Southeast MI to Charlotte NC

[Anne202b]

Hi all,

New to Roadtrip America! Finding some amazing tools and forums!

Having to make an emergency trip from MI to NC, I don't have much time to plan. Leaving in 4 days. Traveling from metro Detroit area to Clyde, NC, then on to Charlotte, (or vice versa) then back to MI. I'd prefer routes that steer clear of super high, mountainous roads, but I fear (pun intended!) that's the only way.

Does anyone have any advice on whether I-40 is better/worse (for people nervous about mountain-driving) etc. than I-77? Any other routes that wouldn't add hours and hours of driving will definitely be considered.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance,

A~

[glc]

Welcome to RTA!

You are right - you can't avoid mountains. You might as well just take the most efficient Interstate route, which is I-75 to Knoxville, I-40 to Clyde, I-40 to Hickory to US-321 to I-85 to Charlotte. To avoid mountains, you would essentially have to go way west and south to Birmingham.

I'd recommend that you restrict your driving to daylight hours between roughly the KY/TN state line and Asheville if mountains concern you.

Take I-77 on the way back to Charleston, then I-64 to US-35 to US-23 to OH-15 to Findlay, then I-75. Again, recommend daylight hours between Mount Airy and Charleston.

Interstate highways are built to safety standards in mountainous areas, it really doesn't get any better than that.

[Anne202b]

Welcome to RTA!

You are right - you can't avoid mountains. You might as well just take the most efficient Interstate route, which is I-75 to Knoxville, I-40 to Clyde, I-40 to Hickory to US-321 to I-85 to Charlotte. To avoid mountains, you would essentially have to go way west and south to Birmingham.

I'd recommend that you restrict your driving to daylight hours between roughly the KY/TN state line and Asheville if mountains concern you.

Take I-77 on the way back to Charleston, then I-64 to US-35 to US-23 to OH-15 to Findlay, then I-75. Again, recommend daylight hours between Mount Airy and Charleston.

Interstate highways are built to safety standards in mountainous areas, it really doesn't get any better than that.

Thanks for the reply! I appreciate your time. I'll be getting the good 'ol paper map and highlighter out. Maybe buy some horseblinders for the drive. LOL Thanks again. :)