Johnson City Roundtrip The Southern Dozen Ride 11 East Tennessee History Tour
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 12-02-2021
Route Summary
This is ride 11 of the Southern Dozen. Originally this is a short ride (37 miles) where you will visit a couple of historic museums and do a lot of sight-seeing, I’ve added some additional scenic roads and museums to visit bringing the total distance to 76 miles
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
3h 9m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
121.67 km
Countries
Mill Spring Road Jonesborough
RouteXpert Review
Ride 11 of the Southern Dozen East Tennessee History TourExplore the scenic roads leading to the historical Rocky Mount and Tipton-Haynes sites, the Sycamore Shoals Fort, and Carter Mansion - the oldest mansion in East Tennessee, dating back to 1775. At the Doe River, you’ll see one of the country’s last remaining covered bridges, which dates back to the early 1880s. And bring your swim gear!
The ride starts in Johnson City and the first stop is the Rocky Mount Living History Museum (RP4) that sits at the foot of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and offers tours along the different sites where they use living history to enhance public understanding of the daily life and values of the early settlers in our area.
You continue through the scenic Piney Flats into Elizabethon (RP10), a small town with some antique shops, so a good stop for a short break. You can have a short photo stop at the Carter Mansion (RP11) on your way to the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park. The Carter Mansion is the oldest standing frame house in Tennessee, dating back to the mid to late 1770s. Have a short stop to take a picture at the covered bridge (RP12) across the river Doe.
Next stop is the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park (RP16) which protects the land that was the location of several important historic events that occurred in the late 18th century. Leaving the English colonies, settlers began arriving along the Watauga Old Fields, in search of a new life on what was Cherokee land. John Carter, one of the primary political, military and business leaders of this era, and his son Landon built the Carter Mansion.
The next historic site you’ll visit is the Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site (RP17), which tells the rich story of the history of Northeast Tennessee and of the several families that lived here. The site includes 45 acres, eleven historic buildings, the Tipton/Gifford/Simerly cemetery, a limestone cave, a natural spring, a buffalo trace, a nature trail, and a Visitor Center. The Visitor Center contains a permanent exhibit, museum store, educational spaces, a library, and archives.
Instead of the highway we will take Dry Creek Road (RP19) through the mountains to our next stop the Hands On! Regional Museum where you can get up close and personal with an active prehistoric fossil dig site dating back 5 million years. Enjoy exhibits and programs featuring plant and animal fossils that have been unearthed at the site.
The next town you’ll visit is Jonesborough (RP22), plan some time to enjoy this town as it has a lot to offer. Check out the Lolli Pop Store (RP23), listen to story tellers at the International Storytelling Center (RP24) and visit the Chester Inn Historical Museum (RP25), all are in walking distance from each other.
After all this sightseeing you might want to plan a swim at the Wetlands Water Park (RP26).
On your way back to Johnson City you can have a last stop at the Hands On Discovery Center (RP28)
This ride combine some nice scenic rides with a lot of entertaining stops, I rate it with 4 stars.
RP8 Piney Flats Scenic Ride
RP17 Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Tennessee
About this region
Tennessee, officially the State of Tennessee, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th largest by area and the 16th most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, Arkansas to the southwest, and Missouri to the northwest. Tennessee is geographically, culturally, and legally divided into three Grand Divisions of East, Middle, and West Tennessee. Nashville is the state's capital and largest city, and anchors its largest metropolitan area. Tennessee's population as of the 2020 United States census is approximately 6.9 million.Tennessee is rooted in the Watauga Association, a 1772 frontier pact generally regarded as the first constitutional government west of the Appalachian Mountains. Its name is derived from "Tanasi", a Cherokee town in the eastern part of the state that existed before the first European American settlement. Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina, and later the Southwest Territory, before its admission to the Union as the 16th state on June 1, 1796. It earned the nickname "The Volunteer State" early in its history due to a strong tradition of military service. A slave state until the American Civil War, Tennessee was politically divided, with its western and middle parts supporting the Confederacy and the eastern region harboring pro-Union sentiment. As a result, Tennessee was the last state to secede and the first readmitted to the Union after the war.During the 20th century, Tennessee transitioned from a predominantly agrarian society to a more diversified economy. This was aided in part by massive federal investment in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the city of Oak Ridge, which was established during World War II to house the Manhattan Project's uranium enrichment facilities for the construction of the world's first atomic bombs. These were dropped on Imperial Japan at the end of the war. After the war, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory became a key center of scientific research. In 2016, the element tennessine was named for the state, largely in recognition of the roles played by Oak Ridge, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Tennessee in its discovery. Tennessee has also played a major role in the development of many forms of popular music, including country, blues, rock and roll, soul, and gospel.
