Virginia Beach to Ashville, NC

[VaTravelers]

I'm heading out in the morning for an Ashville, NC adventure. My Garmin is taking me Rt 85 south of Greesboro but my wife says take Rt 40 all the way. Advice anyone?

[OTRA15]

Have you looked at an actual map to determine the lay of the land, the relationship of I-85 and I-40 and forth?

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Virg...9!2d35.5950581

In fact you might be taking BOTH I-85 and I-40. Not sure why taking I-85 south of Greensboro is recommended, as I-40 seems more direct IMO.

Do you have maps of Virginia and North Carolina, and a road atlas, in the car?

Have a great trip.

Peter

[VaTravelers]

Peter thanks for the reply. I've looked at it on maps and as the crow flies 40 appears to be more direct. I was just wondering if 40 is not as good a road.

[OTRA15]

Sorry can't help you there. Here is the NC DOT Twitter feed for detailed info on I-40:

https://twitter.com/ncdot_i40?lang=en

FWIW there appears to be lots of nighttime construction, but not sure where it is all located ["MM" is for Mile Marker I assume]. I would avoid the stretch from Durham to Winston-Salem in today's AM/PM rush hours IMO.

See also: https://tims.ncdot.gov/tims/

Have fun!

Peter

[wahya]

40 and 85 overlap near greensboro for about 40 miles. I would run 40 all the way. Direct shot straight into asheville.

[roger4147]

If you end coming through on I-85, then you will pass right by Shelby, NC, home of the Earl Scruggs Center, the Don Gibson Theatre & Newgrass Brewing Company! It would be well worth your time to get off the by-pass and venture into the Uptown District. Specialty shops, live music at various venues from Wednesday to Saturday starting around 6:00 pm. Well worth venturing the 5-10 minutes out of your way! If you come in on I-85, then you will more than likely take NC 74 west to Asheville which goes right by Shelby. Stop by and visit!!

[Silver Otter]

Hope you used I-40 and liked it. It is our Go To road for that trip, which we make often to visit our younger son and his bride in Asheville. We camp at Bear Creek or Campfire Lodgings when there.

[VaTravelers]

We used I-40 and really had no issues. I blew an intercooler turbo boot on my TV, but had tools and a Ford dealer in Hickory delivered on in no time. Lost less than an hour. We stayed in Powhatan State Park. We dry camped (although we were offered a full hook-up site this morning. No issues with dry camping. Great location and very well run and maintained park. Highly recommended and you can't beat the price.

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the update. Where did you stay in Asheville? Thanks.

[VaTravelers]

We stayed in Powhatan State Park. Very nice private sites. Some great biking, close to Biltmore Estate and the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can bike to the NC Arboretum, which was amazing.

[OTRA15]

Thanks. I guess you mean this "Lake Powhatan Recreation Area" --

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/l...O&parkId=70206

The Arboretum looks great, thanks for the lead.

http://www.ncarboretum.org/

Have a good weekend.

Peter

[OTRA15]

PS -- The FS etc. links:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsn...a/?recid=48172
https://cfaia.org/lake-powhatan-recr...orth-carolina/

[VaTravelers]

Yes that's it.