Route 89 to Galax

[accordionman]

We're heading up to the Fiddlers Festival in Galax tomorrow from FL and will be traveling via 77 thru SC and NC. Just before entering into VA it's possible to grab 89 NW right into Galax OR continue N on 77 to 58/221, then SW into Galax. 58/221 looks like a better road, but I'm not knowledgeable about 89. It might be just fine.....and it is a bit shorter. Anyone with any experience on this route willing to put in their .02.......

[JMynes]

77 north of Charlotte is under construction for about 15 miles. It can be slow going in the afternoon rush hour.

[Al and Missy]

I second JMynes comments about 77 N of Charlotte. It is a disaster. I'm still looking for a way to go around it. The last time we came through Charlotte we tried to go around the construction by going through Davidson. Bad Idea. The college was having orientation or interviews for potential students and it was stop and go on narrow streets. Lake Norman prevents any bypass to the west that would save significant time.

I went 58/221 when I went a couple of years ago. I've never driven 89, but I use RV Trip Wizard as a trip planner now so I planned a trip from Melbourne to Galax and it showed 89 with no warnings. It has a tool to show max altitude and grade %. It showed a max altitude of around 2500' and the steepest part of the route was just before getting into Galax but it was under 2%. I zoomed in and looked at the road as best I could. It appeared to be a 2-lane highway but not much in the way of development to cause congestion. 58/221 is only about 11 miles longer, so if you are concerned about 89, you could go that way without much of a penalty.



Al

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by accordionman

We're heading up to the Fiddlers Festival in Galax tomorrow from FL and will be traveling via 77 thru SC and NC. Just before entering into VA it's possible to grab 89 NW right into Galax OR continue N on 77 to 58/221, then SW into Galax. 58/221 looks like a better road, but I'm not knowledgeable about 89. It might be just fine.....and it is a bit shorter. Anyone with any experience on this route willing to put in their .02.......

I have traveled 89 many times. It gets fairly steep and crooked before the Cumberland Knob Rec Area, up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and on into Galax. There has been heavy rain in that area over the last several days that might have washed out culverts and pipes in places. I'd advise staying on the US Highways.
I've never towed on 89. I always go up to 58/221 because it is a better road.
If I-77 is blocked by construction US 52 is still open, the old road through Mt Airy is an alternate. Going up is no problem, but come back down on I-77.

[CRH]

Unless 77 at the bottom of Fancy Gap is at a standstill due to a Northbound accident, continue up 77 and get off at the Hillsville/Galax exit. Its an easy drive and only a short distance to your destination from the Va border.

[Scott59]

I was just in Galax last week. We live in Atlanta and we’re told to NOT take 89. We took 77 north out of Charlotte all the way to exit 14 in VA. Turn left and you’re in Galax in just a few miles. We had no issues on 77 .

[Sdmezurek]

Husband hauls cattle on 77 e few times a week and we stayed in Galax last year, long story short, take 77. Get off on 58 to Galax..

[accordionman]

Well we're here and we did take 89 from 77. It was fine road but a substantial upgrade. Not a problem for the 250 and the Classic. 77 just north of Charlotte on Saturday, from what we understand, was a disaster, but as we were going to be going north on Sunday, we decided to take the chance and it moved just fine. Certainly a heavier traffic flow, but no problems.

On the way out of here, I think I'm going to go NW from Galax to grab 77 south as I'd like to avoid the substantial grade down from Cool Breeze to 77. I think the extra 13 miles is worth the detour.

But to recap, 89 was fine on the way in and 77 N. of charlotte on Sunday was fine.

[A W Warn]

Glad you made it safely.
It is a wise decision to go down the other way!

A friend of mine was towing down that exact road several years ago. His trailer's brakes got so hot that they failed. Sparks started flying on one wheel. When he was safely down the grade, he was able to stop to check what was wrong. He found the brake shoe friction pad had come off so that the braking was metal to metal on that one wheel.

When he looked back up where he had just come from, there was a small forest fire blazing along side the road, which he assumed those sparks had ignited. Luckily it was extinguished quickly since he was able to report it immediately, and no harm was done to people or property.