Tennessee has diverse terrain and landforms, and from east to west, contains a mix of cultural features characteristic of Appalachia, the Upland South, and the Deep South. The Blue Ridge Mountains along the eastern border reach some of the highest elevations in eastern North America, and the Cumberland Plateau contains many scenic valleys and waterfalls. The central part of the state is marked by cavernous bedrock and irregular rolling hills, and level, fertile plains define West Tennessee. The state is twice bisected by the Tennessee River, and the Mississippi River forms its western border. Its economy is dominated by the health care, music, finance, automotive, chemical, electronics, and tourism sectors, and cattle, soybeans, corn, poultry, and cotton are its primary agricultural products. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited national park, is in eastern Tennessee.
Read more on Wikipedia
Tennessee has diverse terrain and landforms, and from east to west, contains a mix of cultural features characteristic of Appalachia, the Upland South, and the Deep South. The Blue Ridge Mountains along the eastern border reach some of the highest elevations in eastern North America, and the Cumberland Plateau contains many scenic valleys and waterfalls. The central part of the state is marked by cavernous bedrock and irregular rolling hills, and level, fertile plains define West Tennessee. The state is twice bisected by the Tennessee River, and the Mississippi River forms its western border. Its economy is dominated by the health care, music, finance, automotive, chemical, electronics, and tourism sectors, and cattle, soybeans, corn, poultry, and cotton are its primary agricultural products. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited national park, is in eastern Tennessee.
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Statistics
38
Amount of RX reviews (Tennessee)
20512
Amount of visitors (Tennessee)
1101
Amount of downloads (Tennessee)
Route Collections in this region
The Original Southern Dozen Motorcycle Rides in Tennessee Virginia and North Carolina
The Southern Dozen; hit the throttle and hold on tight!
There’s no better place to leave the daily grind in the dust than roaring around the curves of the Southern Dozen! Surrounded by some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in the country, you’ll find the freedom of exhilaration as you wind through the foothills and mountains of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina.
Whether you’re looking for heart-pumping curves, breathtaking scenery, historic landmarks, local gems, or nearby attractions, the Southern Dozen has rides worthy of even the most seasoned road warrior. Explore the Original Southern Dozen and see all that Johnson City and the surrounding region have to offer.
Johnson City is a regional gem where big-city amenities meet small-town Southern charm. Here you’ll have access to everything you could want or need and more! Perfect for the casual rider and those who “live to ride,” Johnson City hosts numerous bike rallies each year. So plan your trip and book one of the many biker-friendly accommodations.
There’s no better place to leave the daily grind in the dust than roaring around the curves of the Southern Dozen! Surrounded by some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in the country, you’ll find the freedom of exhilaration as you wind through the foothills and mountains of Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina.
Whether you’re looking for heart-pumping curves, breathtaking scenery, historic landmarks, local gems, or nearby attractions, the Southern Dozen has rides worthy of even the most seasoned road warrior. Explore the Original Southern Dozen and see all that Johnson City and the surrounding region have to offer.
Johnson City is a regional gem where big-city amenities meet small-town Southern charm. Here you’ll have access to everything you could want or need and more! Perfect for the casual rider and those who “live to ride,” Johnson City hosts numerous bike rallies each year. So plan your trip and book one of the many biker-friendly accommodations.
View Route Collection
13 Routes
2657 km
50h 5m
The 10 most downloaded routes in the USA from RouteXpert Hans van de Ven
Hello and welcome to this collection of the Top 10 MyRoute app downloaded routes in USA.
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
2. D03 Chadron Custer
3. D01 Pigeon Forge round trip through the Smokey Mountains
4. D08 Kalispell Sandpoint
5. D10 Colville Wenatchee
6. D09 Sandpoint Colville
7. D04 Custer Wall
8. D11 Wenatchee Seattle
9. D08 Cody Yellowstone NP
10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
There will be a great new event to be announced soon, where all these routes can be driven.
Download them all now and place them in a new "Top 10" folder, so that you always have them at hand.
If you are going to drive one of these routes in the meantime, track them with the MRA Mobile App or with MRA Navigation. Take some photos (moments) along the way as these will come in handy.
Create a travelogue of your Top 10 driven routes and add the recorded track to it.
There will also be some great prizes on offer, so keep an eye on the MRA-RouteXperts page and your mail.
The 10 routes are:
1. D13 Estes Park Denver
2. D03 Chadron Custer
3. D01 Pigeon Forge round trip through the Smokey Mountains
4. D08 Kalispell Sandpoint
5. D10 Colville Wenatchee
6. D09 Sandpoint Colville
7. D04 Custer Wall
8. D11 Wenatchee Seattle
9. D08 Cody Yellowstone NP
10.R13 San Francisco Monterey
View Route Collection
10 Routes
2439.8 km
58h 27m