MOUNTAIN DRIVING

Not sure how far west you’re starting from, or if you’re tied to Adairsville, but I would try to avoid Nashville and Atlanta. We came North from FL last month and those two cities were AWFUL. Nashville was particularly bad from construction. If going as far East as Myrtle Beach, I’d go through Lexington, Knoxville, Ashville, Columbia in a heartbeat. We’ll probably go that way next time just to get to the East coast of FL.

WISH i COULD AFFORD A dp WITH EXHAUST BRAKE--We have a 30 ft Fleetwood Flair -F-53 Ford with v-10 -I think we will stay on the interstate and just go slow at a comfortable speed and use the tranny to keep the speed down on the way going down-can't say I am a little nervous but then I see older MH's going down the highway with big trailers clipping along at 70mph-Thanks Rich
Our plan is to take I-65 out of Ill south to I-24 Then east to I-75

Racer99 on your fleetwood gaser, does it have an exhaust brake or is that just a diesel thing? I have on on my Allegro and it is a huge help in mountains.

Nashville is doable if you go through around mid morning or late at night. Like Atlanta rush hour can be a bear. Unlike Atlanta, there is a lot of curves and intersecting on and off ramps from other major highways.
If you want to avoid Atlanta, you can go south on 75 to Ga 20 and turn east. Follow that to Lawrenceville and 316. Head east on 316 to US 78, then 78 to Thomson and I-20 and then Augusta and on to Myrtle Beach. If Atlanta traffic doesn't bother you, then 75 south to the intersection with I-20 and then east. It will be shorter, but at times (rush hour, on Fridays and anytime when raining) it can be a bear if you are not familiar with the area.

You can By Pass Nashville. I65 to Briley to I40.

Ivylog wrote:
Only mountain is before Chattanooga where you have one of the longest steep downgrades in the East... Mount Eagle. Gear it down and do not ride your brakes and you'll be fine. There is not any good way of getting from Adairsville to I-85 other than going to Atlanta and getting on I-285 east to 85 at non rush hours. You could take 53 across, but it will be slow going on a curvy/hilly two lane road.

If your looking on a map, it is Monteagle on I-24.

Going through Nashville will be worse than any of the mountains on that route. All the advice on the forum to pick a lane and stay in it through cities? You can't do that in Nashville on I-24, every frickin interchange requires you to be in different lane to stay on I-24. It looks like you'll go down I-65 and pick up I-24 in Nashville. That is actually better than trying to drive I-24 all the way through.
Mark

Cave City, KY. Is on I65. So do not see you traveling on I24 depending where you are coming from.
So there will be no big mountains to worry about.

I65 to I40 to Ashville. Just mole hills.

Only mountain is before Chattanooga where you have one of the longest steep downgrades in the East... Mount Eagle. Gear it down and do not ride your brakes and you'll be fine. There is not any good way of getting from Adairsville to I-85 other than going to Atlanta and getting on I-285 east to 85 at non rush hours. You could take 53 across, but it will be slow going on a curvy/hilly two lane road.