Route 26 to Asheville NC on to Route 23 through Nantahala
 

Hi, we are driving from Connecticut to Atlanta in a few weeks. We are going down Rt 81 through Virginia. I am torn between going down Rt 77 towards Charlotte or continuing down 81 to Route 26 which will take us to Asheville, NC.

From Asheville, Route 23 goes through the Nantahala National Forest towards Georgia.

I am wondering about the terrain of Route 26 and Route 23. Are these mountain roads? Is February not a good time to be traveling through Nantahala. I am traveling with three kids so I want to try and make the trip as interesting as possible which I thought going off the beaten track might be fun--concerned about safety and time though.

Very hard to get a feel for what these road are like merely by looking at Google maps :)

Thanks for any advice.

They are not real mountain roads. And a lot of it is 4 lane. I haven't driven to Atlanta that way, but have done the Asheville to Nantahala part. Just looked at the map. I'd have to say it will be slow going--could be interesting, yes. What age children.

Kids are 11, 14 and 5. We are actually going just north of Atlanta to Cumming, GA. Drove down last spring and took Rt 81 to Rt 77--which was direct, but thought it might be nice to try something different this time around. Thought Asheville might be a nice place to stop for lunch on the way down

It would be a pretty drive, but it will be "long". But the road will be just fine, and if you pass near Brasstown, give that a look for crafts.

Do you know if speed limit on Route 23 in NC is at least 55mph?

The speed limit is 55.