Driving rt. 40 through Smokies.
We are heading home via I-40 through the Smokies. Barring any sudden snow storms, what is it like? We are equipped to handle the drive, just wondering what to expect? Thanks!
Forum Discussion
My experience of I-40 Knoxville to Ashville is that truck traffic is quite heavy and tends to be slow but feels fast because of the curves. The biggest problem in a truck or RV is watching out for faster running cars making lane changes, chopping in and out of the slower traffic. The biggest problem crossing in a car is getting around the slow trucks.
My preferred place for crossing the Appalachians this far south is Cumberland Gap, junction to Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia state lines. The gap is US-25E as a N-S route, US-58 as an E-W route, so it doesn't work if you prefer to stay on Interstate highways, but it is a real pretty drive, especially going west/north.
An even easier route across is I-64 from Beckley WV into Virginia, where you can go up I-81 to get further north, or use the Blue Ridge Parkway, or go on across I-64 to I-95 (which is sort of backtracking because it connects at Richmond, and if I don't have to I don't want to go through DC). I-64 tunnels through the worst parts of the mountains. This still gets you across the mountains south of Delaware.
My preferred place for crossing the Appalachians this far south is Cumberland Gap, junction to Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia state lines. The gap is US-25E as a N-S route, US-58 as an E-W route, so it doesn't work if you prefer to stay on Interstate highways, but it is a real pretty drive, especially going west/north.
An even easier route across is I-64 from Beckley WV into Virginia, where you can go up I-81 to get further north, or use the Blue Ridge Parkway, or go on across I-64 to I-95 (which is sort of backtracking because it connects at Richmond, and if I don't have to I don't want to go through DC). I-64 tunnels through the worst parts of the mountains. This still gets you across the mountains south of Delaware.
