help with RI to TN trip please
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 498
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
help with RI to TN trip please
Heading down to TN from RI end of the month.
We intend to take 4 days down, 3 back with 4 days in TN.
I used the HD road trip planner to plan this, want to make sure it's doable
by folks that know the roads in the time we have.
Day 1:
Leave RI heading via Rt. 6 to 66 in CT to 84 to 81 down to Harrisburg PA.
Total distance is 400 miles Trip Planner says: about 8 hours.
Day 2:
Leave Harrisburg 81 South to Winchester VA to 522 South toward Skyline Drive and stay on skyline drive to Waynesboro VA.
Total Distance is 245 miles Trip Planner says: about 6 hours but I think this
will take longer.
Day 3:
Leave Wanesboro VA to Blue Ridge Parkway stay on Blue Ridge Parkway
till it crosses 221 around Bonsack VA. then taking 220 to 81 and 81
to Bristol VA.
Total Distance is 263 Miles Trip Planner says 5 hours.
Again, I think it will take longer then 5 hours...
Day 4.
Leave Bristol VA down Rt 26 toward Asheville to Rt 40 and stay on 40 to
just outside of Nashville.
Total Distance is 404 miles, trip planner says 7 hours.
What do you all think? On Day three we might be able to stay on the
Blue Ridge Pky longer - but I'm worried that the trip planners times are
wrong in the parkways.
We will stay in Antioch TN, for 4 days. From here we will do the Dragons tail
and stay one night. Maybe hit Memphis for a day etc... We will go home
in three days staying on mainly 81 no parkways back.
Thanks for your advice.
Joe
We intend to take 4 days down, 3 back with 4 days in TN.
I used the HD road trip planner to plan this, want to make sure it's doable
by folks that know the roads in the time we have.
Day 1:
Leave RI heading via Rt. 6 to 66 in CT to 84 to 81 down to Harrisburg PA.
Total distance is 400 miles Trip Planner says: about 8 hours.
Day 2:
Leave Harrisburg 81 South to Winchester VA to 522 South toward Skyline Drive and stay on skyline drive to Waynesboro VA.
Total Distance is 245 miles Trip Planner says: about 6 hours but I think this
will take longer.
Day 3:
Leave Wanesboro VA to Blue Ridge Parkway stay on Blue Ridge Parkway
till it crosses 221 around Bonsack VA. then taking 220 to 81 and 81
to Bristol VA.
Total Distance is 263 Miles Trip Planner says 5 hours.
Again, I think it will take longer then 5 hours...
Day 4.
Leave Bristol VA down Rt 26 toward Asheville to Rt 40 and stay on 40 to
just outside of Nashville.
Total Distance is 404 miles, trip planner says 7 hours.
What do you all think? On Day three we might be able to stay on the
Blue Ridge Pky longer - but I'm worried that the trip planners times are
wrong in the parkways.
We will stay in Antioch TN, for 4 days. From here we will do the Dragons tail
and stay one night. Maybe hit Memphis for a day etc... We will go home
in three days staying on mainly 81 no parkways back.
Thanks for your advice.
Joe
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN.
Here's a thought. When you leave Bristol take a look at US 421. Thru Shady valley. I think your days are generous, so you'll have time. I'd forget Memphis. Boring ride over there. What kind of plans do you have in antioch ? Unless your staying with someone, that's not the best area. PM me if you have questions.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 461
Likes: 21
From: Providence
Heay are you considering the stops for fuel, eating and resting times. For every time that you already posted here, you might add another 2 to 4 hours for each day you're riding. It's never what your GPS or the HD planners states. Give yourself extra time to relax on the ride. I've made several trips down to Florida from Rhode Island every way possible on side rodes and or the highway and I always ended up with doing more hours of riding then what the planner said it would of been.
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
Here's a thought. When you leave Bristol take a look at US 421. Thru Shady valley. I think your days are generous, so you'll have time. I'd forget Memphis. Boring ride over there. What kind of plans do you have in antioch ? Unless your staying with someone, that's not the best area. PM me if you have questions.
If you want a good central location to stay in TN, I would stay in Maggie Valley NC. They have Wheels Through Time Museum there, A MUST SEE!
Then it's just a few miles down Hwy 19 to the Dragon (It's open now)
You can actually do a loop and do Cherahala Skyway in the same day.
another day take 209 out of Maggie Valley up the mtn to Hot Springs NC.
great ride! Go over the smokies from Cherokee to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is nice if you do it during the week. Weekends are a mess with traffic. Good luck!!
Novice
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg,N.C.
The Cherohala Skyway is a must!!!! It runs from Telico plains tenn to Robbinsville NC. The elevation gets over 6000 ft at some points.
I like it way better than the dragon....a nice place to stay is the ironhose lodge....motorcycles only
I like it way better than the dragon....a nice place to stay is the ironhose lodge....motorcycles only
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 498
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Actually on Day 4 we are leaving Bristol, and doing Rt 26 to 40 and taking 40 most of the way to Antioch (just outside of Nashville). My buddy lives there and we are staying there. We planned on a day trip back to do the Dragon and stay one night and ride back again to Antioch. If we leave early enough the ride from Antioch to the Dragon area isn't
more than a few hours.
thanks for the insight guys.
Joe
more than a few hours.
thanks for the insight guys.
Joe
Trending Topics
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 54
From: Mansfield, MA
Bristol to Memphis is 450miles..... Skip Memphis. It's too damned hot!!!!!
I'd say your plan is more than doable, and I'd say your taking your time just fine.
I did MA to Bristol Tn via 81 in a day.....
Have a great trip...
I'd say your plan is more than doable, and I'd say your taking your time just fine.
I did MA to Bristol Tn via 81 in a day.....
Have a great trip...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN.
One more thing. IMHO I think you're missing the best part of the Blue Ridge Pky. The best part of it is in N.C. North of Cherokee. You're right about being not far from the Dragon while you're in antioch. I would guess less than 3 hrs. LOTS of GREAT riding while your here. BE SAFE !!!
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 854
Likes: 275
From: COLD Country Connecticut
I just did the same trip, We burned down 800 miles to Hotsprings NC from Ct on the first day 4am to 7pm. Just to get the good riding in. But your good with 84 to 81, and yes do the skyway. The Blue Ridge parkway and the Sky Way are 35 mph, which is fine unless its hot and you are riding a Harley in the heat. Have a blast, its such good riding down there it will wreck the Ct & Ri riding forever!!
Oh and if you hit Hot Springs you gotta stop for the best burger EVER at the Iron Horse!!!
http://maps.google.com/places/us/nc/...on?hl=en&gl=us
Oh and if you hit Hot Springs you gotta stop for the best burger EVER at the Iron Horse!!!
http://maps.google.com/places/us/nc/...on?hl=en&gl=us
Last edited by jgreg65; Jul 13, 2010 at 05:58 PM.