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Western North Carolina The Mountain Region including Asheville
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Old 04-04-2017, 06:34 AM
 
Location: Weaverville, NC
251 posts, read 243,624 times
Reputation: 280

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We are driving in today! Yay!!!

We will be coming from Chattanooga (edited from Knoxville), TN to Asheville, and the plan is to drive in on I40, but I saw another post about driving on the Tail of the Dragon and now I am scared. We are pulling a 5x8 Uhaul trailer with us. Can I get your input on if it would be better for us to take a different route? We'd rather be safe than sorry so if it's not safe to drive that road with a Uhaul we would definitely take a different, longer way there. But if it's really okay to drive that route with a Uhaul, that would be reassuring to hear as well. Thanks so much for any input

Last edited by amyps; 04-04-2017 at 07:32 AM..
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Old 04-04-2017, 07:04 AM
 
Location: Mtns of Waynesville,NC & Nokomis, FL
4,782 posts, read 10,568,993 times
Reputation: 6533
amyps,
What is your aprox destination in Western NC?

From Knox, it is usually I-40 East to maybe Exit 27, Rt 73/24 Smoky Mtn Expressway toward Waynesville...

I have seen trailers, RVs and all kinds of odd combos on Deal's Gap, (aka TheDragon), but not recommend.

Don't know your destination, but I would skip angling south/southeast from Knox on two lane roads and take the slightly longer I-40 to 73/24.

You will have some curves in the 'Gorge' section of I-40, and probably lines of semi trucks, nose to tail, in bunches.

Your aprox destination would help.
GL, mD

At Exit 27 off I-40 the Smoky Mtn Expressway, 74/23 will take you down to SE area of western NC...

https://goo.gl/maps/zjmdaNF1EX62
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Old 04-04-2017, 07:17 AM
 
Location: Weaverville, NC
251 posts, read 243,624 times
Reputation: 280
Hi mD! Our destination is Asheville (I will add that info in the original post...didn't realize I hadn't put that in). Our first rental is in Grove Park.

We really want our final drive in the be a nice one. We are so excited to get there.

Last edited by amyps; 04-04-2017 at 07:39 AM..
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Old 04-04-2017, 07:33 AM
 
Location: Fairview
411 posts, read 611,392 times
Reputation: 724
You'll be fine. I40 from Knoxville to Asheville is a freaky road, but it's still an interstate. Just go slow and watch out for the other drivers.
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Old 04-04-2017, 07:37 AM
 
Location: Weaverville, NC
251 posts, read 243,624 times
Reputation: 280
Okay, so we are actually coming from Chattanooga. Would it be better to take 64/74, than stay on 74/19 to 23 to 40? Is that any better? To stay on small roads from Chattanooga to Cleveland to Asheville?
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Old 04-04-2017, 08:44 AM
 
Location: Mtns of Waynesville,NC & Nokomis, FL
4,782 posts, read 10,568,993 times
Reputation: 6533
74 is quite twisty in spots, but not killer.

GOOG Maps shows time to be similar if you were to backtrack slightly by going north on I-75 to I-40 East to Asheville.

We have driven/ridden 74 out of Chat several times, but it was in the VetteVert or on one of my scoots, and we weren't pulling a trailer. I just don't know your car/hitch situ so it is difficult to rec'd one over the other, but the I-75 north to I-40 east is interstate vs two lane blacktop, so the interstate route may be better for you...

Hey, you are getting/got this close, so I try to remember 'patience' and 'slow down' near the end of trip/event/action vs hurry up and 'finish'.
GL, mD

https://goo.gl/maps/vbcAZAVuGvn
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Old 04-04-2017, 09:39 AM
 
Location: Weaverville, NC
251 posts, read 243,624 times
Reputation: 280
The olan was I75 to I 40 so it sounds like we will stick with it. Thanks for all the input xo
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Old 04-05-2017, 05:38 AM
 
Location: Weaverville, NC
251 posts, read 243,624 times
Reputation: 280
We stuck to the plan and went 75 to 40 and it was fine. It was way scarier driving through big cities with the Uhaul. We stayed on the right and took our time. Really not scary. Whew. Glad we allowed ourselves to have the experience
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Old 04-05-2017, 08:31 AM
 
5,544 posts, read 8,289,941 times
Reputation: 11141
OP, Pidgeon Gorge on I40 is nothing compared to Dragon Tail. I am glad you didn't try the other route. You wouldn't have liked it if the Gorge was a whew.
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Old 04-05-2017, 09:18 AM
 
Location: Weaverville, NC
251 posts, read 243,624 times
Reputation: 280
Lol...the Gorge was a "whew" bc we had read things that made it sound scary and then it wasn't
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