Route 81 and 77 from the north to the south? Getting from PA to NC.

[Papa Deuce]

Is anybody familiar with these highways as opposed to I-95?

We have always taken 95 from Philly to NC, then another road over to Charlotte NC. That was a mapquest way to go. This time we looked at Google maps and they recommened taking 81 to 77..... right down to Charlote.

Just a 3 mile difference according to Google and Mapquest, but Google says this way takes 2 hours less.

I have never been on either of those roads before.

 

[Swimnoid]

I dont know anything about 81 but travel 77 on the way to Pittsburgh a lot. 77 is fine until you get close to Charlotte where it can back up with traffic from construction.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Hop on over to the Transportation Board and do a search for this route. A lot of drivers to WDW from the northeast prefer taking I-81 and working their way over to I-95 to get around the DC-Baltimore-Philly corridor.

I-81 is mountainous and definitely a much more scenic and rural route than I-95. Be aware that it does have quite a bit of tractor-trailer traffic. Also, there don't appear to be a lot of high-powered radio stations in that area, so you can lose signals; definitely an area where XM or Sirius would be handy.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Hop on over to the Transportation Board and do a search for this route. A lot of drivers to WDW from the northeast prefer taking I-81 and working their way over to I-95 to get around the DC-Baltimore-Philly corridor.

I-81 is mountainous and definitely a much more scenic and rural route than I-95. Be aware that it does have quite a bit of tractor-trailer traffic. Also, there don't appear to be a lot of high-powered radio stations in that area, so you can lose signals; definitely an area where XM or Sirius would be handy.

Cool... we have Sirius.

 

[Charade]

If you want to avoid the Baltimore and DC beltways, I'd recommend taking the 81 route. I used to take 95 to Virgina (that's where I am right now!) but found going out to Harrisburg and then south on 78/81 to 15 was the same distance and a MUCH MUCH nicer ride. It's 200 miles door to door and I did it today in about 3.5 hours non stop.

According to google maps, the difference between going PHL to Charlotte via 95 and going 81 via Harrisburg is about 29 miles (give or take). I'm sure the ride from Harrisburg down 81 is a much nicer ride. However, the last time I used 81 south of Hburg, there was some construction. Still, I'd recommend that route than fighting the two beltways (actually 3 if you include Richmond).

Good luck!

 

[NCDisneyMom]

Before we moved here to NC from NJ, we went the 81/77 route. It's been MANY years, so I can't tell you much about it's current state. However, I live in the Charlotte area, just a few miles off of I-77, so if you have any specific questions about this are of 77, just let me know!

 

[bicker]

We travel I-81 from Harrisburg PA to Bristol TN, pretty often over the years. It's a fine road for travelers, and far better than I-95. I especially like it that there's a Country Kitchen restaurant every 25 miles.

 

[chell]

If this is for your trip to Asheville you probably do want 77 as that will put you much closer.

 

[PlutoPony]

Agree with the significant truck traffic - as long as you're comfortable going 75+ with one on your tail you're good to go. Would be careful in the winter however.... since it runs along the spine of the Appalachians it'll get significant snow and at that point the trucks can be a real problem on many of the steeper grades. Much prettier drive than I-95!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Another vote for the 81-77 route. It is a much better choice than 95 to/from western NC. I used to drive from NC to Allentown quite a bit using this route.

Prettier, faster, much less stressful IMO

 

[Papa Deuce]

OK, we are going to go this way. But my wife is concerned about finding a hotel on these roads.... maybe halfway or more there. I don't think there will be any problem at all..... will there?

 

[disney junky]

OK, we are going to go this way. But my wife is concerned about finding a hotel on these roads.... maybe halfway or more there. I don't think there will be any problem at all..... will there?

You will have no trouble finding a hotel. Staunton, VA has a couple nice places. You also have Roanoke a bit further down.

 

[LJC1861]

Papa Deuce,

If you are coming into Asheville you can take I-81 into Tennesee and then take I 26 down on into Asheville. This seemed a bit shorter than 81 to 77 to 40 into Asheville and the ride is just beautiful! As for hotels....when I moved down we drove from NJ down into Harrisonburg VA and then from there on into Asheville. Harrisonburg was about halfway for us. There are lots of hotels along 81 all the way down so you should have very little trouble finding one.

Linda

 

[MinnieM3]

We travelled 77 to Cleveland several times from Charleston, SC (pick it up about 2 hours north). We stopped at Wytheville...I think Va or WVa. Lots of hotels there!

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I have used this before when driving to Florida. Watch out for all the deer along the road while you are driving. That is the only thing that I didn't like.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Quite a few hotels around Harrisonburg and then again around Staunton. It's a pretty sparse stretch of around 70 miles in terms of gas/food/lodging from Staunton to Roanoke. About 25 miles past Roanoke is the Christiansburg/Blacksburg area with more hotels. It's been a while since I've been past there, but your midway point should be somewhere around Roanoke or Staunton.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Papa Deuce,

If you are coming into Asheville you can take I-81 into Tennesee and then take I 26 down on into Asheville. This seemed a bit shorter than 81 to 77 to 40 into Asheville and the ride is just beautiful! As for hotels....when I moved down we drove from NJ down into Harrisonburg VA and then from there on into Asheville. Harrisonburg was about halfway for us. There are lots of hotels along 81 all the way down so you should have very little trouble finding one.

Linda

THanks... Our Asheville trip is separate. We'll be there on May 8th, 9th, and 10th... but getting there AFTER dropping the kids off in Charlotte.

 

[luvmyeor]

You will have no trouble finding a hotel. Staunton, VA has a couple nice places.

We usually stay in Staunton on our way to TN. There are a few hotels near the exit. I have tried 4 different ones and recommend the Sleep Inn or Best Western. The Sleep Inn is the nicer of the two. I do not recommend the Econo Lodge or the Quality Inn.

I prefer I-81 over I-95 also. There is a lot of truck traffic but it is better than sitting in the Baltimore/Washington rush hour traffic on 95.

 

[chell]

Papa Deuce,

If you are coming into Asheville you can take I-81 into Tennesee and then take I 26 down on into Asheville. This seemed a bit shorter than 81 to 77 to 40 into Asheville and the ride is just beautiful! As for hotels....when I moved down we drove from NJ down into Harrisonburg VA and then from there on into Asheville. Harrisonburg was about halfway for us. There are lots of hotels along 81 all the way down so you should have very little trouble finding one.

Linda

I-26 is a LOVELY ride.