New York to Nashville

[dchafer]

We will be travelling with our Montana in October and just wanted to see how many and how big those mountain passes are that we go through.
Has anyone done this trip and how was the terrain? I have been told that there are some pretty good passes to go through. We are going down I-81 all the way to Knoxville and then onto Nashville.

Any advise here? Thanks, Diane

Diane,Dennis & Taffy
3400RL
2003 Silverado 2500 HD D/A, Prodigy Control
Reese 16K Slider

[Bill and Ann]

I-81 doesn't have any mountains. They are just big hills. You shouldn't have any problems. You have to get off I-81 and go onto the Blue Ridge Parkway before you run into anything around 4,000 ft. Travelling at dusk and dawn going down 81 will have a lot of deer along the road. Depending on when you are travelling you could run into a bit of fog also.

If you can't play a sport....Be one.

Bill and Ann
Napanee, Ontario, Canada
2004 3670RL Big Sky
2003 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4 Short Bed
20K.Reece Hitch
Duramax/Allison
Prodigy Controller

[Chuck and Carol]

We do 81 all the time to Harrisburg. There are very big "hills" that will suck a lot of fuel out of your tank. We just came back up from down there and it was crowded with tractor and trailers. Never saw so many. First I thought it was the storm coming and people wanted to get north. But it was in the south lane too.
We are going back to traveling at night. Fewer trucks trying to run you off the road. What happened to the old days when truckers were polite?

Carol

Carol and Chuck
2006 3670RL
2005 GMC 3500 Sierra (White)
Allison/Duramax diesel, dual wheels,
4 wheel drive,
long bed, crew cab,
pipe running boards
Reese hitch.

[dchafer]

Bill and Ann, Chuck and Carol, that is 1 yes and 1 no, for big hills..... lol.
We just came through from Washington, Idaho Montana, Wyoming etc...in May, now that is mountains... for 4 days...
So I gather we shouldn't have too much trouble right...
thanks, DIane.... co-pilot. lol


Diane,Dennis & Taffy
3400RL
2003 Silverado 2500 HD D/A, Prodigy Control
Reese 16K Slider

[Glenn and Lorraine]

I lived in both southeast PA just 35 miles from I-81 and than moved to Northern NY near Watertown just 20 minutes from I-81. I have more trips on I-81 both north and south than I care to remember including running it from Watertown, NY to Knoxville where we picked up I-75 to Florida. We also traveled I-40 from Nashville to Knoxville and Pigeon Forge.

Having said that I must agree with Bill and Ann in one respect that there are no hills to speak of on I-81. Least wise not compared to anything like you had in Washington, Idaho Montana, Wyoming. The big "hills" that Carol is referring to are a couple mountains in northeast PA that hardly amount to a hill of beans. Approaching these "hills" I kick it out of overdrive and run right up them and rarely having to shift down more than 1 gear if that. Once you get to the top just north of Scranton you run the top of a mountain ridge pretty much to where I-81 meets I-78 north of Harrisburg. From there to Knoxville it's pretty much flat and from Knoxville to Nashville is also a cake walk.

BTW-Carol is right about the truck traffic as I-81 is a major corridor from the north to the south and vice versa. Just keep at least the speed limit, stay alert and you won't have any troubles with the truckers.

Enjoy your stay in Nashville. We will be heading there for the end of September or first week in October.

If you haven't been there before I highly recommend the Two Rivers Campground. We've stayed there before and will be there again this year.

If you need any further info send me a


Glenn
Montana Owners Home Page
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Glenn and Lorraine
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[awaywego]

Diane,
I run this road several times and will be again next week. The only two big HILLS you will cross is between Roanoak, Va and Christiansburg, Va. and another leaving Knoxville heading to Crossville, Tn..
Neither of these will be any problem for you though.
Like the others said big hills.
Have a safe trip.

Montana 3280 RL
Ford 350 Lariat PSD
Western Diesel turbo
brake, gauges, chip
OUR travels: http://community.webshots.com/user/awaywego

[BillyRay]

Just be careful going through PA. Our last trip the fog was so bad we were crawling. The hills there will suck the fuel down, but in nice weather, it's a nice trip. we are considering the same trip, but not for another year or two.

BillyRay


2002 3500 Chevy D/W 4x4 C/C Diesel
2004 3685FL