Driving from Columbus OHIO to Raleigh: how safe is the drive through West Virginia? Any advices? :)
Posted 07-27-2013 at 12:15 PM by moving2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverwing
I really don't think the W.VA part is that bad - curvy, but not a lot of dramatic inclines. I've done it several times on my motorcycle. Bluefield to Wytheville is where you need to particularly pay attention.
The one section that does warrant a strong warning (seriously, this can be a bad-bad stretch) is I-77 in Virginia. From milepost 8 down to the NC line. The latest was last spring Three dead in 95-car pileup near Virginia, North Carolina state line - U.S. News
You can encounter foggy conditions, wind (there is a meterological station at that stretch that determines when the hazard lights should be fired up), and scary driving 18-wheelers
.
When I'm going through there - particularly heading south; going north, the steep incline tends to kill the ability for people to do stupid things - I get off at exit 8. I haven't gone south on that stretch for about 10 years, I always detour, now. Exit 8 takes you to highway 52. Now, 52 south is by no means an easy road for someone not used to switchbacks. It's one lane going down, 6 miles of curves, also scary. But it is a less-traveled route and NO 18 WHEELERS ARE ALLOWED. You have to do several miles of two-lane once you get to the bottom of the hill until you cross the state line into NC and the road goes to 4 lanes. 52 continues to Winston-Salem, where you hit I-40, but have a care. 52 going through W-S is known as a POS road to us locals. The exit and entrance ramps to downtown roads are very-very short. You have to be aware that people will all-of-a-sudden come shooting onto the road. Slowing down on the exit ramps is a sure fired way to get rear-ended. If you don't want to go down and cut across W-S on 52, find 89 in Mount Airy. It will take you back to I-77.
It likely adds at least 30-45 minutes to your drive, and if the weather is dry and calm, I wouldn't tell you to absolutely not do I-77 down the VA-to-NC slope, but if it's windy/foggy/and or wet, I'd consider the detour.
ETA: I reread your post and you mentioned night driving. If I was a first timer, I'd try to make it a two day trip if you don't get an early start. This time of the year, it's light until 8:30, so if you start early in the a.m. you'll be in NC and out of the most difficult sections by afternoon. Even I - familiar with the mountains for over 20 years - would hesitate to do the worst stretches at night. Definitely DON'T do them if you are tired.
The one section that does warrant a strong warning (seriously, this can be a bad-bad stretch) is I-77 in Virginia. From milepost 8 down to the NC line. The latest was last spring Three dead in 95-car pileup near Virginia, North Carolina state line - U.S. News
You can encounter foggy conditions, wind (there is a meterological station at that stretch that determines when the hazard lights should be fired up), and scary driving 18-wheelers
. When I'm going through there - particularly heading south; going north, the steep incline tends to kill the ability for people to do stupid things - I get off at exit 8. I haven't gone south on that stretch for about 10 years, I always detour, now. Exit 8 takes you to highway 52. Now, 52 south is by no means an easy road for someone not used to switchbacks. It's one lane going down, 6 miles of curves, also scary. But it is a less-traveled route and NO 18 WHEELERS ARE ALLOWED. You have to do several miles of two-lane once you get to the bottom of the hill until you cross the state line into NC and the road goes to 4 lanes. 52 continues to Winston-Salem, where you hit I-40, but have a care. 52 going through W-S is known as a POS road to us locals. The exit and entrance ramps to downtown roads are very-very short. You have to be aware that people will all-of-a-sudden come shooting onto the road. Slowing down on the exit ramps is a sure fired way to get rear-ended. If you don't want to go down and cut across W-S on 52, find 89 in Mount Airy. It will take you back to I-77.
It likely adds at least 30-45 minutes to your drive, and if the weather is dry and calm, I wouldn't tell you to absolutely not do I-77 down the VA-to-NC slope, but if it's windy/foggy/and or wet, I'd consider the detour.
ETA: I reread your post and you mentioned night driving. If I was a first timer, I'd try to make it a two day trip if you don't get an early start. This time of the year, it's light until 8:30, so if you start early in the a.m. you'll be in NC and out of the most difficult sections by afternoon. Even I - familiar with the mountains for over 20 years - would hesitate to do the worst stretches at night. Definitely DON'T do them if you are tired.
Hotel: 124 Hylton Lane Beckley, WV 25801
And leave the next day around 2:30ish pm, would that be safer?
Is the drive from Columbus to Beckly, WV fine?
Total Comments 0
