Hi,
My husband and I are looking at flying into Raleigh-Durham next month and then driving to a friends house in Deep Gap (near Boone). Can someone give me an idea of how long this drive takes? Would Greensboro airport be less driving time to Deep Gap (they both look like about 100 miles)? And, I know with many places in NC, it definitely takes longer to drive those 100 miles than one would think!
Thanks for your help in advance!
Erica

Erica, I live in Raleigh and have never heard of Deep Gap. That said, try mapquest or one of the mapping services.

Be forewarned, from RDU you would be taking HWY 40 West. They are working on the road through Durham, no big deal. They are also working on the road big time around Greensboro (and have been seemingly forever!). No major slow downs, just something to expectl.

Dick

The last time I drove from Raleigh to the mountains it took 5 hours. It is quite a bit further than 100 miles. I would try to fly into Asheville or Charlotte.

Raleigh-Durham to Boone is definitely more than 100 miles--Mapquest puts it at 177 miles and 3 hours and 22 minutes, although I've heard Mapquest is sometimes not great in determining distance.

Mapquest did use the same route to the Boone area that I used to take (many years ago)--I-40 west until you get to the exit for Highway 421, then west on 421.

Flying into Greensboro would cut maybe an hour off of that driving time, not taking into account any road work that might be going on between Raleigh-Durham and Greensboro.

Okay... my mistake. It's 192 miles from Raleigh to Boone and 112 miles from Greensboro. According to yahoo, Raleigh to Boone is about 4 hours and from Greensboro it is about 2. But, those always seem to be high, which is why I would like some first hand experience.
And FYI - flying into asheville and charlotte were quite a bit more expensive than RDU or GSO.
Thanks again!

I make that run in the winter from Raleigh to Boone and it is just over 200 miles and depending upon traffic 5-5 1/2 hours. Fly into Charlotte or Asheville.

Oh, and I'd also mention that Highway 421 is a narrow two-lane road for much of the way to Boone. I've gotten stuck behind slow-moving trucks or farm machinery on that road, making the trip take longer.

I like the last poster's suggestion--fly into Asheville. You could take the Blue Ridge Parkway from there to Boone/Deep Gap. Might not save you a lot of time (or any at all), but it'd be a much prettier drive.

That is why I said it takes 5-5 1/2 hours to drive from Raleigh to Boone, because of the two lane road, it takes a long time.

Greensboro will knock an hour + off the trip. I know flying to Charlotte or Asheville is probably a LOT more. I don't think 421 is as bad as has been painted but it will be a bit slower. It's a nice drive and you will be coming at a nice time. And it is a pretty place.