Driving suggestions from PCD to NYC area

[cjfreitag]

I've got a delivery scheduled on January the 15th. I've been planning on taking the Blue Ridge Parkway up through Virginia, but I am wondering about road conditions at that time of year. Of course, I want to avoid interstate as much as possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions for other routes from Ashville through the Charlottesville VA area and on to NY?

[DBville]

Blue Ridge Parkway is nice, but will be closed if it snows. I think it is open unless it snows. Also Skyline drive north of the Blue Ridge - it basically picks at I-64 up and continues through the Shenandoah National Park to I-65.

Check the web site ( http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm ) for updates - and take that phone number!! I always figured it would be beautiful on a snowy day, if I could get up there to drive it. Probably take a snowmobile though!

For continuing up to NY - I would look at following I-81 and stay away from I-95! I don't know what roads along I-81, but you should be able to find many options once you clear I-66. When I lived in that area, I knew people who would drive along I-81 or east of it to get to PA/NY/NJ rather than slough through I-95.

[need4speed]

As of now, next week the 15th and 16th look OK, Monday the 14th might have rain/snow. If you are picking up a car with summer tires check the weather and be very careful in the mountains. Or skip the mountains if the weather is bad. Also, I have found that there are a lot of times when ice will linger on the road in the shade(usually around a curve) even thoug the air temp. is well above freezing. If you have time to visit The Biltmore House when in Asheville it is well worth it. Enjoy the new car.

[Virginia Bill]

The Blue Ridge/Skyline is beautiful drive, but realize that long stretches of it are very slow. You'll do well to average 45.

Other routes:

U. S 29 from Greensboro to near D. C.: 4 lanes, some local traffic, pretty countryside

I81 up the Shenandoah Valley: parallels the Blue Ridge. so the scenery is fine; usually lots of truck traffic but not as much as I95.

I85 to Richmond, then 301 toward Annapolis. Cross the bridge, drive up the Delmarva peninsula and cross to N. J. on the Cape Lewis ferry. From there it's the NJ turnpike.

[plien69]

I took Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, hopping off the BRP/SLD onto I-81 when I needed to make time. Stopped off in Asheville, Blowing Rock NC, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Luray VA, Hagerstown MD, Gettysburg, Lancaster PA, Coatesville, Princeton.

I'm not a BRP expert, but I would say the NC sections of the BRP are probably more weather sensitive than the VA sections. 45 MPH limit everywhere. You can comfortably go faster in many sections, in other sections you need to go much slower. Stories abound of aggressive enforcement on the BRP, so exceed at your own risk.

You can be break-in aware on the interstates by varying speed and RPMs, but you end up passing people, letting them get in front of you, then passing them again. Some people don't notice, some give you funny looks.

EDIT: Just saw that you're taking delivery today, so enjoy your new ride! Tell us your route when you get back (or if you log in on the road).