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I am driving by myself from Raleigh to Dalton Ga this Friday and I am trying to decide on my route.
Very familiar with the 85 to Atlanta and then 75 towards Chattanooga. I am beginning to hate
85 through Greensboro & Charlotte area but I do know the roads..
The route I am considering is 40 to Asheville and then 64 & 74 through the Western tip of NC.
Google time comparison seems close enough for me ..
I am not in a hurry & would love a scenic route but those roads past Asheville would be
totally new to me. Are they tricky or a good choice ???
If you have plenty of time and are in no rush ... take any route you want. Sometimes the "road less travelled makes all the difference"
Oh and the roads are tricky especially 64, however, if you pay attention, don't speed and don't drive like an a-hole then you'll be fine. It's not like you're going there in the dead of winter.
Hwy 64 is doable, very scenic, but a PITA IMO (curvy, mountainous, 2-lane road), especially this time of year (tourists). Unless you really want to see that area, a better route IMO is I-40W to Hwy 19/23/74 (exit 27, Waynesville). It's 4-lane from there all the way to the Nantahala Gorge. It's fun to stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and watch the multitudes paddling/floating down the river, and getting trashed at the falls (road follows the river all the way to the put-in, so there will be lots to see). Interesting place, folks, and good restaurant (last time I was there) right on the river. It becomes 4-lane again at some point. Then just across the border in TN is the Ocoee River where you can see more people kayaking/rafting for about 5 miles (2-lane again). Bigger water, better action. Treat yourself and stop at select pulloffs to watch the fun. Tablesaw rapid will probably be one of the best; you have to hike about 100' to get to lots of exposed rock to lay out and get some sun and watch the action. Also, I think there is some US Olympic kayaking facility there. Hang a left in Ocoee at Hwy 411, then right in Chatsworth towards Dalton.
You do know about the I-85/40 bypass in Greensboro, right?
Last edited by daveatgso; 07-28-2014 at 02:57 PM..
If you have plenty of time and are in no rush ... take any route you want. Sometimes the "road less travelled makes all the difference"
Oh and the roads are tricky especially 64, however, if you pay attention, don't speed and don't drive like an a-hole then you'll be fine. It's not like you're going there in the dead of winter.
Hwy 64 is doable, very scenic, but a PITA IMO (curvy, mountainous, 2-lane road), especially this time of year (tourists). Unless you really want to see that area, a better route IMO is I-40W to Hwy 19/23/74 (exit 27, Waynesville). It's 4-lane from there all the way to the Nantahala Gorge. It's fun to stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and watch the multitudes paddling/floating down the river, and getting trashed at the falls (road follows the river all the way to the put-in, so there will be lots to see). Interesting place, folks, and good restaurant (last time I was there) right on the river. It becomes 4-lane again at some point. Then just across the border in TN is the Ocoee River where you can see more people kayaking/rafting for about 5 miles (2-lane again). Bigger water, better action. Treat yourself and stop at select pulloffs to watch the fun. Tablesaw rapid will probably be one of the best; you have to hike about 100' to get to lots of exposed rock to lay out and get some sun and watch the action. Also, I think there is some US Olympic kayaking facility there. Hang a left in Ocoee at Hwy 411, then right in Chatsworth towards Dalton.
You do know about the I-85/40 bypass in Greensboro, right?
Thanks..Great tips..
That 85/40 thing through greensboro confuses me every time LOL..
They changed which was called 40 & 85 once..
That 85/40 thing through greensboro confuses me every time LOL..
They changed which was called 40 & 85 once..
That's right. I forgot about that. Some of the home owners along the new bypass complained about the traffic noise, so the DOT changed the road signs to route I-40 through town, and I-85 along the bypass. Like truckers, who make the most noise, are really going to fall for that.
That's right. I forgot about that. Some of the home owners along the new bypass complained about the traffic noise, so the DOT changed the road signs to route I-40 through town, and I-85 along the bypass. Like truckers, who make the most noise, are really going to fall for that.
so now which is the one to follow for the quickest way through ???
so now which is the one to follow for the quickest way through ???
Head south along the bypass, which is now I-85 (pretty sure). Coming from Raleigh, I think you exit right to loop around to get on the bypass. Coming from the west it's counter intuitive; you have to stay in the left 2 or 3 left lanes (after exit 210) to take the bypass south. The bypass is a wee bit longer, but you can go faster with lots less traffic.
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