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nomad2013's avatar
nomad2013
Explorer
Sep 21, 2015

I-81 to I-77 south

Taking I-81 south from Carlisle, PA, to I-77 in Virginia and on to the east coast of Florida.
How bad is it going through the mountains especially if one doesn't like heights or hair pin turns?
Thank you?
  • We travel that route frequently from Maryland to Charlotte without any problems. We have driven it pulling a trailer, in a motorhome and car. The area just north of the Virginia/NC line can be foggy, but no close drop-offs or hairpin curves.
  • No problems, we travel that route a lot, in fact we are headed that way on Saturday & Sunday.
  • Additionally, take the time to wash out your cooling stack (ie: radiator, AC condensor, trans cooler (if present) etc). If you hit those hills on a very hot day, you don't want the air flow throught the radiator restricted by dirt, bugs etc.
  • You will be going through Fancy Gap if you go that route. Make sure you time it so as to not hit fog. There have been some significant accidents in that area due to the fog, but if you time it correctly, you won't have an issue. Going southbound, there are run-away ramps for the trucks to use if they lose their brakes. Going north, if you stay out of the right lane, you won't be looking over the side. Very slow trucks stay in the right lane so you should be OK in the middle.

    We have driven through there numerous times. We did hit the fog on one southbound trip in the morning. The time we went through the fog, it was not as severe as the times when there were pile ups.

    Just be careful and drive through that area when you are not tired.

    these links will give you information about I-77 and Fancy Gap

    http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I77_VA_Fancy_Gap_Photos_Fullpage.html

    https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=i-77+fancy+gap+va
  • Going south, it's all mainly down hill with fairly mild uphills in between. There are no high bridges or hair pin turns on either Interstate. Taking that route north, there are a couple of pretty good pulls for the last few miles on I-77 in NC as you cross into VA.