One of the most popular events of the annual four-day Highlands Motoring Festival is the “One Lap of the Mountains.” driving tour. Each year a team of driving enthusiasts spend the winter planning routes for the June event.

At 4118 feet in elevation, Highlands, North Carolina, surrounded by National Forests, offers a choice of endless miles of scenic winding mountain backroads. The Highlands Motoring Foundation has published two books of these popular drives, “One Lap of the Mountains, Exciting Drives for the Car Enthusiasts” and “Second Lap of the Mountains, More Exciting Drives for Car Enthusiasts.”  

“One Lap of the Mountains, Exciting Drives for Car Enthusiasts” includes an explanation of the main roads leading off the Highlands Plateau along with mileage and directions for six of our popular round trip 150-mile-plus routes. As a bonus, there are a pair of the original HMF Sunday Brunch Gimmick Rally routes, complete with questions and answers. The book also includes mileage and directions to four Auto Hikes, which are routes that incorporate an adventure on both paved and unimproved mountain roads not suitable for low clearance cars.

“Second Lap of the Mountains, More Exciting Drives for Car Enthusiasts” includes 16 all new routes traversing three states, nine counties, four National Forests, and portions of The Blue Ridge Parkway. The routes make numerous crossings of the Eastern Continental Divide, the Appalachian Trail, the Bartram Trail, and the Foothills Trail. “Second Lap of the Mountains, More Exciting Drives for Car Enthusiasts” is separated into three categories.  In the first group there are drives of under 50 miles. The second group includes drives between 50 and 100 miles.  The third group drives are lengthier, with routes averaging around 150 miles.  

All “One Lap of the Mountains” routes begin and end in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, located on Pine Street in Highlands, North Carolina. 

Here’s A Sample Drive From “One Lap of the Mountains”

One Lap of the Mountains Scenic Drive

Start: Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, Pine Street, Highlands, NC
End: Fat Buddies BBQ, 311 Westgate Plaza, Franklin, NC 28734
📍 Total Mileage: 87.7 miles

Zero Your Trip Meter Before Beginning

Leg 1: Highlands to Cashiers

0.0 miles – Start at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Pine Street in Highlands. Turn right onto US 64 East toward Cashiers. (10.2 miles to next turn)
5.6 miles – Whiteside Mountain Overlook is on the right.
10.2 miles – At the traffic light in Cashiers, turn right onto NC 107 South. (9.2 miles to next turn)

Leg 2: Entering South Carolina & Whitewater Falls

18.7 miles – Cross into South Carolina.
19.3 miles – Pit toilet available at a picnic area on the right.
19.6 miles – Sharp uphill left turn onto Wigginton Road (toward Whitewater Falls and Hwy 130). (2.1 miles to next turn)
20.3 miles – Brief stop at a scenic overlook.

• The small lake to the far left is Bad Creek Hydro Station.
• The most prominent lake in the middle is Lake Jocassee.
• The long lake to the right is Lake Keowee.

21.7 miles – Turn left onto Hwy 130 toward Whitewater Falls. (9.7 miles to next turn)
22.6 miles – Cross into North Carolina.
22.8 miles – Whitewater Falls Scenic Area is on the right.

• Whitewater Falls plunges 411 feet, making it the tallest waterfall east of the Rockies.

30.9 miles – Gorges State Park entrance is on the right.
31.4 miles – Sapphire Country Store & Deli – good stop for fuel, drinks, and restrooms.

• Turn right onto US 64 East (Rosman Highway). (2.8 miles to next turn)

Leg 3: Lake Toxaway & East Fork Lakes

33.7 miles – Cross the Toxaway River Bridge.

• Toxaway Dam is on the left.
• The waterfall below the dam is on the right.

🚨 Watch carefully for the next turn—Hwy 281 North is not well marked.

34.1 miles – In a wide curve, turn left onto Hwy 281 North. (25.1 miles to next turn)

• Lake Toxaway will be visible on the left.

44.8 miles – Cross the Tanasee Creek Lake Bridge.

• This route passes all four East Fork Lakes: Tanasee Creek Lake, Wolf Creek Lake, Cedar Creek Lake, and Bear Creek Lake.

Leg 4: Cullowhee & Ellijay Road

59.2 miles – Turn right onto Hwy 107 North toward Cullowhee and Sylva. (5.8 miles to next turn)
60.4 miles – Dr. John R. Brinkley House is on the right.

• Brinkley was a controversial figure in early 20th-century medicine, known for his “goat gland” treatments.

61.9 miles – The Tuckasegee River is on the left.
65.0 miles – At a traffic light, turn left onto Cullowhee Mountain Road toward Speedwell. (1 mile to next turn)

• Pass Cullowhee Valley School and the Jackson County Recreation Complex on the right.

66.1 miles – Turn right onto Tilly Creek Road. (15.1 miles to next turn)

• Tilly Creek Road becomes Ellijay Road at the Macon/Jackson County line.

72.3 miles – Stay left on Ellijay Road.

Leg 5: Franklin & Final Stretch

81.2 miles – Turn right onto US 64 West. (0.7 miles to next turn)

• Dollar General is on the right just before the next hard-to-see left turn.

81.9 miles – Left turn onto Fulton Road (Bill’s Aluminum is on the left corner).

• The Cullasaja River will now be on the right.

83.1 miles – Continue straight on Fulton Road.
84.1 miles – Bear right onto Wells Cove Road.
84.4 miles – Macon Middle School is on the left.
84.6 miles – Enter a roundabout and take the second exit to stay on Wells Cove Road.

• Wells Grove Church is on the left at the roundabout.

85.1 miles – Left onto Dowdle Mountain Road. (Walmart is up the hill to the left.)
85.5 miles – Enter another roundabout, take the exit onto Siler Road (straight ahead).

86.2 miles – Macon County Library and Southwestern Community College are on the left.
87.0 miles – Right turn onto US 441 North, then immediately move into the left turn lane.

• Walgreens is on the left; Three Eagles Outfitters is on the right.

87.1 miles – Left turn into Franklin Plaza between the UPS Store (right) and Dalton’s Christian Bookstore (left).

• Continue past Lowe’s Home Improvement.

87.5 miles – At the next shopping center (Westgate Plaza), turn left.

• Fat Buddies BBQ is straight ahead in the far corner.

Finish: Fat Buddies BBQ, Franklin, NC (87.7 miles)

Enjoy your drive!