HWY 321 Boone, NC to Elizabethton, TN

[Coolharts]

We are heading to Roan Mountain, TN next month from the Greensboro, NC area and I was wondering how US 321 is from Boone to Elizabethton? I have to detour to Elizabethton on our way to the campsite to drop off car parts. We will be pulling our 33' travel trailer. I know the mountain up to Boone from Wilkesboro is a hard pull but I have never been on 321 the rest of the way.

[DreiHunde]

Sorry, I've never towed that section of 321. But I have traveled the below route several times to include icing conditions in Jan and it is a pretty comfortable tow. In fact, went that way last week and didn't have any road construction or delays. It adds a few miles but it works out about the same time.

From Boon - 105 to Linville. 181 to Newland. Then 194 joins up with 19E to Elizabethton.
Granted you would have to back track to Roan Mountain but you even have some backtracking if you go 321 as well.

If you are staying at the state park, it is fantastic!

[Coolharts]

We were in Linville and Newland the other week, beautiful country! We drove the car on US-221 from Blowing Rock to Linville, I would never attempt that road with the travel trailer.

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by Coolharts

We were in Linville and Newland the other week, beautiful country! We drove the car on US-221 from Blowing Rock to Linville, I would never attempt that road with the travel trailer.

Yea, that section of 221 would be pretty "challenging" if you were towing.

That's why I use 105 and the route I mapped out to go to Roan Mountain....it makes for a pretty easy tow!

and looking at the map 321 looks crazier than 221

[Gonetothedogs]

Have not pulled on US 321, but I have a house on Roan Mountain and I have camped in both the Roan Mountain State Park and Mountain View RV Park located on Hwy 143 going up to the Roan. As mentioned before by a forum member, US 321 is not a difficult road to tow on. The views around Watauga Lake are great and the road conditions are very good. Numerous areas to pull off. However, my comments here are more concerning about Roan Mountain area. Once you turn off Hwy 19 onto Hwy 143 to go up the Roan, you will find two very sharp 90 degree turns that hug a vertical rock wall. Both turns are blind to the opposing traffic. I have a 42' 5vr, and I can tell you that more than once I have slowed down to a crawl n right order to go out in the oncoming lane to get my rig around that tight turn. Hope and pray for no opposing traffic in both cases. If you are staying at the State Park, once you are past these two 90 degree turns, you will have no problems. Watch for the local traffic to be fast and without fear going around the curves. If you are staying at Mountain View RV Park, be very careful as you manuever left onto Heaton Creek Rd and then immediately turn right to cross the bridge toward the RV Park. Again, if you have a long rig, your clearances between front end and rear are very small (inches). I made several attempts in getting across that bridge and onto the road leading to the campground. Have fun and you will enjoy the mountain air.

[Coolharts]

Great info, Thanks!

We are staying at the State Park, site 2A, we were warned that larger campers need to stay in this loop. I will pay special attention to the road going in. This will be our first time RVing in Tennessee.

[Coolharts]

Originally Posted by DreiHunde

Sorry, I've never towed that section of 321. But I have traveled the below route several times to include icing conditions in Jan and it is a pretty comfortable tow. In fact, went that way last week and didn't have any road construction or delays. It adds a few miles but it works out about the same time.

From Boon - 105 to Linville. 181 to Newland. Then 194 joins up with 19E to Elizabethton.
Granted you would have to back track to Roan Mountain but you even have some backtracking if you go 321 as well.

If you are staying at the state park, it is fantastic!

That looks like a great route too!

[wing2008]

Originally Posted by Coolharts

That looks like a great route too!

We live in Linville NC Take the 105 route out of Boone.

[Rbare31]

I can’t help with the road question but I have a lot of memories from going up there as a kid. My Dad grew up in Elizabethton. He joined the Air Force and married a La. girl. Lol. We went up there about twice a year as a kid. Many a time I watched the road thru the little window on the front of the truck camper in Daddy’s old 76 dually.
We all went up there about 10 years ago before my Granny passed away, my Dad and Uncle suggested we go over to the Daniel Boone inn for supper. The trip over was fine, but I knew something was up when my Dad looked at my Uncle and said “let’s take’m the back way”. Took a lot longer to get back and my wife was scared to death, thought she was gonna strangle my Dad and Uncle. Lol. It had curves on it that you could read your own license plate on the back of your car, lol. She made me stop coming back into La. so she could get a picture of the Welcome sign.

Oh the memories. Anyway, sorry for being off topic but I just smiled when I saw this post. We would swim in the creek at Backbone Rock, FREEZING COLD!!!, one year we couldn’t go to the top of Roan in the summer because of ice. Mom and Dad just got back from up there. They camp in a small park in Elizabethton on the Watauga river.

[lbrjet]

I have taken the 321 to 67 to Elizabethton. Wasn't a bad drive. Road seemed a little narrow at times, but I had no issues at all. The pull up 421 towards Boone a steep one. Done that too.

[Coolharts]

Just to give a report, US 321 from Boone to Elizabethton is a twisty road but not terribly bad. Driving the tight main street in Boone is a big challenge. Driving past Lake Watauga is a beautiful ride. Some of the hills were steep and some corners were tight but I would drive it again.

We took US 19 South out of Tennessee to Newlands,NC. Definitely a better road than 321. HWY NC 105 has a lot of traffic past Grandfather Mountain and Seven Devils and many people turning into developments and stores. Some of the stops on the down grades could be tricky if you are going too fast. All in all 105 is the better road, just not as scenic.

The grade on 421 from Wilkes County to Boone is one that you let your truck find a speed it like and go with it. I went up the hill at 40-45 so I didn't get the exhaust gas temp too high and not to stress it too much. On the return trip Tow/Haul is your friend to save your brakes. I tow in tow/haul every time I pull the camper.

[DreiHunde]

Great report back! Thx!