route 9 advice from cincy to lexington
Mar 24th, 2005, 12:48 PM
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route 9 advice from cincy to lexington
My family is coming through cincinatti enroute to the outer banks in NC. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if it would be shorter to take route 9 (Jihn y brown hwy) down to lexington ky from cincy or is it better to stay on I-75 to I-64 and take I-64 east. What kind of highway is route 9? Heavily travelled?
Any help would be appreciated.
shartrip
Any help would be appreciated.
shartrip
Mar 24th, 2005, 01:15 PM
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KY9 doesn't go south to Lexington. I assume you mean going SW towards Huntington, right? Since you're going to NC.
Never took Route 9, but it looks like a pretty slow route - one lane each way, plenty of towns, etc...
If you want to save some miles, take US52 on the north bank of the Ohio river. That route is two-lane each direction and is freeway near Huntington.
Never took Route 9, but it looks like a pretty slow route - one lane each way, plenty of towns, etc...
If you want to save some miles, take US52 on the north bank of the Ohio river. That route is two-lane each direction and is freeway near Huntington.
Mar 24th, 2005, 06:54 PM
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shartrip -
After looking more closely at the map, I think there's still a better way for you to go.
First, some distance numbers:
I-75/64 Cincinnati-Lexington-Charleston, WV is 256 miles or about 4.25 hours freeway.
But if you take OH 32 east, then OH 73 south to Portsmouth, and then US 52 to I-64, it's only 206 miles, and 4 hour drive (or less).
Or another route is OH 32 east all the way to Jackson, OH, and then US35 into WV. About 30 miles into WV, take WV 34 south to I-64. That's also about 210 miles to Charleston, and also about 4 hours.
But it really depends on what you like. For some people, it's simply easier to stay on the Interstate. For others, it's more fun doing the backroads.
After looking more closely at the map, I think there's still a better way for you to go.
First, some distance numbers:
I-75/64 Cincinnati-Lexington-Charleston, WV is 256 miles or about 4.25 hours freeway.
But if you take OH 32 east, then OH 73 south to Portsmouth, and then US 52 to I-64, it's only 206 miles, and 4 hour drive (or less).
Or another route is OH 32 east all the way to Jackson, OH, and then US35 into WV. About 30 miles into WV, take WV 34 south to I-64. That's also about 210 miles to Charleston, and also about 4 hours.
But it really depends on what you like. For some people, it's simply easier to stay on the Interstate. For others, it's more fun doing the backroads.
Mar 25th, 2005, 06:26 AM
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As a frequent traveler from NC to Ohio, I can tell you the 34/35 portion of the trip can be fine, or slow. The West Virginia portion is two lanes & follows the Kanawha River. This route is a favorite of Semis (particularly coal trucks) & farmers riding their tractors. Rt. 32 is fine & 4 lane. My preference would be the freeway unless you intend to wander & have no set schedule (but it appears to me you are searching for fast, not scenic). Rt. 32 is also a favorite of Ohio's State Troopers, so maintain the speed limit or you're likely to be paying extra. (Just one more reason to take the freeway through Ky.)
Mar 25th, 2005, 07:17 AM
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SAnParis is correct that US35 has lots of truck traffic. I was a trucker and I've taken that route dozens of times. And yes, it's just two lane in WV. But there are few towns in that 30 miles or so, and traffic moves well there.
If you don't like sharing a two-lane road with trucks, then avoid US35.
If you don't like sharing a two-lane road with trucks, then avoid US35.
