Ashville NC to Houston Tx /Avoiding Atlanta

An alternative is I40 to I75 Knox to Chatt to US72 S Pittsburg divided four lane to Huntsville, Al 465 to west through Huntsville and US72 etc to Cherokee, Al and then onto thee Natchez Trace to near Jackson Miss, and I20 and down I55, I think, look it up to I10. It may take a little longer since I haven't mapped the route but we took it a couple of times to enjoy scenery. we didn't go down to I10 though since our destination was Arizona until Texas. Lots of water and open country on US72 east of Huntsville and light traffic with few traffic lights. Once on the Trace and just take time and enjoy. bring your rod when you get to the lake. Fix dinner off one of the pull offs, usually since traffic is generally very light until Tupelo area. Two average full service camp grounds right off Trace in Miss and that's all.
Just a possibility