Community Forums

PandS · 01-24-2020, 08:19 AM

We're hoping someone is familiar with this area of northern Georgia. We have a wedding to attend in Hiawassee, GA in October. We'll be on our way from western NY to the Florida panhandle, with no route planned as of now. We're driving a 44' class A, towing a Honda CRV. Will we be able to drive the RV to Hiawassee, or will the roads be too narrow with tight turns and/or low hanging trees? If we can drive it there, what route would you suggest?

Susan

znt1186 · 01-24-2020, 08:32 AM

The roads are twisty mountainous roads with some pretty good grades, but semis manage them everyday. Mostly federal highways, so not a huge issue. You should be just fine. It is a beautiful area and there are several campgrounds in the area. Going through Asheville to Franklin to Hayesville, NC then to Hiawassee would be a good route to take. I live in Asheville and will be headed that way in a couple of weeks.

doc · 01-24-2020, 10:31 AM

Suggest that from I-40 you go US 74 south. I think it will be something like Lake Junaluska , Waynesville. Run that to US441/23 intersection. Some curves but good road with wide lanes and good shoulders. Then US 441 south toward Franklin. Again good road with curves and a couple of tricky curves coming down - watch your speed.
Stay on US441 and it will become US 64. Again, it is mountains with some sweeping curves and grades, but a good road. Stay on US64 until Hayesville. Turn south (left) toward Georgia. Good road, with more traffic but not as wide as 64. Still very doable. Watch for acres of solar panels as you head south. You will come to US76 (almost there!) Turn left toward Hiawassee. Lake Chatuge is pretty much on both sides of the road. You will run into the middle of Hiawassee in a few miles.
Welcome to N Georgia.
Several pretty good places to stay in the area.

MRUSA14 · 01-24-2020, 10:41 AM

October is a busy time for campgrounds in that area, so reserve early. There are also some good campgrounds in nearby Blairsville if Hiawassee is booked up.

Big Dude · 01-24-2020, 01:40 PM

We live in East TN and have been into the GA mountains many times and recommend Riverbend Campground near Hiawassee - blog post below. As for getting there you must go over or thru the mountains. I've been over US-76 and it is hilly and curvy but very doable in my coach but you need to be comfortable driving on mountain roads and take your time. I assume US-64 is a similar road. From my house south of Maryville, I go down US-411 then take US-74/64 to NC-69 to US 76 to Hiawassee. The section of US-74 follows the Ocoee River and goes thru, rather than over, the mountains and is curvy but not nearly as hilly as crossing the foothills (Piedmont) from the east. It is one of the routes the semi's use thru the mountains along with I-40. This route from the West is longer than coming into Hiawassee from the East but not as uncomfortable a drive if you're shy about the mountains.

https://bigdudesramblings.blogspot.c...wassee-ga.html'

PanJH · 01-25-2020, 07:17 AM

We were there in our 43ft coach pulling a F150 in September.... sure there are some twisty roads, but no big deal. If you have time, try to get over to Helen ... it's a German themed town and really comes alive in the fall with oktoberfest
In Hiawassee, we stayed at Riverbend CG. Nice place with large sites

PandS · 01-25-2020, 04:19 PM

Thanks everyone! Turns out that the wedding is the same weekend as the opening of the Georgia Fall Festival. We were able to book one of the the last sites in town!