How bad is are the hills going Buffalo way?

[Disneyof3]

Can't go to WDW this year the budget won't allow it, so going to inlaws instead during the March Break and doing BG and Florida Aquarium. We always go I75 all the way but husband thought of going to North Carolina this time on the way down and visiting NASCAR COUNTRY. How bad are the hills depending on the weather? Do they get really icy? Also where to we meet up with I75 in Georgia? I'am going through CAA but it's too early to get the maps.

Any help would be good





Disney we'll see you in 2007

 

[sean-1966]

I did the drive in May. There are a a lot of hills. If it snows plan on taking it easy. I wouldn't want to drive throught there in a snow storm. But going through the tunnels is cool.

 

[OntFamily]

Also where to we meet up with I75 in Georgia?

The I-79/77/26/95 routing doesn't intersect with I-75.

 

[lisaviolet]

The I-79/77/26/95 routing doesn't intersect with I-75.

But boy is it beautiful. I love it!!!

 

[sammi]

We drove through the mountains on our trip to the Carolinas' this past Sept and it is the most gorgeous trip we've ever made! The mountains are awsome but I really wouldn't want to travel in the winter months through there.Also you have to watch the fog as it can be so hazzardous too.

 

[Mortlives]

We've driven through the mountains in a heavy snowstorm. I think we might have pulled off because visibility was only 5 feet or so, but we got behind a nice big truck, and it acted as a guide and to some extend plow until we got out of the storm. We've driven in February and March (and August, but that's not really much of an issue ), and never really thought we wouldn't do it. We're doing it again in March.

The scenery really is breathtaking, and going through the tunnels is pretty cool.

 

[cslittle999]

We took this route for our trip the beginning of December. Although everyone worries about the weather in the mountains it was fine. The mountains are really only about a four hour part of the journey. The tunnels are neat. We always try to get a picture of entrance as we drive up to them. Watching the temperature rise as you drive down out of the mountains into North Carolina is cool too.

For us the bad weather was after Buffalo. We drove through a terrible lake effect snow storm until about an hour south of Erie, PA. We must have been ahead of the plows and sanders because we never saw one on our side of the road.

Disneyof3, if you have CAA then you can do an internet triptik any time. Any of the mapping sites will give you a similar route.

 

[Tinkerjane]

We drove through in April during bad rain and it was a little scary when going through the Virginia's. It is awfully pretty though

 

[lisaviolet]

We took this route for our trip the beginning of December. Although everyone worries about the weather in the mountains it was fine. The mountains are really only about a four hour part of the journey. The tunnels are neat. We always try to get a picture of entrance as we drive up to them. Watching the temperature rise as you drive down out of the mountains into North Carolina is cool too.

Oh boy!! Going down from Virginia and seeing North Carolina below. Just imagining it is a thrill for me.

I'll tell you how much I love this drive, especially West Virginia.....

We can get a DING....a fantastic rate to fly from Buffalo and still argue about driving. Often, with SW's DING, it is cheaper to fly but I still argue for the 79/77/26/95! And I love flying.

Like said above....fog can be an issue.

Enjoy!

 

[Mortlives]

We drove through a terrible lake effect snow storm until about an hour south of Erie, PA.

We've done that one. Our poor car ended up white from the salt, and she's normally black. Thus began the tradition of getting her a car wash on the way down.

Lisaviolet I'm on your side. We drive by choice too. I always bring a book to read, and never crack it because I'm too busy gawking at the scenery.

 

[kellyla]

We did this drive in december 03.The most beautiful part of the trip is the mountains.We had great weather driving through them.Our first destination was also NASCAR country(Mooresville,NC)You will so enjoy this trip.

 

[Disneyof3]

kellyla, what actually did you get to see in Mooresville NC? Was it worth going to? Can you suggest anyother places along the way on that route to help us with the NASCAR fans in the family?

Thanks everyone else for the info. Husband loves this board.

 

[dancingmomca]

We have driven both routes many times and find the buffalo route not only shorter but more scenic. I always get a Tripkit before leaving(or use mapquest) and then check Accuweather as to probable weather conditions. If not sleet/snow in the forecast then the Virginia's and Carolinas it is.
Kim

 

[dynamodotcom]

How long a drive is it, time-wise, from the Buffalo border until you hit the mountains?

 

[kellyla]

We went mainly so that my son could see DEI(a big Jr fan)we spent quite a bit of time there looking there between the displays and the store.We also went up in the area where all the teams are.We also took the 20 minute drive up to Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet.The souvenir shop there is small but they have some stuff that DEI didnt have.There are also race cars in the show room and some nice little memorials to Sr on the lot.We spent about 5 hours looking around everywhere(since we went few of the teams have added tours)So I suggest looking up your favourite teams on the internet to see what they offer.
Let me know if you need to know anything else.

 

[OntFamily]

How long a drive is it, time-wise, from the Buffalo border until you hit the mountains?

You hit the first mountains soon after crossing the WV border -- about six hours out of Buffalo. The biggest mountains are about 8 - 9 hours out of Buffalo.

 

[dynamodotcom]

Thanks OntFamily!

 

[Disneyof3]

thanks kellyla, have a family of 5 that are all nascar fans. Dale jr is the favourite in this family.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Disneyof3: We have driven both ways many times. The 77/79 way is definately more challenging, but a very beautiful and interesting drive. The tunnels are really cool.

We have stopped in Mooresville, NC a few times, but we didn't even know it was a Nascar area - we don't follow it. The last time we stopped for a gift and we went to one of the museums and gift shops. It was pretty big. I would say it's very much worth a stop if you are fans. Here is a link:http://www.racingontherocks.com/RaceCityUSA.htm

If you need to get to I-75 and Atlanta - just take I-85 at Charlotte NC. This is where I-85 and I-77 splits. It's about 3-4 hours to Atlanta from here.

If you like aquariums, you need to check out the brand new Georgia Aquarium. It just opened and is supposed to be great. Link: http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/

Other things worth while to do while in Atlanta - not to worry the downtown area is fairly safe (same as Toronto) in the day. Also the area's these attractions are in are OK.

Zoo Atlanta is great - small and do-able in 3-4 hours. http://www.zooatlanta.org/home.htm
World of Coke is also good and worth a visit: http://www.woccatlanta.com/
They also give free samples!
If you are into history, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is also good and in the same area: http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/

Another good aquarium along route I-75 is the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky just past the bridge over Cincinatti (south) It's another great smallish aquarium and we've been twice. It's in Dave Hunter's book Along I-75. http://www.newportaquarium.com/ It would be a 3 or so hour stop and a great lunch break.

We've also been to the Tennesse Aquarium and found it just OK. It's off I-75 at Chattanooga TN.

Hope this helps and see you on the road!!

 

[Disneyof3]

thanks yzma and kronk. That is what we were looking for, how to get back to I75. We love to stop in Tifton in Georgia and get hot barbeque sauce and get adcock pecans before we head to Florida. It is a nice small town and very neat to see. Husband has been reading all the threads and is still up in the air with the 77/95 way with the weather which is so unpredictable here as you know. We want to go the save way and the way we are use to but we would also like a change. I have a feeling we won't figure it out until the very day we leave. I think I'll get the triptik with CAA for both ways just in case. Thanks again for the information.