Well, we made it to the Best Western Motel at Barbourville, KY. Heading South out of Cincinnati on I-75 followed the advise to take 35 East. The Southbound I-75 traffic is detouring all trucks down 35 East. Car traffic is being routed farther South.
Actually, 35 East was a good choice for us, because Barbourville is almost exactly half way to Baker Creek State Park in SC.
35 East is not a bad road at all. It is 4 lane divided, but goes through towns and such, has stop lights, but very easy driving, even with all the semi's on the road. Taking it easy and just going with the flow of traffic.
The motel management said since the detour started, they've had massive amounts of traffic through here. I can't imagine what the auto detour bypass would have been like dragging a 35 foot trailer!
The motel is nice! But the road noise is very apparent. You hear ever truck that passes. Still, it's a nice motel, nice people, and has WIFI, which I'm connected to right now.
I don't know if we are out of the Northern Freeze zone yet or not, but didn't want to run the risk of de-winterizing until I know were are safe. So, tomorrow at the State Park, this will be the first choir on my list.
So, all the suggestions above about 35 East are correct! I imagine going North Bound on I-75 this will be the best return for us too next week-end. We may even return to this same motel a week from today! (who knows).
About Interstate roads... Indiana still sucks! Took Highway 9 out of Pendleton, Indiana ... nice road. Smooth and nice for a 2 lane road. Then hit I-74 toward Cincinnatti. OH MY! Newly re-paved with fresh black top! They've already torn it up cutting section out and pouring with concrete, hard bump after hard bump after hard bump. Last year, this time, it was smooth as a new born baby butt! Now... dang!
Got on I-75 South of the Ohio River, and SMOOOOOOOTH! all the way through Kentucky! Why in the world does Indiana have to mess up their newly paved roads and create bucking horses for everyone! Going back, we may find an alternate way once in Indiana. There are many variations on secondary highways I can take to get home without taking I-74. It's a sad, sad, sad day when the country road, that's barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass each other in opposite directions is smoother than a multi billion dollar interstate! It just don't don't make any sense at all!
But ... the East 35 Kentucky bypass is a very good alternate ... if you don't mind the big trucks!
I'd really like to thank Coolmom42 for post this originally and TNGW1500SE for recommending East 35! Without this information, I think I would have been really jammed up following the car detour route! I very seldom follow truck routes.
