TN-NC Border - Asheville
I-40 enters North Carolina via the Pigeon River Gorge. The right-of-way in the Gorge is flanked on one side by steep cliffs, mostly man-made when they blasted away enough rock to create the Interstate, and the Pigeon river gorge on the other side. The many curves are abrupt and dangerous. The big trucks, subject of frequent, severe accidents mostly due to speeding, are confined (at least by law) to the right lane. The cars in the left lane can also be intimidating – most insist on speeding. If you wish to keep to the speed limit (strongly advised) and move into the right lane between two of the trucks, you will find yourself going well below the speed limit because the vehicles in the right lane can’t move any faster than the slowest
truck.
In the daytime, when the traffic is light, (rare now-a-days) this is a beautiful drive.
At night, and when the traffic is heavy, it can be almost terrifying – especially for your passengers. The North Carolina Highway Patrol has recognized the extreme danger to people traveling this route and, on occasion, brings in extra patrols for
speed-limit and 'aggressive driver' enforcement campaigns. They do not have enough personnel to maintain this effort on a full-time basis; North Carolina, like the rest of the States, is broke.
Alternative
Routes
There are three alternative routes to reach Asheville from Knoxville without incurring significant detours. Note – the following directions are for EASTBOUND travelers.
1. US-25
This is the most time consuming (very low speed limits due to
sharp carves, etc.) but a scenic route well worth the investment in time
- especially during the Autumn leaf-looking season.
Take exit 432 (US-25 – Newport) and follow US-25 through Newport TN, Hot Springs NC, Marshall NC to the US-19/23 freeway. Follow the freeway, south, to I-240 in Asheville. Follow I-240 east to its terminus with I-40 on the east side of Asheville.
US-25 follows the French Broad River and is lightly traveled and rarely used by big trucks. It has some very sharp curves, but, at the recommended reduced
speeds (20 to 35 mph), these are not threatening.
2. I-81, US-11-E & US-23 (now extended I-26)
Of the three alternate routes, this is our preference.
- At exit 421 of I-40, take the left lane exit onto I-81.
- Then take I-81 exit 23 onto US-11-E toward Greeneville.
- Follow US-11-E through
Greeneville (mostly 4-lane divided road) to the intersection of TN-107.
- Turn right on
107; follow it all the way to the US-19/23 freeway at Erwin.
- Turn right (southbound) onto the freeway
(which is now the north extension of I-26) and follow it into North Carolina and to I-240 in Asheville.
- Follow I-240 east to its terminus with I-40 on the east side of Asheville.
3. I-81, I-181, US-11-E & US-23 (now extended I-26)
This is a longer detour than the above two but is totally by Interstate
highways.
- At exit 421 of I-40, take the left lane exit onto I-81.
- Then take I-81 exit 57 onto I-181
(will shortly be re-signed as I-26) heading south toward Johnson City.
- Continue on, through Johnson
City and on, into North Carolina and to I-240 in Asheville.
- Follow I-240 east to its terminus with I-40 on the east side of Asheville.
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Asheville
Exit 44 is your first Asheville exit. There are also several hotels there and an excellent Mexican restaurant (north of the exit and about 150 yards on the right). Also, if there is a difference in the gasoline prices in the Asheville area, they are sometimes a little lower here. We’ve never seen them higher.
Exit 47 is the interchange for I-26 south (you’ll take this if you’re going to the NC Arboretum – see below). I-26 is the only decent route from this part of the world connecting with areas south of Asheville.
Asheville is a prime tourist destination. The world knows about the Biltmore
House; admission costs an arm and a half but it’s worth it if you’ve never been inside. If you are a gardener at heart, admission to their greenhouses is worth the price of admission to the grounds. Then, too, if you are a gardener, the new
North Carolina Arboretum on NC-191 (take exit 2 of I-26 and head south on 191 to the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance (shared by the Arboretum). There is a small admission fee ($6 in 2003) daily except Tuesdays which are FREE!
Asheville is loaded to the hilt with restaurants. Our two favourites are each on the top of a hill overlooking I-240:
O’Charlie's and Carrabbas Italian Grill. Take the I-240 beltway (from either east or westbound) and, if eastbound, I-240 exit 6. Turn left at the light. The first light turn left and go up the hill for
O’Charlie's. For Carrabbas Italian Grill, continue about 200 yards and on the left is a paved driveway going up the next hill and marked by Hampton Inn and Courtyard signs. If you are westbound, take exit 7, turn left at the 2nd light (these are one-way roads), continue through the next light and turn right at the following light (this is Tunnel Road and you will see a big shopping center across the way). After you turn right you go through the next light and, just over the hill, is the driveway (on the right) marked by the Hampton Inn & Courtyard sign. Turn right, drive up the hill, to Carrabbas. If you want to try
O’Charlie's, instead, just continue down Tunnel Road to the next light and turn right, drive up the hill to
O’Charlie's (on your left at the top).
Continuing through Asheville, through Swannanoa and Black Mountain, you peak out and start the descent to Old Fort. You are leaving the Blue Ridge Mountains; welcome to the North Carolina Piedmont – a very different world from the Western North Carolina Mountains.
Marion
Head toward the city of Marion at Exit 81 (if eastbound) or exit 86 (if westbound) and connect with
US-221 if you wish to visit Linville Caverns and/or Linville
Falls. There is a lot of up hill walking at the Falls and you really will wish you are wearing good walking shoes. Both are attractions well worth viewing.
Hickory
After you pass through Morganton you’ll enter Hickory – one of the two
furniture centers in North Carolina. Exit 123 is the US-321 interchange – the new freeway connecting I-40 to I-85 in
Gastonia. If you’re going to Charlotte, this is a little better than continuing on to Statesville and heading south to Charlotte on the very crowded I-77.
Exit 125 connects with US-70. Head east on 70 to the furniture mart. They have frequent shows and many dozens of retailers. Most will ship anywhere in the U.S. at very reasonable
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