Traveling I-26, I-77, & I-81

[B D HOWie]

We are planning to head to Hagerstown, MD from Florida and return via Hendersonville, NC. It appears that I-26, l-77 & I-81 would be a change from I-95 and keep us away from DC, which we drive occasionally. Are there any concerns with this route? I expect more hills and think our tow/haul mode should handle them okay as long as we are not in a rush.
Class C pulling a GMC toad.
Thanks in advance for any heads up concerning these highways.
Paul

[cavie]

Originally Posted by B D HOWie

We are planning to head to Hagerstown, MD from Florida and return via Hendersonville, NC. It appears that I-26, l-77 & I-81 would be a change from I-95 and keep us away from DC, which we drive occasionally. Are there any concerns with this route? I expect more hills and think our tow/haul mode should handle them okay as long as we are not in a rush.
Class C pulling a GMC toad.
Thanks in advance for any heads up concerning these highways.
Paul
Attachment 173783

We travel from Florida to Mass. We travel that route every time. Smooth sailing. I refuse to travel 95

[Chief Lou]

I travel south on I-81 as I try to avoid DC at all costs! We frequently go to the Charleston area and have found that we beat the supposed I-95 “best” route by 2 and sometimes 3 hours from NW New Jersey. In 35 years of driving south I have NEVER been on either the inner or outer DC beltway, at all hours of the day, where there hadn’t been major delays due to volume, accidents or construction!

Besides, you can’t beat the scenery in the Shenandoah Valley!

[F.R.O.G.]

Beautiful route. The section from Charleston to Columbia, SC along I-26 is easy. The mountains don't come until further west on I-26 as you're starting the climb from around Spartanburg up toward Asheville.

There is one long climb that you'll encounter on I-77, starting just north of Mount Airy, NC and climbing toward the tunnel near the VA state line. The scenery off to the east is breathtaking. The climb is long and steep enough that the southbound side has a few runaway truck ramps, but you should do fine going north.

As someone else mentioned, traveling I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley is absolutely stunning. It's an easy drive through the valley. If you're going as far north as Wilkes-Barre, PA you'll find a climb there, but again it's not a really big deal.

[B D HOWie]

Thanks to you all cavie, Chief Lou and F.R.O.G. Bob. I was hoping for some beautiful scenery. The children are in Alexandria and southern MD so I-95 remains in our future.

F.R.O.G. Bob we plan to see you in Goshen.
Paul

[grumpy0374]

We have taken that route many times in our class c, towing a Subaru.
Grade comming out of NC into Va on I 77 is no big deal. Its a few miles long, but there is a trucker lane, and you will slow down, but so does everyone else. Nothing to be worried about.
If you need a campground for a night as you hit the Va state line, exit #8, in Va, Fancy Gap KOA. Beautiful little campground. We use it alot as a long weekend get a way.
You will hit a lot of traffic northbound on I 77 as you come thru Charlotte, NC, and from what I've heard, construction. Just take your time. From there, on I 77 to I 81 is smooth sailing. Traffic, yes, but the I's are in good condition. We live just off I 81 in Staunton Va, and we have a trip to Hagerstown comming up in 3 weeks to meet up with kids/grandkids.
Grumpy

[B D HOWie]

Originally Posted by grumpy0374

We have taken that route many times in our class c, towing a Subaru.

Grade comming out of NC into Va on I 77 is no big deal. Its a few miles long, but there is a trucker lane, and you will slow down, but so does everyone else. Nothing to be worried about.

If you need a campground for a night as you hit the Va state line, exit #8, in Va, Fancy Gap KOA. Beautiful little campground. We use it alot as a long weekend get a way.

You will hit a lot of traffic northbound on I 77 as you come thru Charlotte, NC, and from what I've heard, construction. Just take your time. From there, on I 77 to I 81 is smooth sailing. Traffic, yes, but the I's are in good condition. We live just off I 81 in Staunton Va, and we have a trip to Hagerstown comming up in 3 weeks to meet up with kids/grandkids.

Grumpy

Grumpy,
Thank you for the reply.
We will be staying at Jellystone the July 4th week to see the kids/grandkids.
Paul

[grumpy0374]

Originally Posted by B D HOWie

Grumpy,
Thank you for the reply.
We will be staying at Jellystone the July 4th week to see the kids/grandkids.
Paul

Staying at Jellystone also. Give the 3 grandkids plenty to do while parents, grandma and Grumpa take it easy.
Grumpy

[timfromma]

This is my preferred route to Florida. In addition to be alot more picturesque, there are no tolls.

[Larry-NC]

CHEAP FUEL!!! In the section where I-77 and I-81 run together. Take advantage of it.

