Interstate 26 (Asheville, Black Mountain, King: design, pine, commute)

[countrygirl_275]

I am going on a road trip from Ohio to South Carolina and am planning on taking I- 26 the whole way. I have never driven in the mountains and would like some advice or tips from people who had driven I-26. How scary is it driving? Is it very steep? Are there any sharp curves or places where you feel like you could fall off the cliff? I am also not good with driving on more than three lanes of traffic on one side. Are there any places where there are a more then four lanes of traffic? Thank you for your help.

[mm34b]

Check the "Route Description" paragraph here:

Interstate 26 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Asheville Native]

Our roads in the south are modern, have guard rails, lines painted, signs warning of curves, steep grades, etc., and of course an Interstate highway meets that standards for Interstate Highways, (i.e. no sharp curves, unprotected drop off (cliffs)). The one 'tricky' spot is where it is not quite complete in Asheville (and likely won't be for at least a decade or so) where I26 (that's eye 26) is routed on 19/23, and I240 (again eye 240).

Now if you want to experience some roads like that, I could give you directions for a real white knuckled drive.

[SunnyKayak]

It is a interstate and interstates are designed to handle trucking traffic so you will be fine with curves and hills.
http://www.jcmpo.org/images/I261.jpg
http://www.jcmpo.org/images/i26int2.jpg


Avoid early morning and late evening possible fog.
Avoid being around major cities during commute hours.

It is mostly 2 lane and 3 lanes (each side) around major cities.

Have Fun!

[Rysher8]

There are a couple of white-knucklers I can recommend as well... Hwy 9 from Black Mountain to Chimney Rock is a fun one, and also Pisgah Hwy (151) in Candler up to the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Give me a good one A-Native!

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Rysher8

There are a couple of white-knucklers I can recommend as well... Hwy 9 from Black Mountain to Chimney Rock is a fun one, and also Pisgah Hwy (151) in Candler up to the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Give me a good one A-Native!

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!

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Rysher8

There are a couple of white-knucklers I can recommend as well... Hwy 9 from Black Mountain to Chimney Rock is a fun one, and also Pisgah Hwy (151) in Candler up to the Blue Ridge Pkwy. Give me a good one A-Native!

Them are some nice Sunday afternoon drives

How about;
226 from Spruce Pine to Marion
176 from Saluda to Tryon
209 from Spring Creek to Hot Springs
80 from Marion to the BRP
276 from Pisgah Forest to Curso

[Asheville Native]

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!

Not if you know how to drive in the mountains

[Rysher8]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

Them are some nice Sunday afternoon drives

How about;
226 from Spruce Pine to Marion
176 from Saluda to Tryon
209 from Spring Creek to Hot Springs
80 from Marion to the BRP
276 from Pisgah Forest to Curso

I'll have to check those out A-Native. I love these kinds of drives.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

226 from Spruce Pine to Marion

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!