From Bristol Virginia to Kentucky

Thinking of trying this route coming down from Cincinnati. Its about 85 miles shorter. Just curious, are there lots of small towns to go through?
What about places to stop?
Are the climbs any worse that on the interstate?

one stretch of 58/421 has 23 also. what do you consider a good climb?

Not sure how 23 gets to KY, but for many years we went to both races in Bristol and settled on US 58 across VA to the Gap and then 25E into Corbin. Good four lane almost all the way - short stretch of 2 lane east of Jonesville - with light traffic. One good climb headed west out of Duffield.