North Carolina Hwy 276

[pompomgirl]

Is anyone familiar enough with Hwy 276 to advise on taking it from Waynesville to Brevard in a 36-foot RV towing a Honda Fit? We're told 18-wheelers can't go on it but RVs should be fine, but not sure about towing, or whether we should plan to drive the Fit on that stretch. We're told there are now switch-backs, but the map has turns that look pretty tight and don't want to get into a problem situation. Thanks

[kohldad]

No problem, just adjust your speed and plan on taking a few minutes extra.

[pompomgirl]

This time of year would be fine but this will be in September. I think it will be dusk or getting dark. Is there a problem with that?

[kohldad]

This time of year you would still have plenty of daylight to get down off the mountain. Then the next day move over to Asheville in the morning.

One thing to consider is moving the rig to Asheville and then run back over to Waynesville to met up with you group. It isn't that far and could be done in a couple of hours. Would just need to make sure you could check in early.

Alternative would be to run the rig to Asheville and then catch up with them in Brevard. If you left about 30 minutes before they do, y'all would get there about the same time.

Just some options but depends on the schedule and if the end of the day or start of the day with your group is more important. Regardless, you made a wise choice not trying to go over the mountain with you rig.

Have fun and be careful.

[pompomgirl]

This would be the end-of-the-day dinner, or "supper". I suspect we would be headed back around 7:30.

[kohldad]

Google says 39 minutes but I would figure closer to an hour. The worst part is from 276/64 junction to 276/110 junction which is about 27 miles. The road is good road, just lots of turns so you need to go slow if you don't know the road.

When you say "diner" are you referring to mid-day meal we call "lunch' or the evening meal we call "super". Never did like the term "diner" as it means two different things to different folks.

[pompomgirl]

Thanks. That's what I was afraid of. The group we will be with is driving Waynesville to Brevard, stopping at Pisgah Inn for dinner, and then going on to Ashville for the night. We'll have to work out a different strategy. Maybe drive back over the mountain after dinner to get the coach and then go to Ashville, maybe even go the next morning. How long would it take to drive Brevard to Waynesville in a normal car, and would it be a bad idea to do it at dusk or after dark? This will be on a Wednesday.

[ncscz]

kohldad wrote:
Can it be done? Yes. Would I do it in your rig? NO!

GOOD INFORMATION!!!

Plus -- depending on what time you make the trip you could have dozens of irate drivers backed up behind you. You will find very few places to get off the road to let backed up traffic get by. If you have never driven it, you will spend the biggest part of it at less than 35 mph.

[kohldad]

Can it be done? Yes. Would I do it in your rig? NO!.

Once you leave Waynesville, 276 makes a very hard climb with lots of curves up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down a very steep climb to Hwy 64 in Brevard. In a car, you could easily run over to Brevard for the day and have an enjoyable trip.

If your are going to move over to Brevard with the rig, strongly recommend using I40 to I26 to Hwy 280. Very nice dual lane road with only a few smallish climbs.

My experience is in a Jeep (fun), single axle dump (wasn't fun), 35' FW (but had driven it plenty of times before I attempted, was during the week, and had the trailer in the other lane often), and truck camper.

If you do drive over and are at the top near lunch or diner, go north a couple of miles on the parkway to have a meal at Pisgah Inn which has fantastic views.