Mountain Free Drive?

[Disneyboundgirl]

Thanks everyone... You all make great points and we did contact the dr and got the green light to go soooooo one week from today we will tackle those moutains or tall hills as some of you call them!

Again, I can't thank you enough for all your insight.. You all were wonderful!

Thanks!!!

Christina

 

[minniebeth]

I just want to throw another option for an overnight stop out there~ DH just drove to Orlando from Columbus and did the same route. He stopped at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Bluffton/Sun City, which is SC. It is off Exit 8 off I95S and then 7 miles in.
It is north of Savannah, but pretty much at the 12hr. mark from Columbus exactly. It is cheaper than some of the hotels right off I95 and in the Savannah area and a really nice area (on the way to Hilton Head Island).
It's 4 1/2 hours to Orlando from there.

Have a wonderful trip! Good luck with your travels!

 

[Disneyboundgirl]

Hello one last time!

I was curious if anyone can tell me on the trip on I-77 to WDW, when do the mountains start?

I have been doing some research of my own to not bother you again but I can't figure it out. I want to know when to "knock out" my passenger

This really should be my last question for you! Thanks in advance!!!

Christina

 

[minnierocks]

It will start to get "hilly" in West Virginia...the mountain terrain is mainly from Charleston, WV and all the way through Virginia. You will come out of them as you head into NC. I would say about 2 hours or so.

 

[bbl3245]

The rockslide portion is around Knoxville, not Chattanooga. Presently I-75 is open with one lane going each way. It should completely open sometime this month.

And you're only in the mountains for about 50 miles...about 45 minutes. A lot better than the two hours in the I-77/I-81 mountains, timewise.

You'll never bypass all mountains. But I do know a way in which you are on one mountain for about 10 minutes. It's about 60 miles longer though, going the I-75 route. Mapquest shows it as a 20 hour trip from Cleveland to Orlando going this route.

PM me if you want the directions.

Hi,

I just came across your reply about finding a way with only 10 minutes in the mountains. I cannot seem to figure out how to PM you. Can you tell me the route - pleeeease?

 

[MillauFr]

There are no real mountains east of Denver. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[bbl3245]

There are no real mountains east of Denver. I wouldn't worry about it.

WOW thanks! That was really helpful!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Hi,

I just came across your reply about finding a way with only 10 minutes in the mountains. I cannot seem to figure out how to PM you. Can you tell me the route - pleeeease?

You need at least ten posts before you can PM. That's why you're having problems.

Anyway, I just posted the directions in the I-75 Closed at KY-TN Border for Rockslide thread.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/i-75-closed-at-ky-tn-border-for-rockslide.3487543/

Post 8.

Hoping this helps you. However, where are you coming from? We have to get you to Corbin.

 

[bbl3245]

Thank you for the information. We are actually coming from Ashtabula and want to end up in Melbourne, but we won't be coming until beginning of June, so I'll probably have to get another update for the conditions. It's going to be a very leisurely trip so our kids can catch a little scenery in-between. Probably make a few stops along the way. I don't particularly enjoy driving in curvy steep terrain - the flatter the better for me. Tell me about Corbin.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Thank you for the information. We are actually coming from Ashtabula and want to end up in Melbourne, but we won't be coming until beginning of June, so I'll probably have to get another update for the conditions. It's going to be a very leisurely trip so our kids can catch a little scenery in-between. Probably make a few stops along the way. I don't particularly enjoy driving in curvy steep terrain - the flatter the better for me. Tell me about Corbin.

1) From Ashtabula, I think you take I-90 over to Cleveland, I-71 to Cincinnati (actually about 20 miles south of Cincinnati...I-75 and 71 are the same interstate for the first 20 miles of Kentucky), then I-75 to Corbin.

2) Corbin is a fairly large community. No, it's not a Cincinnati. Or even Lexington. But there are a number of hotels and restaurants at the exit. The very first KFC is in Downtown Corbin.

3) You do realize that you'll be on US 25E for a couple of hours, don't you?

4) Hope you realize you'll be going through a mile-long tunnel. That's just outside Middlesboro, about an hour east of Corbin. The tunnel marks the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The tunnel is in the middle of Cumberland Gap National Park.

5) The only mountain you even have to concern yourself with is Clinch Mountain. That's about a half hour the other side of the tunnel (and about a half hour outside Morristown, where you pick up the expressway). Not winding at all. Straight up, then straight down. No problems, especially in the summer. Beautiful drive. At the top, you can stop and view the scenery.

Since you'll be travelling leisurely, let me know if you have any questions regarding the route; especially between Columbus and Morristown. (Cincinnati in particular.) I can tell you where to stop and what to avoid. Good luck.

 

[KrazeeK120]

We are in Indiana. And we have to drive through mountains taking 65 to 24. They'd have to drive way out of the way to avoid mountains coming this way.

I'm in Illinois and take 57 to 24, driving through mountains.

OP, I hope you find a route that will work for you! Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to be able to easily avoid mountains.

 

[bbl3245]

1) From Ashtabula, I think you take I-90 over to Cleveland, I-71 to Cincinnati (actually about 20 miles south of Cincinnati...I-75 and 71 are the same interstate for the first 20 miles of Kentucky), then I-75 to Corbin.

2) Corbin is a fairly large community. No, it's not a Cincinnati. Or even Lexington. But there are a number of hotels and restaurants at the exit. The very first KFC is in Downtown Corbin.

3) You do realize that you'll be on US 25E for a couple of hours, don't you?

4) Hope you realize you'll be going through a mile-long tunnel. That's just outside Middlesboro, about an hour east of Corbin. The tunnel marks the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The tunnel is in the middle of Cumberland Gap National Park.

5) The only mountain you even have to concern yourself with is Clinch Mountain. That's about a half hour the other side of the tunnel (and about a half hour outside Morristown, where you pick up the expressway). Not winding at all. Straight up, then straight down. No problems, especially in the summer. Beautiful drive. At the top, you can stop and view the scenery.

Since you'll be travelling leisurely, let me know if you have any questions regarding the route; especially between Columbus and Morristown. (Cincinnati in particular.) I can tell you where to stop and what to avoid. Good luck.

Now THAT'S how you give information! My son loves KFC so we'll be stopping in Corbin, for sure. Thank you!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Now THAT'S how you give information! My son loves KFC so we'll be stopping in Corbin, for sure. Thank you!

Oops...almost forgot. The 40-26-95 route still takes you through some mountains on the TN-NC border. Pretty winding. In your case, once you reach I-40, I'd probably go west and hit 75 again. It's a long way around, but no mountains other than the aforementioned Clinch Mountain.

 

[bbl3245]

I'l take a look. Thanks again!

OK I looked. Yeah. I had planned to take 40 back to 75. It's a little longer, but we aren't in any hurry. Thanks!