Forum Discussion

michbill's avatar
michbill
Explorer
Feb 18, 2017

alternate route from st augustine to MI

This is Mich Bill.
I am from MI. I will be leaving the St. Augustine area about April 1. I normally stop in Ashville, NC, so I would take 95-26-40-75 to go home, however, not this year. I am looking for an alternative route to avoid “the gorge” on 40. Some people have suggested 95-10-75 and others say 95-26-77 to ?
I have a 2009 Monaco Dynasty Regal IV 45’ and I dolly a Town and Country, so I am almost 70’ long.
I have three questions:
1. Any suggestions as to the “best” route?
2. The people that suggested the 77 route don’t say how to head west. I have looked, and it seems that I would have to take the Ohio Turnpike, which would cost about $50. Any suggestions as to RV friendly roads other than the turnpike?
3. Any suggestions as to good overnight campgrounds?
Thank you
Bill
Roads and Routes
  • ken56's avatar
    ken56
    Explorer
    Feb 18, 2017
    I am of the opinion that 77 is worse than the "gorge". The Pigeon River Gorge is not all that bad but you obviously do not like it so why not just cut over at Jacksonville and come straight up I-75? I will guess that you don't want to take the secondary roads either so your choices are limited to 95 or 75.
  • Randu's avatar
    Randu
    Explorer
    Feb 19, 2017
    I use I-77 all the time but I'm just going to Myrtle Beach. 2 different ways to connect I-77 to MI without the OH Turnpike.

    A) 77 to 70 west to Columbus then 23 north to 75.
    B) 77 to 64 west at Charleston then 35 north west to Chillicothe, OH then 23 north to Columbus and on to 75.

    Randu
  • michbill's avatar
    michbill
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2017
    Thank you all for your suggestions. I have a month plus to decide.
    I think I will keep doing my research, including locating campgrounds along 77. I only do about 350-400 miles a day, so I will require finding campground that can accommodate us.
    Thanks
    Bill
  • wing_zealot's avatar
    wing_zealot
    Explorer
    Feb 20, 2017
    I've traveled I-75 between MI and FL several times and never heard of the "Gorge" before. What the heck / where is it?
  • Thom02099's avatar
    Thom02099
    Explorer II
    Feb 20, 2017
    wing_zealot wrote:
    I've traveled I-75 between MI and FL several times and never heard of the "Gorge" before. What the heck / where is it?


    Re-read OP's first post... "95-26-40-75"...the gorge is the "40" part of it, through the Pigeon River Gorge, west of Asheville crossing from NC into TN.

    For the OP, unless there's a compelling reason you need to go to Asheville...don't go that way. Take I-75 the entire way, or various alternate routes from I-75 in Tennessee.
  • afidel's avatar
    afidel
    Explorer II
    Feb 22, 2017
    There's no way I'd do 77 in early April, it's bad enough in clear weather, but in early April there's a good chance of snow or worse ice storms.
  • Rangerman40's avatar
    Rangerman40
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2017
    77 gets a little interesting in WV, and then once you get on 35 off of 64, 35 is only a two lane road for quite a stretch from outside of Charleston to almost the OH/WV border.
  • Randu's avatar
    Randu
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2017
    Rangerman40 wrote:
    77 gets a little interesting in WV, and then once you get on 35 off of 64, 35 is only a two lane road for quite a stretch from outside of Charleston to almost the OH/WV border.


    Most of 35 rebuilt a few years back so only about 15 miles +/- of 2 lane road right along river.

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