As a part of our Summer and Fall WanderLOVE series, we have come up with 6 Road Trip ideas you’re going to want to do. Each one will take you to incredible locations within the region and give you plenty of things to see and do! Fill up your tank, pick your destination, and hit the road!

Back of the Dragon

Our second road trip location is Back of the Dragon. This road trip connects Marion, Virginia with Tazewell Virginia on a fun and scenic drive. Back of the Dragon is 32 miles of scenic roadway with over 438 curves and at an elevation of 3500′. This roadway is a vastly popular spot for both car and motorcycle enthusiasts.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Watching the sunset over the Back of the Dragon is always an amazing experience 🌄⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 📸 @sarah.plusdogsprobably⁣ ⁣⁣ #sunset #mountaintop #backofthedragon #theroadawaits

A post shared by BackOfTheDragon (@backofthedragon) on May 22, 2020 at 2:15pm PDT

Back of the Dragon is a section of VA State Highway 16 which runs from Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia to Tazewell, Virginia. This route crosses over Big Walker, Brushy, and the Clinch Mountains. The naming of this section was by Larry Brent Davidson due to the curves of the road reminding him of “humps” on the back of a dragon. Along the way, travelers will encounter many scenic views, pull off spots, and photo opportunities.

To find out more about the Back of the Dragon or to Plan Your Trip, please visit the Back of the Dragon website for more information and photos!

Tazewell

 

View this post on Instagram

 

It’s a beautiful day on Tazewell Main Street! This shot of the mini park gives a great view of @thewellcoffeeshop which is now open! Catch their ribbon cutting on Wednesday the 21st at 10AM! #loveva #iheartappy #tazewellcounty #swva #townoftazewell

A post shared by Tazewell County Virginia (@tazewell_county_virginia) on Jun 17, 2017 at 12:17pm PDT

Tazewell is a small town located in the Heart of Appalachia in Tazewell County. Not only is Tazewell a great destination for fans of Back of the Dragon, but also the Clinch River and lush mountains. Tazewell is also home to great places to eat, boutique shopping experiences, as well as local events.

Some notable features around Tazewell include

• Main Street Moments Festival
• Historic Crab Orchard Museum
• Lincolnshire Park
• Downtown Dining and Shopping Options

Marion

 

View this post on Instagram

 

You don’t have to like in a big town to do big things. #smalltownpride #marionva #mariondowntown

A post shared by Marion, Virginia (@marionvirginia) on Mar 15, 2016 at 9:00pm PDT

Marion is a small town located in Smyth County Virginia. Not only is Marion a great destination for fans of Back of the Dragon, but also Southwest Virginia music, downtown experiences, and the outdoors. Marion has a great downtown district which is perfect for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Some notable features around Marion include

• Hungry Mother State Park
• The Lincoln Theatre
• Wayne Henderson School
• Marion Downtown – Shopping, Dining, Entertainment

No matter where you end up, there’s always something fun to do in Southwest Virginia! If you want to find out more about the things we have to offer, feel free to explore more on our website VISITSWVA or check out some videos on our YouTube channel!