Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and routes to get there??? (Kernersville: living in, top)

[RunD1987]

Good morning, going for a night to the casino. Only living in NC for 2 years first time going. We are leaving from*Kernersville*to go to*Cherokee NC. Should we go via 40 & 19 to get there?

Then back 19/40 to 221/421 back???

Just stay on 40 & 19 or do the 221/421 out & back?

Thanks!

[getatag]

I haven't been in a long, long time, but unless they improved 19, I'd go 40 to 74 to 441 into Cherokee.
19 spends a bit of time winding around, although a scenic drive, it can be a bottle neck and take a lot of time to drive.
Hopefully someone who's done it recently will comment.

[jdljr]

I go to Harrah's 8-10 times per year from the Boone area. I normally join I-40 near Marion and take that to exit 27 (Highway 74 West), then a few miles later take exit 103 (Highway 19), the Maggie Valley/Lake Junaluska exit. Once you leave Maggie Valley the road is a single lane each direction and very curvy, as you go up, then down a mountain before dropping into Cherokee. There is a passing zone or two. Traffic can be a little slow sometimes, in both directions, but it's still my preferred route. I've taken the other way around too (exit 27, stay on Highway 74 to Highway 441 North (exit 74) into Cherokee), but it takes about 20 minutes longer. In winter if we're unsure as to what the road conditions would be on top of the mountain between Maggie Valley and Cherokee, we take the other way around (74 to 441 North into Cherokee). Have fun!