Driving Directions: Cheoah Outpost

All Cheoah River trips begin and end at our meeting place at the Tapoco Lodge Resort, right on the Cheoah River, at the end of the famous Tail of the Dragon road. The Tapoco Lodge is located in Western North Carolina, 15 miles north of Robbinsville on Highway 129.

GPS: 35.443732, -83.938422

From Knoxville, TN - Follow carefully all signs for 129 South. This road is known as "The Tail of the Dragon", so drive carefully and factor in extra time. Tapoco Lodge is on the right, shortly after you see Cheoah Dam on the left.

From Asheville, NC - Take I-40 West toward Knoxville, TN. Take Exit 27 onto US 74 West (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway). After 48 miles, turn right onto 28 North. Continue approximately 11 miles to Hwy 143. Take a left onto 143 and follow it to Robbinsville, NC. Take a right at the stop light onto 129 North. Follow 129 North out of Robbinsville. The Cheoah River will be on your left for the last eight miles of your drive. Tapoco Lodge is on the left, at the take-out for the river. If you pass Cheoah Dam, you've gone too far.

From Chattanooga, TN - Take I-75 North toward Cleveland, TN. Take the first Cleveland exit (#20) onto US 64 Bypass East. Go six miles; take Ocoee Exit US 64 East towards Ocoee/Murphy, NC. In Murphy, the road number changes to US 74. Stay on US 74 East. Approximately 10 miles east of Andrews, NC, take a left onto 129 North to Robbinsville, NC. Continue through Robbinsville. The Cheoah River will be on your left for the last eight miles of your drive. Tapoco Lodge is on the left at the take-out for the river. If you pass Cheoah Dam, you've gone too far.

From West Atlanta, GA - Take I-75 North to I-575 North, which becomes State Hwy 5, eventually becoming Hwy 76. Stay on this road until just past Blue Ridge, GA, and then turn left onto Hwy 60 to Mineral Bluff, GA. In Mineral Bluff, turn right onto Hwy 60 Spur and follow it into North Carolina to US 74 East, turning right toward Murphy and Andrews. Approximately 10 miles east of Andrews, NC, take a left on 129 North to Robbinsville, NC. Continue through Robbinsville. The Cheoah River will be on your left for the last eight miles of your drive. Tapoco Lodge is on the left at the take-out for the river. If you pass Cheoah Dam, you've gone too far.