Driving NY to Gatlinburg - Any Irene impacts?
 

Hi,

Thinking of taking a roadtrip, leaving 9/3/2011. NYC to Gatlinburg; to spend a few days in the Smokey Mtn National Park. Has there been any flooding from the hurricane down that way?

Not in the park itself, if that's what you're asking. The Smokies are far inland and Irene moved much more north than west.

As a matter of fact...

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20...0057/1969/NEWS

I81 through Virginia is fine if you are coming this way.

I-81 is a DISASTER in terms of speeding semis...road is in great shape but BEWARE the traffic.

I hear that a lot on here. How is it that I-81 is more of a "disaster" re "speeding semis" than any other segment of the interstate system?

You will happy to know that there is no flooding here in Gatlinburg or the National Park. If you would like to see for yourself please visit the Gatlinburg Webcams page where you can view 5 different web cams stationed around the city of Gatlinburg, several are located on the main parkway downtown and there are also 2 Great Smoky Mountains National Park webcams situated inside the park boundaries http://gatlinburg.gsmvro.com/gatlinburg-webcams/

Okay. I found this article about 81. Interesting -
http://roanoke.com/multimedia/81/bad...misconceptions

We take the backway most of the time to Blacksburg because when we take 81, about 90% of the time there are traffic (as in traffic comes to a halt because of a wreck) issues.

Truckers are the worst.....they will block both lanes, go slow in the left hand lane, tailgate, etc.

On a good day, it's always stressful and there's sigh of relief when we get to Exit 118 going to Blacksburg or get to I-64 when heading home.

I will come to the defense of the "truckers going in the left lane" if it when there is a traffic merge 2 miles ahead. People speed on ahead to beat the traffic and then pop in just at the merge. Such jerks. I have been known to block the left lane also in those cases with the guy next to me agreeing and then allowing me in when the time comes.
I 81 is fine--it IS a major interstate, after all.

For a beautiful drive take the Blue Ridge Parkway some of the way.