stopping off I 81 South
Jul 3rd, 2015, 05:22 PM
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stopping off I 81 South
What's an interesting stopping point between NYC and Nashville, TN on (or off) I81 South? I can't drive more than about 10 hours in one day. I'll overnight somewhere--but where? Roanoke doesn't seem that inviting...but it looks halfway. Suggestions from those who know the area, please!
Jul 3rd, 2015, 06:17 PM
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Roanoke is a nice little city to stop in, there is a downtown area with some breweries and shopping, as well as the Mill Mountain Star and Zoo.
Lexington is another possibility. VMI is there and it's beautiful campus to walk around, and Lexington also has a pretty downtown area to explore. Devil's Backbone Brewery Outpost is here too if that interests you. Natural Bridge is also near here as well. And, something else unique is Hull's Drive-In. Great little drive-in theater in Lexington you could do if you are interested.
Staunton is one more possibility. Again, nice downtown area with some good restaurants and breweries.
At any of these places you could go up onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is beautiful.
If you are looking for a larger city (Roanoke is the largest of the three I mentioned), you won't find it along I81 around your midway point. There is Charlottesville, but that's east of 81. You'd have to take 64E at the 81/64 junction in Staunton and cross Afton Mtn (about 45 minutes to get there from Staunton). Charlottesville does have a great downtown area and restaurants, also Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) is nearby as well and is very interesting. Along Route 29 there are also a TON of breweries and wineries to visit if that is of interest.
How interesting does this stop need to be, and what do you consider of interest? It sounds like it's more of an overnight stay, and after 6 or 7 hours of driving you won't have much time to do much anyways.
Lexington is another possibility. VMI is there and it's beautiful campus to walk around, and Lexington also has a pretty downtown area to explore. Devil's Backbone Brewery Outpost is here too if that interests you. Natural Bridge is also near here as well. And, something else unique is Hull's Drive-In. Great little drive-in theater in Lexington you could do if you are interested.
Staunton is one more possibility. Again, nice downtown area with some good restaurants and breweries.
At any of these places you could go up onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is beautiful.
If you are looking for a larger city (Roanoke is the largest of the three I mentioned), you won't find it along I81 around your midway point. There is Charlottesville, but that's east of 81. You'd have to take 64E at the 81/64 junction in Staunton and cross Afton Mtn (about 45 minutes to get there from Staunton). Charlottesville does have a great downtown area and restaurants, also Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) is nearby as well and is very interesting. Along Route 29 there are also a TON of breweries and wineries to visit if that is of interest.
How interesting does this stop need to be, and what do you consider of interest? It sounds like it's more of an overnight stay, and after 6 or 7 hours of driving you won't have much time to do much anyways.
Jul 4th, 2015, 07:57 AM
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If you choose to drive further then you certainly can look into Bristol. Again, it's similar to the towns mentioned, and would be nice for a stopover. The state line actually runs down Main Street, so half the town is in TN and half in VA.
The towns I've mentioned are just ones that are about your halfway point. And there really isn't much between Roanoke and Bristol, except Wytheville, which you probably won't find interesting.
And, depending on traffic and how long it takes you to get out of the city, it may take you longer than 10 hours to get there. Mapquest has it at about 9.5 hours, but that's with no stops and no traffic.
The towns I've mentioned are just ones that are about your halfway point. And there really isn't much between Roanoke and Bristol, except Wytheville, which you probably won't find interesting.
And, depending on traffic and how long it takes you to get out of the city, it may take you longer than 10 hours to get there. Mapquest has it at about 9.5 hours, but that's with no stops and no traffic.
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