Great Smoky Mt. FYI (Construction)

[GaryKD]

Hi Born2RV,
Watch the weather like a hawk in West Virginia and around the Virginia/North Carolina border. WV is just plain up down and around. And you pay extra to drive the road. After you leave the I77/I81 split in VA, you have about 23 miles before you begin the decent down Fancy Gap Mountain. It is about a 7% grade down, with turns for about 7 miles. Once you get to NC, there is a rest area where you can stop until the blood pressure goes down. In the winter, Fancy Gap mountain is noted for fog and/or ice, depending on the weather. While you are on the I77/I81 split there are two Flying Js within about 10 miles of each other. Get fuel there and you will be good all the way to the beach. At that time try the CB and ask the truckers for the condition of I77 on Fancy Gap mountain. If you watch the weather and go only when safe or later in the day if the sun is out, you'll be okay.

[Superslif]

I saw your post about Maumee Bay, which one day we will check out. We'll be going to MB in Aug this summer. In past trips we would leave NE Ohio after the evening rush hour and travel as far as I could to somewhere in Virgina / NC border area and boondock at a rest area. Driving thru southern Ohio I remember long stretches of no open gas stations late at night. Between Cambridge Ohio on I-77 and Charleston WV. Plan ahead. Also fog problems in the mountains of WV. late at night. Watch when you go thru Charlotte. You do not want to go thru at rush hour period.

[Born2RV]

Thank you for the advice! I've printed it for reference. My hubby works afternoons, so we plan on leaving Michigan (north of Detroit) around midnight and driving to either northern or southern NC. How far do you think we'll get by mid afternoon? We'll be ready to stop early and rest, then get up the next day to finish the drive. What exact routes would you advise? thank you again!

[Superslif]

For us going to MB is about 730 miles (14 hours of travel time) from Cleveland OH. Before you get to Columbia SC. we would get off of I-77 about 50 north at Route 9 and take route 97 to "cut" around Columbia. Just a thought.....

[DGShaffer]

Thanks for the construction post. I have a trip planned for the beginning of July where I'll be hauling three bikes down. One of the planned bike trips was to Clingmans Dome. At least now I won't be surprised if the road is closed.

[Superslif]

Here again is the link to construction projects for the Smoky's Clingmans Dome is said to be done by the end of May.