A 43-mile National Scenic Byway between Tellico Plains, Tennessee, and Robbinsville, North Carolina. This is the Tennessee half, along TN 165.

StartFinish

40.4 kmLength

131Pace-note calls

0Hairpins

0Tight corners (1–2)

↑1,370 ↓320Climb and drop, m

≈1,410 mHighest point

Counts are from Turini’s pace-note engine on this route. Heights come from terrain data and can differ from signposted figures by a few tens of metres.

Where is the Cherohala Skyway?

The Cherohala Skyway is in the USA, on TN 165. Also known as NC 143. The route on this page: Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to the state line at Stratton Gap, 40.4 km.

Why the Cherohala Skyway is famous

It climbs more than 4,000 ft, to over 5,400 ft near the state line, on long sweeping curves with wide mountain views. Its North Carolina end is not far from the Tail of the Dragon, so the two are often driven together.

Cherohala Skyway corners

Over 40.4 km Turini calls 119 corners graded 1 to 6, plus 2 crests and 6 dips. That is 131 calls in all, one every 308 metres on average. Grade 1 is the tightest, 6 is nearly straight (how to read pace notes).

330

450

519

620

Cherohala Skyway elevation profile

From 262 m at the start to 1,319 m at the finish, with a highest point of about 1,410 m.

1,500 m200 m

0 km20.2 km40.4 km

Cherohala Skyway pace notes, first few km

The first 25 calls, exactly as Turini reads them, with the distance from the start.

80 mRight 6

1.48 kmRight 6

1.69 kmRight 4

1.78 kmLeft 4 tightens

2.14 kmLeft 3 opens

2.36 kmRight 6

2.60 kmRight 4

2.75 kmLeft 4 opens

4.23 kmRight 4

4.42 kmBridge

4.43 kmLeft 3 very long

4.82 kmRight 4 very long

5.32 kmLeft 4 long

5.82 kmLeft 3 very long tightens

6.30 kmRight 4 very long

6.94 kmLeft 6

7.04 kmRight 5 long opens

7.63 kmLeft 4 very long

8.00 kmRight 5

8.13 kmLeft 6

8.41 kmRight 4 very long

8.96 kmLeft 3 very long

9.63 kmRight 6

10.07 kmRight 3 long

10.27 kmLeft 6

That takes you to 10.27 km. 106 more calls follow over the remaining 30.1 km.

Before you drive the Cherohala Skyway

Open all year, but snow and ice can close it in winter.

There are no towns along the skyway itself, so fill up in Tellico Plains or Robbinsville.

How to drive the Cherohala Skyway with Turini

Set the route before you leave and Turini saves its notes on the phone, so it works with the screen off and no signal. On the road it reads each call about 4.5 seconds before the corner, timed to your speed, and you never touch the phone. It also works through Android Auto. If pace notes are new to you, start in Simple mode (Easy, Medium, Hard) and switch to the 1–6 scale once it feels natural.

Always drive within the law, the conditions and what you can see. Turini tells you what the map says; the road is what counts.

More roads like the Cherohala Skyway

Tail of the DragonUSA18.5 km · 176 calls · 21 hairpins

Blue Ridge ParkwayUSA18.1 km · 57 calls

Million Dollar HighwayUSA37.8 km · 149 calls · 12 hairpins

Best driving roads in the USA · All famous roads · How to read pace notes

Sources: Wikipedia: Cherohala Skyway.

Set Turini up for you

Turini is in early access on Android. Five quick questions and you’ll know which mode to start with.

Find your setup →