Florida gulf coast from western Pa

[Butch9101]

I'm looking for advice and routes or pulling a 30 ft TT from southwestern Pa to destin Florida. I am pulling with a 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 mega cab with a hemi under the hood. I would like to keep the hills to a minimum since I don't have a diesel. I first thought about 95, but that's pretty far out of the way and takes me to the opposite side of Florida. Should I head down toward Chattanooga ? What are your suggestions?? Any advise ??

[Kaz]

Butch9101 wrote:
I'm looking for advice and routes or pulling a 30 ft TT from southwestern Pa to destin Florida. I am pulling with a 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 mega cab with a hemi under the hood. I would like to keep the hills to a minimum since I don't have a diesel. I first thought about 95, but that's pretty far out of the way and takes me to the opposite side of Florida. Should I head down toward Chattanooga ? What are your suggestions?? Any advise ??

I'll leave it to your instincts as to how to get to I-85 south of Atlanta (I'd go I-77 to I-85 in Charlotte, but I don't get hysterical about Atlanta traffic--YMMV). After that, though, I highly recommend taking I-85 south from Atlanta, then exit onto I-185 south to Columbus GA, then follow your nose over to US-431 in Phenix City, and go south through Eufaula and Dothan (picking up US-231 there), then a quick hop on I-10 over to US-331 south to US-98, and then west to Destin.

We make that drive regularly and it's a great, easy drive. It's four lanes almost the entire way and very pleasant. Even the little areas where you'd be on two lanes, like through Eufaula, aren't bad (and the old homes on the tree-lined street going through Eufaula are worth seeing). The route around Dothan is, well, ugly, but it's not all that long, and there's a Pilot where you pick up US-231, and then you're back to a great drive.

Skip

[BillMFl]

Nashville to Birmingham to Dothan to Destin.

[Butch9101]

I'm doing the trip in May of 2016. Just trying to get some advise before hand.

[rockhillmanor]

agesilaus wrote:
If I wanted to avoid hills I would not head to Chattanooga. ....

X10
Did Chattanooga once, never again.
Look Out Mountain itself on the rail tram is a 72%+ grade. The road is a little less but I did NOT like the climb up on the road and most definitely did NOT like the ride down in a MH towing.

[stevewise]

When are you planning the trip I am doing the run from North Eastern PA to Destin on 20/11/15 going down through Chatannooga to Birmingham and down I-65.

[Butch9101]

I used the good Sam website plan a trip part. I just wanted to hear some peoples suggestions.

[Dick_B]

You could invest in Mountain Directory East to help you plan the route.

[Butch9101]

I wasn't sure how the hills were on the route you are suggesting.

[Ivylog]

In the above link if you click on the I-79/81/40/75/24/59 route you will only see two constructions zones instead of 10. No major/steep hills on this route so why would you even consider 95 and 200 more miles?

[Hideout17]

I did same trip as you in my tundra. 79s to 19 to charlotte then to 95s. Hills were not as bad as I thought.ave 60 to 65 whole trip. Your hemi should do fine. Just use manual on long down hill grades.

[Ringer]

How about this?

[Butch9101]

The only reason I didn't want to hit 95 is that it adds about 220 miles to the trip. But do u think it would be worth adding the extra miles for an easier drive?

[OutdoorPhotogra]

I would think you are better off going further West through OH and down through Nashville rather than I-95. You will need to go all the way to MD and then deal with traffic through the Beltway.

When you say avoid hills, have you tried any in your truck? What is the weight of your TT? I'm driving that route this Friday and will pay attention to grades. When you are leaving? I'll be crossing East in WV then heading south to Chatanooga and over to LA from there.

[agesilaus]

If I wanted to avoid hills I would not head to Chattanooga. Maybe I-95 to just south of Savannah then get on US84 to just past Valdosta then US221 to I-10