Route advice needed

[robert9999]

Looking to pull the 30' TT from Myrtle beach S.C area to Nashville, TN this summer. Trying to avoid big mountain passes through the smokies & major hub cities like Atlanta, Any suggestions?

[mike837go]

Google Maps and a 30" monitor.


Big fold-out paper maps are tough to come by theses days.

[bankr63]

I have no idea how steep the interstates are through the more Southern routes (40, 75), but I have driven through Fancy Gap on I-77 a couple of times. It is a long climb up, but generally fairly gentle grades, with 6 laning on the slowest stretches and the scenery is nice. Now that would take you a fair bit out of your way tho.


If you turn on terrain on Google maps, I-40 looks to have some pretty steep grades, but avoids Atlanta. 20/75 doesn't look bad, but run you straight through Hotlanta.

[Kim Gass]

Keeping the route flat makes no sense.. big detours.. savannah. macon. columbus birmingham to nashville is flat.. but very long

Not understanding why when there are extra lanes west on 1 40out of Asheville where you can climb slow without pressure and the rest of the route is reasonable you wouldn't do that

26 between Columbia and Asheville has barely noticeable grades at all.

[3'senough]

I-40W has a huge snaking climb up around Asheville. Just take your time as it is about 3-4 miles long and constant with little relief and not much space to pull off if I recall correctly.

[Kim Gass]

oops no climbing lanes. I checked Google Earth.. 26 north of Asheville has them but no way would you want to go that far out of your way.

I did see pull offs via GE.

Its possible to survive Atlanta but I understand your reticence. 285 is the pits. I'd rather barrel straight through.

[robert9999]

Yes trying to get around the mountains & avoiding Atlanta looks like hell. I think I may need to do the Atlanta route & deal with stop & go as opposed to the mountains in that area. I really need to google map it as said previously

[robert9999]

On second thought I may just do the Columbia rte 26 into 40W & bite the bullet. Will save miles this way.

[RP53]

go to Asheville and catch 40 west its not that much of a climb and if your going slow there is truck lane that you can use, many campers use it. your only looking at about 45 to 50 miles in the Mts. if that, have probably made a couple hundred trips over it in my life time,i lived in the Smokies for many years. not that bad and once you get to Newport is pretty smooth sailing from then on

[robert9999]

Great news thanks

[kneto]

Best times to through Atlanta are between 10:30 PM and 3:00AM.

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[kneto]

A week ago we drove through Atlanta at 1:00 PM on Sunday heading South to Florida. Stop and go, could not believe it. I don't think they were all coming home from church!
We did not want a repeat performance going back home to Iowa. So as it worked out we drove through Atlanta at 1:00 AM Saturday morning. Smooth sailing, no slowdowns at all. Seems like all roads in that area lead to Atlanta!

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[NC Roamer]

Originally Posted by RP53

go to Asheville and catch 40 west its not that much of a climb and if your going slow there is truck lane that you can use, many campers use it. your only looking at about 45 to 50 miles in the Mts. if that, have probably made a couple hundred trips over it in my life time,i lived in the Smokies for many years. not that bad and once you get to Newport is pretty smooth sailing from then on

I agree. We've taken the Greyhawk through the mountains on I-40 multiple times going to visit our daughter's family in Nashville. BTW, gas is much cheaper in Tennessee than North Carolina.