Larry

[jman1725]

Just got back last week roads in good condition. By all means miss Charlotte at rush hour. lot of construction from middle of town til 15 or 20 miles out north side.

[jrowe0521]

i often travel from winston salem nc to gettysburg. I40 past greensboro to rt 29 north to rt 15 north. no truck traffic on rt 29 (until some north of charlottesvile VA) rt 29 makes some highway changes, but a garmen will keep you informed. I26 is ok, but I77 & I81 are full of trucks. I81 has many hills. all 4 lane except 45 miles north of I66

[RVBuff]

As others have mentioned, I-77 is a decent route except for the section of about 26 miles from downtown Charlotte to around mile marker 36 at Mooresville. It can be a parking lot in rush hour and pretty daunting at other times because of additional lanes under construction. You can avoid some of the hassle near downtown Charlotte by using I-485 to loop around the city.

[CaptnJohn]

I run those a lot. Actually 95 from NC south is fine- Va north sucks. That grade mentioned above is nothing. I pull 14,000# at 65 in 5th gear, an occasional drop to 4th. Stay out of the left lane as VA limit is 65 in over50 years I've only seen a cop on there twice so most see it as a 75-80 mph lane. Often 81 is little better than 95 due to truck traffic. Lots of crazies around the city too.

[RVBuff]

Afterthought...As jrowe0521 suggests, US 29 from the Fairfax, VA area down to I-40 at Greensboro is a pleasant drive--not interstate, but good road all the way. We've been that way a few times, and liked it.

[Mikolow]

We live just north of Charlotte and yes there is construction from MM 36 to MM12 so if you hit it during the mid morning and afternoon rush hours, you will be sitting for a while.
I run to Jacksonville FL every month and the stretch from I-26 in SC to Savannah can sometimes be a train of trucks. Once you hit GA, it smooth sailing from there. Also had several times of heavy trucks traffic from I-26/I-95 to Columbia. Both these areas only have 2 lanes of travel.
Don't sweat the hills north of Charlotte. As the others have said, just nice scenery.

[Adrian Gordon]

We live along I-81 at Lexington, VA (mile marker 191). I use 81/77 frequently going south and 81 itself more frequently going north. Those who have told you that the route is beautiful are correct. This is a gorgeous area. 81 is hilly through this area but nothing that should cause you a problem.

That said, I'll offer a couple of cautions. First, be very cautious on I-81 from about MM180 to MM 220. I run here as an EMS provider and I can tell you that this is a high accident area. Not sure why, perhaps too many drivers paying more attention to our beautiful scenery than to the truck in front of them. That takes me to my second caution. I-81 is a heavy trucking route, especially on Friday afternoons southbound and Sunday afternoons and evenings northbound. The posted speed limit is mostly 65 and 70 while the cars are trying to move at 75-80 and the trucks are going up the hills two abreast at 55. For me, it's fine in the RV where I'm probably sitting in the right lane doing whatever the trucks are doing. In the car it is the most maddening road I have ever driven on and I hate every second I spend on it.

Consider as an alternative using the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway. It runs parallel to I-81 along the top of the ridge-line and is dotted with scenic pull offs with spectacular views. It is much slower than the interstate with posted speeds of 35 - 45 (you really don't want to go any faster on this road), but well worth the extra time if you can spare it. There are at least three NPS campgrounds on the Parkway as it winds through Shenandoah National Park. All are no hookups, but reasonably priced and well maintained with clean bathrooms and pay showers. Skyline drive requires paying a $25 fee which gets you on for 7 days (it's free with a National Park Pass). The Blue Ridge Parkway section (south of Waynesboro, VA) is free.

Also consider US-11 which parallels I-81. It's posted speeds are usually 55 except where it goes through some of our scenic small towns and some of what pass for larger cities out here. It's a little slower than I-81 which is often visible from US-11, but generally a more relaxing drive and equally scenic or better.

Finally, if you get north of Roanoke, I'd advise waiting to purchase gas till you get up to MM 205 or north. For some reason gas prices drop on average about 15 cents a gallon and sometimes more once you are north of Lexington and getting into the Staunton area.

[timfromma]

The trucks do 50 on the uphill and 80 going down. I call it big rig leap frog. I pass several on the way up and they blow by me on the way down.

[kayo]

Once again, if all RV'ers would buy the Mountain Directory East and the Mountain Directory West for Truckers, RV and Motorhome Drivers, they would not have to ask about roads on these forums.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

CHEAP FUEL!!! In the section where I-77 and I-81 run together. Take advantage of it.

Larry

And if you get off 81 at Winchester, there are two stations that sell gas with no ethanol.

Bruce