Hello everyone! I have to drive through the Appalachian mountains again this summer, from Indianapolis to Fayetteville NC. The last time I did I was so scared, nausea, miserable with all the "near the edge" roads through the mountains..can someone familiar with these routes please suggest the best routes with the flattest terrain and the least terrifying route through the mountains? Thank you so much!!
Welcome to RTA!
To avoid mountains, you will turn a 650 mile trip into a 1000 mile trip. I-65 to Birmingham, then I-20 to I-95. This is a full 2 day drive. Birmingham is the halfway point for an overnight stop.
The Interstate Highway System is built to certain specific standards. An Interstate can't gain or lose more than 500 feet of elevation per mile. Curves have to be gentle enough to allow for traffic to move at 70 mph normally and 50 mph even in the most severe mountainous terrain. Lanes must be at least 12 feet wide, and there have to be at least two lanes and a shoulder. I-77 goes through the Appalachians linking Charleston WV with Mt. Airy NC on either side of the Appalachians. As glc noted, if even roads of Interstate quality have not met your needs then you will be looking at adding several hundred miles to your journey.
AZBuck