I-81 heavy traffic - Bristol area

Ok, thanks everyone! From what I'm seeing here, I think we'll give the I-77/I-40 route a try. We've pulled Fancy Gap many times, but of course we'll be running down it this time. Maybe the momentum will help us get up the hill on I-40. ;)

Traffic isn't going to be any different than when NASCAR was in their heyday. It' doable, wouldn't deter me. One funny thing from the time when Bristol drew huge race crowds, the motels would be empty in the late afternoon and folks traveling I-81, would wheel in looking for a room. The desk clerk would politely say "we are full". The potential customer would have a "deer in the headlight look". The response of course was that all the people were over at the race track. If one of the teams (Va Tech or Tenn) are losing late in the game, or heaven forbid, a blowout, traffic will be heavy in the direction of the losing team. Fortunately, K-Town and Blacksburg aren't far.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We'll be at the junction of I-81 and I-77 around 10:00 am tomorrow heading for Asheville, NC. Any thoughts on whether we would be better off taking I-77 to Statesville and I-40 to Asheville instead of I-81 to I-26 and up the hill past Bristol? The I-77/I-40 route is only about 17 miles longer, but we've never gone that way on I-40 before.

Noon tomorrow I wouldn't worry, it will be over and most every body gone.

As long as you don't have to get off the Interstates it is doable...

Roy Ken

As long as you don't have to get off the Interstates it is doable...

Roy Ken

I WOULD AVOID THE AREA LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

We were there late morning/early afternoon yesterday and it was already crazy.

Most people will be staying in hotels (which are booked all the way up to Wytheville (I-77/I-81 interchange) and they will be leaving out in the morning, heading home. You will gain back that 17 miles with a much leisurely, prettier drie.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We'll be at the junction of I-81 and I-77 around 10:00 am tomorrow heading for Asheville, NC. Any thoughts on whether we would be better off taking I-77 to Statesville and I-40 to Asheville instead of I-81 to I-26 and up the hill past Bristol? The I-77/I-40 route is only about 17 miles longer, but we've never gone that way on I-40 before.

I expect that you may hit some of the heaviest traffic at that point at 10 am at the I-81/I 77 junction. I have traveled I-40 to Asheville a couple of times. You may be better to go that way. I only remember one long hill on I 40 east of Asheville but you won't have any problems on it. I don't think it is any worse than Fancy Gap mountain on I-77.

We'll be at the junction of I-81 and I-77 around 10:00 am tomorrow heading for Asheville, NC. Any thoughts on whether we would be better off taking I-77 to Statesville and I-40 to Asheville instead of I-81 to I-26 and up the hill past Bristol? The I-77/I-40 route is only about 17 miles longer, but we've never gone that way on I-40 before.