Driving Routes. We're leaving Friday!!

[NARM Forever]

Apologies if this appears twice, I posted earlier but the site went down and my post with it.

We're driving from and looking for alternate routes than I81/95 which may be a little shorter (or longer) but will be less traffic and nicer scenery.

Any other tips, those of you who have just done this trip - I'd love to hear them.

Thanks

NARM

Oh Yeah, I'm doing the happy dance

 

[lisaviolet]

I hate to be dramatic but here it comes. The 79/USRoute19inWV/77/26/95 route stirs my soul. I daydream about it. So beautiful. And hey the shortest route. Enjoy.

 

[lisaviolet]

And only two lanes each way means less passing ie. more peaceful (divided highway with nature also adds to the peaceful feeling). And don't get me started on the scenery.

 

[NARM Forever]

I hate to be dramatic but here it comes. The 79/USRoute19inWV/77/26/95 route stirs my soul. I daydream about it. So beautiful. And hey the shortest route. Enjoy.

Sounds wonderful, do you stay overnight?

 

[lisaviolet]

When we drive I enjoy the drive as much as WDW so we stay over two nights.

It's about 21-23 hours in total. Most people don't want to do the mountains at night. For me, it's because I don't want to miss the scenery. So a lot of people stop in Beckley, WV which is about 8-9.5 hours in depending on speed and weather and stopping (the US 19 gives out tickets and apparently much more so do follow the speed if you decide to cut off time through there). We sometimes stop in Princeton just a tad farther south.

Sometimes we've stopped in Fancy Gap.

If you want to do a huge chunk of driving the first day. Lake Norman, NC (just north of Charlotte) is nice. However the drive down from WV and VA into NC is breathtaking and wouldn't want to miss that at night.

Are you planning on driving right through?

 

[NARM Forever]

If you want to do a huge chunk of driving the first day. Lake Norman, NC (just north of Charlotte) is nice. However the drive down from WV and VA into NC is breathtaking and wouldn't want to miss that at night.

Are you planning on driving right through?

We're planning to leave about 9.00 pm. My DH will sleep most of the day and will take the night shift. I think we should hit the 77 during the day so should enjoy that lovely view. I'm very excited, this will be the longest car journey that I've ever done and I have seen so little of anywhere in the States. Just as long as the chorus of "Are we there yet" doesn't start too early, we should be fine.

Thanks again for the information and your enthusiam, you've put me in a great mood for our trip

NARM

 

[lisaviolet]

We're planning to leave about 9.00 pm. My DH will sleep most of the day and will take the night shift. I think we should hit the 77 during the day so should enjoy that lovely view. I'm very excited, this will be the longest car journey that I've ever done and I have seen so little of anywhere in the States. Just as long as the chorus of "Are we there yet" doesn't start too early, we should be fine.

Thanks again for the information and your enthusiam, you've put me in a great mood for our trip

NARM

I'm so envious. Have a fantastic trip. The rest stops are wonderful along the route so use them. There is one right on the water. I think it's Lake Norman area actually. There are also some pretty ones in the mountains. It might even be the Virginia Welcome Stop (you are in Virginia for such a short time). The Georgia Welcome Centre is nice as well. There is a nice lookout stop along the 19 but you will be there at night.

The US outshines us enormously with their interstates and rest stops. I love road trips. Great memories. Have a wonderful drive.