Huntington WV-->Gatlinburg TN

You are so right!!! My bad! That is what I get for posting at work in a hurry!

My husband is a railroad freak so after we realized how easy it was to get there, we made a day trip out of it. Even gave our dog her first tram ride. We actually walked down and rode back up. The author of a book about the tunnel was at the bottom signing his book which was very interesting. It is an amazing feat of nature.

WVbassmistress wrote:
I agree with Likes...US 23 is the way to go. We have used that route from Charleston, WV to Alabama several times. Sometimes with the TC and boat...sometimes just the boat. Once just for a day trip to the Natural Bridge State Park in VA. If you have a few minutes to kill, stop there. They have a tram to the bottom of the gorge and the tunnel is amazing. It is not too far off the highway if memory serves me correctly. Try to wait for a train to come through.

This road is great (in my opinion). A few congested areas but the scenery is worth it! Amazing feats of engineering cut this road from the mountains.

Enjoy your trip!

I believe you are refering to Natural Tunnel State Park not Natural Bridge. Natural Tunnel is along 23 in Virginia and Natural Bridge is further north just off I-81. I agree that it is worth the time to ride the tram to the bottom of the hill to see this natural wonder. The size of it is amazing. If a train should happen to come along at the time you are down there it is spectacular. How convenient that a natural tunnel appeared just where the railroad needed one.

I agree with Likes...US 23 is the way to go. We have used that route from Charleston, WV to Alabama several times. Sometimes with the TC and boat...sometimes just the boat. Once just for a day trip to the Natural Bridge State Park in VA. If you have a few minutes to kill, stop there. They have a tram to the bottom of the gorge and the tunnel is amazing. It is not too far off the highway if memory serves me correctly. Try to wait for a train to come through.

This road is great (in my opinion). A few congested areas but the scenery is worth it! Amazing feats of engineering cut this road from the mountains.

Enjoy your trip!

Hey thanks for the info. I've got kids so "fast" is something I don't worry so much about. Finding a clean place for a potty break is more important for me for the ladys. Heh. I love new roads! Over 20+ years I'm pretty sure I've taken just about every route there is between Huntington and Columbus at least once LOL.

I hear you about the freeway as well. Got stuck in a traffic jam at the top of Jellico mt in TN for 3+hours once due to a fatal crash ahead of us - with my then pregnant wife and no bathroom... Not fun.

I will definitely try to talk the crew into trying that route at least one way.

Thanks again.

This might work for you. I travel Us 23 all the way to Kingsport towing my 5th wheel. It may be 30 minutes longer than going to Lexington from Huntington and then traveling I-75 south but it's something differnt. I like to go somewhere one way and then return another way....don't enjoy the same scene twice. If you like making the journey part of the fun then try it.

US 23 is a 4 lane great highway but does have a few red lights along the way. No big deal, just from time to time you have to stop. I've never counted them but it's not an issue! There are no intersections you turn on or towns to try to get through. On the other hand if you are the type of traveler who hates the journey, won't stop unless you are out of gas or need a restroom, cannot wait to get there and then brag about how many hours it took you to drive it, maybe following the Interstate is your best bet. Interstates are rarely patrolled anymore and people get away with 75 to 80 mph all the time. Of course one major mistake by another driver can close an Interstate for several hours. This cancels your advantage of Interstate travel.

I would not hesitate to try this route at least once. It's all 4 lane and you see something different. Go down one way and come back another. Time it so you can tell us later! By traveling to Cincinnati it looks like to me you are going out of your way.

Many people from Huntington go to the Smoky mts by using US 23!