We are heading out to Wilmington, North Carolina for a wedding this weekend.
What's the best route?

via I-64, through Louisville and West Virginia,
or
via I-40, through Nashville and Charlotte?

I’ve traveled parts of the Louisville route and more of the Nashville route. Based on the distance and time, I’d go out one way and back the other way. Have a safe, fun trip, whichever way you go.

I would say take 40 as it's generally smoother, but they are pretty much a wash. It just depends on whether 40 is accident heavy or not that day. Don't forget to wave on the way through Charlotte.

I personally like the I64 route better as it is more scenic/rural in my opinion having driven sections of each route hundreds of times. I think both routes would work if there’s any reason to visit places along the way. If you’re bombing it back and forth both ways I think there’s less chance of construction delays on the northern route.

Depending on time of day and construction, getting through Nashville can be a real PITA.

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:
Depending on time of day and construction, getting through Nashville can be a real PITA.

That has been my experience in the past.
We are pretty familiar with I-64 at least as far as I-77 S.

I40 has more speed traps, in my limited experience.

I-40 occasionally gets restricted, backing up traffic, or closed down completely by rock slides.

That's usually near the TN-NC border and has been happening occasionally for many years. It recently happened in January of this year and it took about 2 months to clear the mess and make repairs. Before that it happened again in 2019.

I've been through this area many times, it's pretty. I have been through it one time when the rock slide was not too bad, only one side of the Interstate was closed, so they used the other side to handle both East and West bound traffic. One lane each way was a real big time waste but I finally got through it.

It's not a real common thing, but you might check for that before you set out on your trip.

Safe travels to you.

I'd go Louisville to WV and avoid dropping down to 40 as was stated about traffic.

There is an alternative route, if you go through Louisville, Lexington, you could drop down the Bert T Combs Mountain Parkway for a bit jump off to 15 in Campton, go though Hazard cut the corner off of the KY/WV portion, goes through Daniel Boone National Forest.

It's a nice road, less traffic than 64 or 40, or you could do it on the return as an alternative route and get to see a bit of KY that isn't often travelled.

Heck you'd hit Hazzard right in the middle of Coal country, could detour a bit over to Harlan and check out Raylan Givens home town

I don’t care which way you go, but would you bring me back some Yuengling?!?

We took 40 to Louisville a few years back. For some reason, it seemed an easier drive than to Nashville.

quote:

Heck you'd hit Hazzard right in the middle of Coal country, could detour a bit over to Harlan and check out Raylan Givens home town

With Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane on my tail...!

Since our daughter went to college in VA and now lives in Richmond VA, we are very experienced with the I-64 route. We can't speak to the I-40 route.

If you choose the I-64 route:

1) There is not a great deal of traffic or 18 wheelers so it's an "easy" drive
2) Be sure to bring cash for the 3 toll booths in West VA (I count out $4 per toll ahead of time so you don't have to wait for change)
3) you can stop and visit the Bourbon Trail in KY along the way
a) we really like the Buffalo Trace tours/experience
4) do NOT speed more than 9mph over the highway limit in VA.
a) going +10mph over, or +80mph on the highway, in VA is considered a CRIMINAL offense and they love to hand out tickets. Ask my daughter about this
5) radar detectors are illegal in VA so if you have one be sure to turn it off and put it in your glove box once you enter VA

I hope this helps.

quote:

Since our daughter went to college in VA and now lives in Richmond VA, we are very experienced with the I-64 route. We can't speak to the I-40 route.

Thanks!

We are actually very experienced with the I-64 route as well. My wife's family is from Maryland and Virginia. My daughter graduated from USNA, in Annapolis. So we've been doing it a time or two a year since 1988.

Since we are meeting them in North Carolina we were considering the more southern I-40 route.

Enjoy your trip and the wedding!

If it were me, I’d take the 70 to the 68. While thus does add extra time to the drive, it would allow for a stop at Chaos Off Road Park in Capon Bridge, WV.

Which ever way you go, do not go over the speed limit in Virginia. The cops there seem to be hiding behind every blade of grass to borrow a famous quote. Here in Pennsylvania if the speed limit is 65 I know I can easily go 80 and never be harassed, there I don’t dare go one mile over the speed limit.

quote:

Originally posted by StarTraveler:
Based on the distance and time, I’d go out one way and back the other way. Have a safe, fun trip, whichever way you go.

That's what we decided to do.

We went out via I-64, through Louisville and West Virginia. We left at 6am. It rained most of the day and there were a lot of accidents. One had the entire highway shut down and siri was telling us to get off and divert at the next exit. By the time we got there, I made a decision to stay on the highway. As we sat, my wife was livid. I was redeemed not too long thereafter when the accident was cleared and the highway in front of us was empty. We could see all of the diverted traffic on outer roads just sitting as we went by at 80+ mph.
We didn't get in to Wilmington until midnight. 18 hours is a long day driving.

Coming back, from Holden Beach, a week later we decided to take the southern route via I-40, through Nashville and Charlotte. At least that's what I thought we were doing...
My wife put in "No Tolls" and we ended up driving through cornfields in ever-expanding concentric circles. At least that's what it seemed like. It wasn't bad once we finally got on Interstate highway and given the delays on the way out it ended up being faster.

Here's a pic of the happy couple leaving the reception:

Glad to hear all went well despite the accident delays!