How's the mountain driving...

We use Mountain Directory West or East for mountain areas.

goufgators wrote:
Planning to go basically NNW from Clayton, Ga. to Sweetwater, Tn.I know, according to the map, that some of that area is mountainous but was wondering if there are steep grades. I don't mind mountain driving but try to avoid long, steep climbs and descents. If you know the area, will appreciate your response and advice.

All mountains east of Mississippi River are baby hills. Come to Colo. or Utah.

If in doubt go to the Federal Highway Administration website and look up the standards for design of each class of U.S or Interstate numbered roads.

I believe you will find 6% with a 7% exception to be correct for Interstates.

I believe it is 7% with a one mile limit and then 10% for the exception on numbered U.S routes. Runaway ramps are required on 7% or greater.

NEVER use a runaway ramp except in an extreme emergency. You will end up paying for two tow trucks and a bulldozer to come dig you out.

A

rgatijnet1 wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

goufgators wrote:
Planning to go basically NNW from Clayton, Ga. to Sweetwater, Tn.I know, according to the map, that some of that area is mountainous but was wondering if there are steep grades. I don't mind mountain driving but try to avoid long, steep climbs and descents. If you know the area, will appreciate your response and advice.

IF you are planning on running interstate highways most of the way. Be advised. Interstates have a Max grade of I believe 7%. So you should never see anything steeper on the interstate. And on those max grades they have a slow lane up, and down.

Do remember going up is much easier than coming down. Be sure to gear down, let the engine do most of the braking, EVEN if that means going all the way down to 1st, or 2nd gear. Come down slow. You will be fine.

I believe that is true of the East. Some of the Interstate Highways out West can a little steeper than that.

Actually I was wrong (looked it up) The standard max grade is 6% with 7% exceptions for mountain highways with a speedlimit of under 60 MPH. there is one in Vale, one in Texas. NC has several at 6%. From all I found, 7 is the max on interstates.

However once off the interstate, the grades get much steeper. In the west, and in the East. Some in the Blue Ridge MTs are more than 10% as are some in the Rockies. But generally those are pretty twisty, and have low speed limits

Terryallan wrote:

goufgators wrote:
Planning to go basically NNW from Clayton, Ga. to Sweetwater, Tn.I know, according to the map, that some of that area is mountainous but was wondering if there are steep grades. I don't mind mountain driving but try to avoid long, steep climbs and descents. If you know the area, will appreciate your response and advice.

IF you are planning on running interstate highways most of the way. Be advised. Interstates have a Max grade of I believe 7%. So you should never see anything steeper on the interstate. And on those max grades they have a slow lane up, and down.

Do remember going up is much easier than coming down. Be sure to gear down, let the engine do most of the braking, EVEN if that means going all the way down to 1st, or 2nd gear. Come down slow. You will be fine.

I believe that is true of the East. Some of the Interstate Highways out West can a little steeper than that.

goufgators wrote:
Planning to go basically NNW from Clayton, Ga. to Sweetwater, Tn.I know, according to the map, that some of that area is mountainous but was wondering if there are steep grades. I don't mind mountain driving but try to avoid long, steep climbs and descents. If you know the area, will appreciate your response and advice.

IF you are planning on running interstate highways most of the way. Be advised. Interstates have a Max grade of I believe 7%. So you should never see anything steeper on the interstate. And on those max grades they have a slow lane up, and down.

Do remember going up is much easier than coming down. Be sure to gear down, let the engine do most of the braking, EVEN if that means going all the way down to 1st, or 2nd gear. Come down slow. You will be fine.

or Mountain Directory East.

with a gasser, you should hot have any problems.. Sure you won't run up and down hills at or above the speedlimits, but we have driven all over eastern tennessee and further north with no problems. Just don't push it too hard, and let it shift down and do its thing. We have gone across from west to east and back several times, I-24, I-40, and a lot other small roads, with no difficulty. But if the road changes from pavement to gravel or dirt, start looking for a place to turn around. Those hills are a lot harder to back down than drive up.

Nothing of anything to really worry about. Yes there are some grades but nothing bad. I think you would be more concerned with tighter turns off the main highways.

HWY 68 is the scenic route through that part of TN. It is a great road altho it is narrow at times with a few curves. Really a nice drive, with lots of sights along the way. We drove HWY68 many times in our RV since we own a cabin that fronts on HWY68 in Coker Creek, TN.