I am hesitating between the coast route (US 17) and a mountain route (Blue Mountains PKway). I'll leave W DC on Nov 17.
Thanks for your advices
Alain (France)

The Coastal Route is better.

The moutain route can slow to a crawl as you wind up, through and around the mountains. This would be fine for a 4-6 hour weekend Sunday sports drive, but would get old very quickly after that. For such a long trip, I suggest you stay on flat, level, roads along the coast.

Both are scenic in their own way, but completly different. The coastal route also has more cities and villages along the way for stopping, eating, etc.

Thanks, Bardo. One precision: I have almost 2 weeks for this trip
Alain

I think it's personal preference. I like the mts, my DH prefers the coast. Both are nice in their own way. Decide what kind of scenery you'd prefer and go for it. Have fun.

I see no reason you can't have both. From D.C. you can take the mountain route to somewhere around Winston-Salem, NC. Then pick a route southward that will bring you to the coast somewhere around the NC-SC border. Continue along that route for the rest of the trip. Good luck.

Their are "mountain routes", and there is "Blue Ridge Parkway". Blue Ridge Parkway is a very slow scenic route which is great for a daytrip, but not good for trying to get to Florida.

But like Wayne says, you can do a stretch of the Parkway, and then get back onto I-81 to make up some time on the inland route, and then wander back towards the coast.

Thanks,
I agree , as I realised (on web sites) that all the Parkway lodges (except one) are closed at this season!
Alain (France)

I agree with Wayne. Do both. Once you get south of the Carolinas, you'll be seeing lots of flat coastal land. You have a great opportunity to see landscapes on the first part of your journey from D.C. that you won't be able to duplicate when you get closer to Florida.

Highway 81 is a great highway; you will fly through the mountains there, but you'll still see them. I suggest either taking 81 to 77 and going from Winston-Salem to the coast, as Wayne suggested . . . or to get a little more of the mountains, take the Blue Ridge Parkway from 77 (just above the VA, NC border) all the way to Asheville, NC. It will be slow going, but not much traffic that time of year, and you can stay at Boone or Blowing Rock just off the parkway, then make your way to Asheville (via the parkway), a really neat little city. In Asheville, you get back on a great interstate highway, I-26, which can have you at Charleston SC, on the coast, in about 4-5 hours. Charleston is a great coastal area to linger in. Although I live in MB, for a trip like yours, Charleston and its surrounding beaches (e.g., Folly's Island Beach) will be the best stop on your journey.

Have a great time!