For the veterens from DC area.

Which way is the fastest?

1. I66 to I81
2. I95 to I85 to I40

And how many hours?

I figure this the better forum to put this in than the general forum.

 

Streets & Trips sees a 10 mile difference. I did I66 to I81 last year. One advantage of that route is part of the drive in IS the Dragon . There's huge WalMart with grocery in Maryville just before you turn off onto the upper part of 129 for last minute pre boonies provisioning as well. Might be something similar coming in 40, lets see what others know about that route.

I found 8 hours plus stops realistic, but I had no traffic problems. I left around 5 a.m. last year to get clear of I66 early. I hear you can be less lucky and get 'issues' on 81...

Can anyone comment on the other drive, especially what I 40 is like? Speed limit? etc.

 

Both those states are nasty ... see http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/laws.html.

 

I tend to set cruise for 5 over on a 65mph, stay out of the left lane, or if there's LOTS of high speed traffic, at the over the limit speed of the slower traffic to the right.

Like our beltway, with 55 mph limit sometimes I'm matching the absolute slowest traffic in the #2 lane at 65 and change. I try to stay out of the right most lane for all the mergers and such. I HOPE that if I'm among the slowest 20% and not in the left two lanes that I'll be less of a target. Gotta be extra careful in a red car

 

Heads up! If you take the I95-I85 route watch your speed within 15 miles of the border on each side. I've made dozens of trips between Northern VA and NC and there is usually at least cop a or two sitting somewhere within there.

 

I've always taken I-66/I-81/I-40/US-129, with stops for food and fuel it's worked out to about 8.5 hours. As Mark mentioned, when you come from the West like this you have the advantage of passing several gas stations, big box retailers etc should you need supplies.

On the other hand coming from the East is more picturesque, but I've found that Richmond can be iffy trafficwise sometimes...

 

MS says about 600 miles that way and it is the shortest!

Yeah traffic around Richmond can be bad. I guess I66 it is!

THANKS!

 

Coming from DC metro.... is there any consideration for Hwy 29 south through Charlottesville? Or is this just not useable?

 

It's definately usable, just not optimal. Heck you could also try Skyline Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway... But...

Since 29 isn't an interstate you'll have to deal with slower speeds, congestion in all the towns you go through and traffic lights... That's not much of an issue when taking I-81 plus US-11 makes a decent bail-out route when things get bad on I-81 in VA... You have no options once you get on 29 other than to stick it out...

As for the Skyline to Blue Ridge option, it's a nice drive, and with the 35 MPH speed limit combined with the zig-zag route the road takes along the ridgeline, you're going to double your drive time...

Even taking US-29 to US-211 to I-81 in an attempt to cut the corner actually works out to be slower thanks to the slower speed limits and traffic lights that you encounter along the way...

 

Good advice, yeh, I'll stick to the quicker routes, I'd rather get to MoTD and actually enjoy it

 

The quickest way is the longest was, trust me. :p

 

We have driven all the routes mentioned. We have taken a different route each time we've gone. Highway routes took us about 9 hours with stops. The scenic routes can take up to 11 - our slowest time with stops. Michael and I both kind of like the scenic route because you can actually SEE something besides highway. We also divide the drive into two days, at least for the trip down.

 

As a local, might I suggest, that those coming from the North, (I-81S - I-40W)

1. Get off of I-40w at Exit398 (Strawberry Plains Pike) and go LEFT.
2. Follow Strawberry Plains Pike to E. John Sevier Hyw. and go LFET.
3. E. John Sevier Hyw. turns into W. John Sevier Hyw.
4. Follow W. John Sevier Hyw. to Maryville Pike (Hyw.33s) and go LEFT.
5. As you cross S. Washington St. in Maryville, Hyw.33 becomes Hyw. 411s.
6. Follow Hyw. 411s until the merge with Hyw.129.

This route will get you around the considerable construction (and delays) going on in Knoxville on I-40w. (the last 2 times I have taken I-40w through Knoxville the front of my MINI has been damaged by rocks and dirt. )

If you are coming in from the South or West, construction is not an issue.

I hope this helps.

 

Local info is always good! Thanks for saving me nicks in the car!

 

Thanks, Wiggles! Your info will prove very valuable, I'm sure.

 

In 2004 we got off of 40 on to 441 and headed into Gatlinburg. Sort of an interesting little town to drive through and we had a nice lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Continue on 441 over the mountains for a nice drive (including a complete 360 degree loopty-loop turn!) Hit 19 to Bryson City and then take 28 either to Fontana or turn off on to 143 to Robbinsville.

You don't take the Dragon in this way but it is different and 441 over the mountains if really nice and not likely to be one of the side trips during the week.

BTW, both our trips to the Dragon we took 2 days going and one day coming back. Trip back was usually 9 hours to Reston, VA.

Have fun everybody!

 

That is a pretty nice drive once you're past Sevierville and Pigeon Forge and into the Smokies. If you are looking for a little more scenic way to get to Gatlinburg, without the traffic, try going EAST on I-40 to Newport, TN then get on 321 and take that to Gatlinburg. You won't have to go through Sevierville or Pigeon Forge, which is a traffic nightmare. You will come into Gatlinburg right in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.

For those looking for the "quickest way to Deals Gap" stay on I-40 until Exit 398 and follow the directions in my first post.

 

I like 66 to 81. But either way the quickest way is with limited use of that there middle foot lever on the floor.

 

Thanks for the local info Wiggles. I came down 81 last year and then dropped to Asheville and 40 west to 28. I might try your way this year. Looking at a map, there is no nice way to drop down before Knoxville. I love thin blue roads, but would like to get to the Dragon in time to enjoy it before the weekend. I'll be leaving Southern MD Wednesday and stay over somewhere. We stayed in Lexington, VA last year.

Motor On, Safely. I may be getting older, but I refuse to grow up.