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We are packing up the SUV & UHaul trailer and moving to Charlotte (Huntersville) next weekend. Accd to Google Maps, after Indianapolis we can either head towards Lexington and down through KY & TN...or we could go towards Ohio and down through W. Va.
Any suggestions? Both look approximately equal and we plan to stop half way. Further, the Ohio route looks to not use major highways from Akron to Charleston...but that is the reco'd route to Huntersville.
The WVA route is longer and has more mountains. However, the mountain roads are not as curvy as the Lexinton/KY route. I've done both. The Lexington/KY route is 13 hours door-to-door, the WVA route about 15.
Last year, in May, my son & I drove the WVA route north because we were going to Detroit first. I was pleasantly surprised that the mountain roads were not as curvy (I HATE mountains) and so we came back the same way...this time from Chicago. Whew! It seemed like we would never get here....
Don't forget to stop at White Castle in OH before you leave the state. You won't get another chance until you go back up there!!
Agree with chicagocubs KT/TENN is better,but the W. Va route seems more scenic and it scared my wife. She closed her eyes throughout W.Va. Looking out over the mountain was pretty scary looking. I don't see how anybody can live on the side of the mountain.
Agree with chicagocubs KT/TENN is better,but the W. Va route seems more scenic and it scared my wife. She closed her eyes throughout W.Va. Looking out over the mountain was pretty scary looking. I don't see how anybody can live on the side of the mountain.
spoken like a true Chicagoan. We like our flat land!
I65 south I 465 south I70 E US 35 E I64E
I77 S I do it in 13 hours flat. That is one of my biggest freight routes. Going thu Ky and Tn is going around your butthole to get to your elbow. Way out of the way .
Or you could just do a Chicago to Cleveland and then Cleveland to Charlotte. Cleveland to Charlotte is 8 hours flat for me but that is going 75-80mph and only stopping once maybe twice. You also have 3 tolls to pay from just after Charleston to just right after Beckley, WV and they are 1.25 each, plus you have 2 tunnels to go through which is always my favorite part of the trip lol.
Any suggestions? Both look approximately equal and we plan to stop half way. Further, the Ohio route looks to not use major highways from Akron to Charleston...but that is the reco'd route to Huntersville.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
W.Va has toll roads; you'll run into a bit of a tricky exchange in Charleston, so watch your directions. Both routes will take you through sections that are short but particularly hairy. I-40 for a stretch of about 20 miles around the TN/NC border is very twisty, with lower speed limits for trucks who also have to stay in the right lane. I've experienced some bottlenecks there. I-77, about 8-10 miles north of the NC border, gets very twisty and steep. Once you cross into NC, the highway flattens out.
We've used both routes making mulitple trips to see folks in St. Louis over the last 20 years. For us, it's 6-of-one-1/2-dozen of the other. They're both just long drives. Good luck on the trip
If you aren't pressed for time go the KY & TN route. That way you could stop in Pigeon Forge & Dollywood in TN .
Honestly though I-40 isn't really that bad after Knoxville heading towards the NC border. It is curvy, just take is slow, especially if its rainy. Its a very scenic route. But I think they may be doing construction work around Knoxville. The last time I drove through Knoxville was almost 2yrs ago when I was leaving Charlotte to move to Colorado so maybe they finished the construction up.
TDOT lists I-40 construction, but that shouldn't be an issue coming down I-75 and hitting 640 over to 40.
As far as detailing road conditions, I take into account where the person is coming from and making assumptions on their experience. Someone from Chicago; if they aren't used to twisty, mountainous treks; are likely to find those routes daunting the first time. I know this flatlander did the first time we drove from the Midwest to NC Now, I actually look for those kind of roads, knowing how much fun the mountain twisties are - especially on my motorcycle But I advise first timers to be cautious.
Or you could just do a Chicago to Cleveland and then Cleveland to Charlotte. Cleveland to Charlotte is 8 hours flat for me but that is going 75-80mph and only stopping once maybe twice. You also have 3 tolls to pay from just after Charleston to just right after Beckley, WV and they are 1.25 each, plus you have 2 tunnels to go through which is always my favorite part of the trip lol.
Why in the world would you drive 341 miles to Cleveland to get to NC??? That is senseless. By the time you got to cleveland you would be halfway thru W.V..
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Now, I actually look for those kind of roads, knowing how much fun the mountain twisties are - especially on my motorcycle 
But I advise first timers to be cautious.
