I always follow the 295 route around Richmond. My reason however is I do the US301 route all the time and it works best with 295. 295 on the south end of Richmond doesnt work well with exiting on I85 however heading for Montgomery ALA. Somebody screwed that up big time..
Interstates including I81 have too many BIG trucks to my liking. I always thought the government should do a trucks only major route coast to coast like maybe I40 and then do three or four North - South major routes across the country for trucks only. Segregate the maylay...
I've even been known to take US11 to the Gulf just to see the different scenery hehe... Actually US11 is alot smoother than I59 in Northern ALA just more towns to go through...
Running US301 North and South is also another interesting road to take. Sures gets you off of I95...
Usually all of our road trips go through Gatlinburg TN no matter where we are going so we do the I81 alot.
Roy Ken