NJ to Nashville need help with route
 

I am heading down to Nashville in October for a benefit ride. Leaving NJ on a Friday. Does anyone have any input on some good roads to take down? Mapquest is just giving me highways. Thanks for your help

You can "tell" Mapquest no highways.

I want to ride the BRP, but time is limited. I am leaving Friday and have to be there by Saturday night for a ride Sunday morning, then back home after the ride on Monday...I know that I can tell Mapquest no highways but I wanted to see if anyone else has done this ride and can give me a decent route.

My wife and I ride to Charlotte from Northwest NJ 2x/year. The art of the ride is to fine that balance between rural roads and still make some time. Your time line is short. My suggestion, head out I78 to Harrisburg. Here is your first decision - go south on 15 to 340 through Harpers Ferry around Front Royal - DO NOT ENTER Skyline Drive. Follow 340 south to Waynesboro OR continue 81 South until you get to mile 0 of the BRP @ Waynesboro. I believe you take 64 east off of 81 to get to Waynesboro. The ride from mile 0 to NC line @ mile 216.9 is absolutely beautiful. Each time we've run it, traffic was light or non-exsistant. Once you cross into NC the ride only gets better. Your target is I40 outside of Asheville (mile 384.0). You will have to judge your time and decide how to head West. I40 goes into Nashville or there are a couple of good roads that head West out of Asheville area. Hopefully someone viewing from down that way can help with the best roads.

If you have the time on the way back, take advantage of riding through the Great Smoky Mountian State Park. I thank the Geeks that invented the digital camera when I ride down there. For I couldn't afford to buy and develop 35mm film (if anyone remembers what that is:) for all the photos that are taken.

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

I-81 from Roanoke to the Blacksburg/Christiansburg exit can get backed on weekends when there is a home football game at Virginia Tech so using the Blue Ridge Parkway to bypass that section of I-81 might be a better ride.

Thanks guys...lots of good info there

Hi! It's great that you would ride that distance to a benefit ride. I also have consider such a ride. My ride would start in KY, MO, AR, LA and into Houston, TX. Thats funny, I know the Northeast corridor is very busy and over crowded almost always. Then will you not have to pass through the D.C. area or some extent? So my recommendations are only for parts of your trip. I live in KY so I know the area. I am suggesting taking I-64 from West VA getting into Kentucky in the area of Ashland, KY. Here in KY you will find that our state is less populated and not busy and very seldom over crowded on our roads, Parkways and Interstates. Most drivers in KY are what I consider to be conservative. You'll be surprised at the lack of populous and traffic. Get past Lexington, KY and head west in that western direction of Kentucky, again no traffic and wide open spaces. There are good roads in KY.You'll notice Blue Grass Parkway, so ride west of Elizabethtown, KY and then take I-65 south into Nashville, TN. I recommend taking a Kentucky bourbon tour at the many distilleries in and around Bardstown, KY before getting onto I-65. There are some good road side motels in Bardstown. You'll find them heading in the direction for the distilleries. You won't be dissappointed. I suggest seeing Maker's Mark Distillery. Now That's for your Red Eye!

Thanks Spin, but I think running through Kentucky will be on my list for another ride, a little too far out of my way for this ride. I am a little pressed for time on this one. I think I am going to be taking mostly highway and hitting the BRP for a "few" miles. Great info though and I always wanted to check out Kentucky, maybe this coming summer

I-81 south is a nice ride through the mountains. You will hit traffic around the Knoxville area.

Thanks Wing...I think I am gonna take 81 to 64 East, then hop on BRP for a good portion (maybe all of it if time allows) then jump on 40 west right into Nashville. I have 2 days to get there so I am hoping this can be done in that time frame...if not I will be on highways more