peggy01

We will be visiting family in Greenville, SC in October. We are flying Southwest Airlines because we have two free round trip tickets. Unfortunately, Southwest does not fly into SC. So, we are flying in to Nashville. Our flight arrives at 4:10. Ideally, we would like to stop about half way between Nashville and Asheville for dinner and to stay the night, then continue on to Asheville in the morning for a little sightseeing. Can anyone suggest a nice quaint town to stay in? We want a decent, clean hotel, but nothing too expensive. Also, I would appreciate any suggestions for dinner.

xrae

Wouldn't Knoxville be about halfway? You can find "charming" if you go out of the way a little bit, but since your flight arrives so late you may not have time to do that. Or drive all the way into Asheville, which has plenty of charming places to choose from. (However, in October it'll be dark early, and you may want to drive through the mountains in the daylight for scenic purposes. I-40 between Newport, Tenn., and Asheville is one of the prettiest stretches of highway in the east.)

There are plenty of decent, clean hotels along I-40, especially in Knoxville or Kodak/Sevierville (that's at the exit for Pigeon Forge), or a little further along in Newport. And Newport is a cute little town to drive through.

The more I think about it, the more I think you'd want to be through Knoxville before bedding down. You don't want to drive through Knoxville during the morning rush, it's a pain in the rear.

Gretchen

Unfortunately, Knoxville is pretty far east--not really half way but it will make your next day very short--2 hours.
That is one long car trip for getting to Greenville. I think SW is flying to Raleigh NC now. That would be closer.
For halfway from Nashville to Ashville, you might search in Crossville TN. There are a few larger towns along that road, but not many.

BetsyinKY

I agree with xrae and would try to stay around Knoxville. It is about 3 hours from Nashville to Knoxville, and then another 2 hours from Knoxville to Asheville, so it is a little bit more than halfway, but you'll have that much less driving on day 2.

stevebarr

On the day you find yourself driving between Knoxville and Asheville, you might want to treat yourself to a quick stop in Hot Springs, North Carolina. You'll see an exit for it on one of the prettiest stretches of I-40. You can relax in the soothing waters and unwind from your flight and drive before you head into the "big" town.

Here's a link:
http://www.hotspringsnc.org/frameset.php?MenuName=Home

peggy01

These are wonderful suggestions. Thank you, everyone. Gretchen, I agree, it's a lot more driving than I like. I know Southwest flies into Raleigh, but it's only an hour less in driving time. We picked Nashville because Southwest has a direct flight there (only 3 hours, 40 minutes) versus the 7 hour flight (with one stop) to Raleigh. We'll get to Nashville 2 1/2 hours earlier and can leave for the airport an hour later in the morning. So that's the reason for Nashville.

I think we will try to get past Knoxville to avoid the traffic. That's a great suggestion. We might as well head all the way to Newport. I checked Mapquest and the drive from Newport to Asheville will be beautiful and short the next day. Any suggestions for a place to stay in Newport??? Thanks everyone! You are all so helpful.

Gretchen

Greenville is about 3 hours from Charlotte, and Raleigh is about 3 hours from Charlotte--and a much less complicated drive. I think you are looking at a wash--PLUS having to go back to Nashville from Williamsburg, if I am understanding your itinerary correctly.
Newport may have a motel--maybe look it up on google. There is really not much on I40 from Knoxville to Ashville.

xrae

There are several Interstate motels in Newport.

Hot Springs, NC, is a neat little Appalachian Trail town, but it's a little out of the way if you're in a rush. But what a nice drive! So if you're not in a rush, check it out. You could spend a few days just exploring the little towns along the Tennessee state line between Asheville and the GSMNP.

The last time we drove through Hot Springs we were on the way to Max Patch. We encountered a group of Model T owners out for a drive on one of the highways. If only my camera had been at the ready ....

peggy01

Gretchen - the good news is we don't have to drive back to Nashville. We will be flying back home out of Norfolk, only an hour from Williamsburg. I said we had free round trip tickets, but Southwest allows you to use it for two one-way tickets.

Question- Mapquest shows the drive from Charlotte to Greenville taking 1 hour and 45 minutes. Is it really 3 hours? Or is that taking traffic into consideration?

Brian_in_Charlotte

Is about 2 hours from Greenville to Charlotte any time other than weekday rush hours, and unless there are accidents, even that shouldn't add more than 20 extra minutes.

Gretchen

No, it is about 2 hours--I was just tossing that off.
Have just come back from driving through Knoxville to Ohio. The road is fine from Knox to Asheville.
I have found the drive to Nashville to be pretty dull, but it is along a plateau and that time of year should be pretty colors.