How bad is it driving through the Smokies? (Chattanooga, Murfreesboro: to rent, live)

[mike112874]

We are going from Chicago to Sarasota, Florida next month.

65 to 24 to 75

I'm debating what kind of car to rent...I've been renting Altimas for long trips because they are great on gas. but I've never driven through the mountains with a 4 cylinder.

Are we even going to be hitting the Smokies or anything through Georiga?

I drove through the Rockies with a Nissan Maxima and through the mountains on I-17 south of Flagstaff going into Phoenix and it wasn't that much fun LOL

How high up are the Smokies compared to driving through the Rockies and are we even going to be hitting the Smokies on 24 or 75?

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by mike112874

We are going from Chicago to Sarasota, Florida next month.

65 to 24 to 75

I'm debating what kind of car to rent...I've been renting Altimas for long trips because they are great on gas. but I've never driven through the mountains with a 4 cylinder.

Are we even going to be hitting the Smokies or anything through Georiga?

I drove through the Rockies with a Nissan Maxima and through the mountains on I-17 south of Flagstaff going into Phoenix and it wasn't that much fun LOL

How high up are the Smokies compared to driving through the Rockies and are we even going to be hitting the Smokies on 24 or 75?

You won't really be driving through the mountains. Interstate makes it easy. There's only a few steeper inclines. Taking that route in an Altama should be fine. We used to have a 4 cylinder and it did fine. If you want to see the Smokies though, you need to come farther East.....well worth the extra miles..... and go through East TN and North Carolina. Much prettier and easier drive than getting through Atlanta. We live on the East Coast of Florida and alternate the route back to Chicago area to see family. I prefer the trip through North Carolina.

[Creekcat]

If you are taking the I-24 to I-75 route, no you will not be going through The Smokies. You will have Monteagle Mountain on I-24 about an hour or a little less north of Chattanooga.

[JoeCartpath]

The 4-cylinder Altima will be fine. I've been all over the Smokies in a wide variety of 4-cylinder cars (Accord, Civic, Miata, CX7, etc.). No problem.

The highest place in the park is Clingman's Dome, which is a bit over 6,600'. That's less than 1/2 the height of Pikes Peak, for example.

[creeksitter]

The OP won't be anywhere near Clingman's dome. They will be driving over the Cumberland plateau which is about 2000' Base elevation 7-800'. Traffic will be slow in the right lane so move over and take your time. In 5-10 minutes you will be at the top. I do it in a 4 cyl all the time.

Off topic: the drive through the Smokies on I-40 is not steep at all. But very curvy.

[An Einnseanair]

No one has mentioned it, but I-75 between Chattanooga and Atlanta is a full 6-lanes the entire distance and it pretty much follows lowland. Monteagle is the only halfway serious climb.

The worst of the Appalachians doesn't compare with the average Rockies, and you won't be even remotely close to the worst part.

[mike112874]

Thanks Everyone. I feel better now!!!

[danielj72]

The big mountains will be well to your east, but you do have to go over the Cumberland plateau at some point. The worst section of I-75 is in northern TN as it goes over the Cumberland mountains, but if you come through Nashville you will avoid that area completely. No interstate route through mountain country is that bad and a Nissan Altima is a quite capable automobile. No worries

[BeeHoyal]

I-24 east between Nashville and Murfreesboro during afternoon rush hour is a nightmare sometimes. And that is without any mountainous terrain.