Interstate 26

[cowboy_wilhelm]

It's not too bad of a drive. Since it's your first time just stick to the speed limit and you'll be fine. Some of the curves and hills are a bit sudden if you're not familiar with the road and you don't need to slam your brakes approaching each curve if you're going too fast. I see out-of-state drivers do this all the time and it's really unnecessary.

The only sections of I-26 in North Carolina with more than two lanes in one direction are in Madison County, Asheville and Polk County. It's six lanes for a few miles in Madison County because of the steep grade. Same reason in Polk County, except it's only three lanes (truck climbing lane) westbound going up the mountain. Crossing Smoky Park bridge in Asheville will be four lanes in each direction.

Going through Columbia, South Carolina is six lanes. I think there are a few auxiliary lanes and on-ramps that make it more than three in one direction, but that's not too bad either. Just avoid the rush hours.

Here is a picture guide and route description of I-26 in North Carolina. The westbound guide goes from the South Carolina line to Tennessee. Eastbound starts at Asheville and goes to the South Carolina line.

I-26 Westbound
I-26 Eastbound

And a short time-lapse video of driving the newest section of I-26 in Madison County and into Tennessee (westbound/north).


YouTube - Over the Mountain (Asheville to Erwin)

Safe driving and enjoy your trip!

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Oh, please. That road has been just about flattened out. You should have driven it back in the late 1950s, early 1960s...no guard rails, nowhere, and just barely 2 lanes in a lot of spots!

I did, and often, but I bet it will get a flatlander holding their breath and never exceeding 20MPH. (Well not the 50, but in the 60's)

[silverwing]

This is the same poster who asked about a different route

http://www.city-data.com/forum/north...i-77-help.html

Countrygirl, if you are that scared of spending, at the most, a few hours driving in the mountains, then you might want to consider flying You sound like you're going to twitterpate yourself changing routes and trying to get around the inevitable. You can't get to the southeast from the middle of the country without some vast changes in the terrain, unless you go waaay south then hang a sharp left.

Many, many, many .. neophyte flatlanders (present company included) made the drive and survived, wondering later why we got so worried and worked up about it. You're making it harder on yourself by fussing over the map.

[loydm]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

I've got one for you!!

Hwy 80 coming off the Parkway near Mt. Mitchell heading down to Marion - your brakes will be SMOKING by the time you get to Marion! Hwy 9 is nothing compared to this one!

Used to be one of my favorite drives! Of course, that was thirty-plus years ago! Come to think of it, I did darn near wear out the brakes on my MGB....