Driving to North Carolina

[Steve Dallas]

So, I'm going to be heading out to North Carolina at the end of the month. The drive out is going to be along interstates for speed, though I'll probably take more time on the way back to explore.

My current route I'm planning takes me through Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Cincinnati because of relatives I'm going to see as I quickly pass through those towns.

Google maps is saying there's toll roads. Being someone that lives on the west coast, toll roads are pretty rare.

My question is, it looks like the toll roads are in Illinois and Virginia. I have no idea how much these things cost, so I want to be prepared with coins or whatever I need ahead of time.

It looks like I could do a route around the tip of Virginia, however I have no idea if that's just not worth it from a time/expense standpoint.

So, I'm looking for people familiar with those areas to give me some tips.

edit: Route changed because I had 2 more days added to time I would take on trip. No longer on interstates.

[45thAnniversary2SS]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

So, I'm going to be heading out to North Carolina at the end of the month. The drive out is going to be along interstates for speed, though I'll probably take more time on the way back to explore.

My current route I'm planning takes me through Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Cincinnati because of relatives I'm going to see as I quickly pass through those towns.

Google maps is saying there's toll roads. Being someone that lives on the west coast, toll roads are pretty rare.

My question is, it looks like the toll roads are in Illinois and Virginia. I have no idea how much these things cost, so I want to be prepared with coins or whatever I need ahead of time.

It looks like I could do a route around the tip of Virginia, however I have no idea if that's just not worth it from a time/expense standpoint.

So, I'm looking for people familiar with those areas to give me some tips.

Doesn't take much longer avoiding the tolls:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Cinc...harlotte&2s=NC

You can check "Avoid Tolls" as an option if you'd like. Difference is like 15 minutes. Such a pretty ride too. Love driving on I77 through the mountains.

[Au201]

The tolls around here run between 85 cents and 3 dollars (Virginia)


Sent from my bragging iPhone using an app that encourages it.

[Aubrey64]

I drive from Texas to North Carolina often enough, as my older sister lives in Raleigh (I'm actually going there on the 28th!) I never take the toll roads, and it doesn't take too much longer.

[Steve Dallas]

It turns out I have 2 extra days to make this trip, so I'll definitely be taking side roads.

Going to split up the last leg from Cincinnati to Durham with an extra stop in Hot Springs, VA, I think.

[NFERGY 2011 RJT]

if coming down 64 there are 3 tolls at $2.00 each all 3 in West Va

[NFERGY 2011 RJT]

if you come through Roanoke Va let me know ill show you around

[Mr Twisty]

Depends on where you're going in Va.

You'll want to go around Chicago on I-294, you can look up the rate online. I use pike pass so I don't know what they charge, but whatever you do, don't go thru on the pike pass lanes, stop and pay the toll. Some might say to take hwy 41 & I-94 thru town, I wouldn't especially while the sun is shining.

If you're going to eastern Va, you may need to go down I-77 out of Charleston, Wv. (toll) but it's probably not much farther to go down to Knoxville, then take I-40 east. (no toll)

[Blk-Ice]

If I were you I would avoid VA roads. Lots of traffic delays for road work and lots of traffic in general. What route are you taking that sends you to VA then back to NC?

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Blk-Ice

If I were you I would avoid VA roads. Lots of traffic delays for road work and lots of traffic in general. What route are you taking that sends you to VA then back to NC?

I will be staying where the H is. A place called The Omni Homestead Resort.

[Mr Twisty]

WHOA! Did you set the road preference to difficult?

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by Mr Twisty

WHOA! Did you set the road preference to difficult?

There's two settings for Google Maps. No Tolls. Avoid Highways. I chose both. I like the routes it chose through Washington, Idaho and Montana...so figured it'd work well for the rest of the country that I'm not as familiar with.

That road is different in that I believe the place I'm staying at is a ski lodge in the winter, so it's got to be on a "mountain" road. "Mountain" because in the east, your "mountains" are our foothills.

Seriously though, it'd be interesting to see what people familiar with that area think of this route/road.

[Steve Dallas]

Here's the whole route, if anyone's interested...

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

There's two settings for Google Maps. No Tolls. Avoid Highways. I chose both. I like the routes it chose through Washington, Idaho and Montana...so figured it'd work well for the rest of the country that I'm not as familiar with.

That road is different in that I believe the place I'm staying at is a ski lodge in the winter, so it's got to be on a "mountain" road. "Mountain" because in the east, your "mountains" are our foothills.

Seriously though, it'd be interesting to see what people familiar with that area think of this route/road.

The last part of your trip, once you get out of Ohio, you're getting into the Appalachian mountain range, not the altitudes you have out west, but the twisted roads will look familiar, if not even tighter since many of the roads grew up from old wagon paths back in the 1600's...

If I run from Charleston east I always run I-64, I imagine on the back roads you'll eventually get tired of keeping the steering wheel turned all.the.time.

Even compared to the Rockies tho, the Appalachians have a beauty all their own, I think you'll like it.