I-75 or I-77 from Michigan?

Most posts refer to taking I-77 out of Ohio. Has anyone taken I-75 to Knoxville and then east/southeast from there? We%26#39;re wondering how the two routes compare. Also, we%26#39;re heading to Surfside Beach. Going in April and it%26#39;s snowing here AGAIN. Counting the weeks now! Thanks.

I-75 or I-77 from Michigan?

Have driven both interstates many times going to gigs in Bowling Green/Toledo/Detroit, and lived in Cleveland for two years.

We found that when coming from Toledo/Detroit, 75 was better, and when coming from Cleveland, 77 was better. 75 is flatter, but you hit the hills when going east on 40 after Knoxville. 77 is mountainous (and beautiful!) in WV.

Enjoy your time at Surfside.

I-75 or I-77 from Michigan?

Thank you for the reply. We were leaning toward I-75 but thought I%26#39;d seek some feedback on it before our trip. We haven%26#39;t been to the area for 8 or 9 years and stayed at Litchfield Beach last time. We%26#39;re really looking forward to returning to the area and to our stay in Surfside.

I usually go down I-77 and enjoy the scenic route in WV also!.

We live in Cincinnati and have driven both ways. 77 is a little less stressful, but probably an hour longer. You hit mountains either way but the highway is more narrow and has many more trucks if you go the 75 route.

Thanks for the replies. We think we%26#39;ll take 75 down and depending on how that goes, maybe 77 back home. For those who have taken 75, any suggestions for places to stay overnight on the way? The most we%26#39;d like to drive the first day is ten hours, so we%26#39;re thinking somewhere between Knoxville and Asheville. Thanks again.

Pugcrazy ... you mentioned that one of the Interstates was narrower and had much more truck traffic. I75 or I77 I was confused reading your post and its snowier in Woodstock!!!

We have traveled to M. Beach several summers in a row. We always used I-77---BUT instead of getting on to 52/I-40 then to I 73/74 just inside the N. Carolina border--we stay on I-77 ALL the way into South Carolina, then you pick up I-20 (Columbia, SC) to Florence, SC. This way you all driving ALL expressway (the other route, turns into all highway driving just past Ashboro, NC, with lots of turns. You also need to watch your speed (never more than 55 mph---with speed limits changing). We used to to the ';old'; way, once we started the ';new'; way (I-77 to I-20) we saved 1 to 1 1/2 hours off drive time. It is about 50 miles more driving, but you save plenty in drive time. When we went this way we stayed in Mooresville, NC (about 10 hours of driving)--very nice area---and leaves you about 4-5 hours of driving left. You can use MAPQUEST and map from your home to Mooresville than Mooresville to your EXACT hotel/condo address.

What you will find, when you get closer to M. Beach and are on highway 501 you want to watch for 544

(not far past Conway, SC) take highway 544 (to the end) you will bypass ';downtown'; M. Beach and it will put you in (or almost in) Surfside. You will make a right onto Kings Hwy (17). Your hotel/condo will be right in that area. You really want to avoid taking 501 all the way in. There is a big Super Walmart right on 544, and there are plenty of grocery stores

on Kings Hwy. Have fun

!

sorry about the confusion. My husband will be happy to let everyone know that I%26#39;m directionally challenged. I-75 itself is not terribly narrow. But it is ridiculously busy. The area in the mountains around Asheville ( which is either 40 or 26 ) just seems very narrow to me. I always feel like I need a valium to just be a passenger through that stretch which is one of the reasons we%26#39;ve also taken I-77. But that route is definitely longer, at least from our part of the state.

I 75 is the main route from Great Lakes region to southeast US. Yes it is heavy with truck and car traffic.

I 40 runs through Smokey Mountains. Winding and hilly section of highway. Not bad on clear daytime drive. April could be drizzle rain or foggy conditions.

Route that hasn%26#39;t been mentioned is actually shortest in miles. RT 23 to RT 35 into Charleston. Lots of speed zones and stoplights. Heard running over to Cleveland and I 77 is quickest way.

I 77 through WV isn%26#39;t a picnic for flatlanders. Section from Charleston to Bluefield is similar to I 40. WV Turnpike runs through the valleys and over hills of southern WV.

Halfway point on I 77 route would be in Charleston or Beckley area. 8 hours(average) from here to MB.

Might find more suggestions/ideas here.

www.funbeaches.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=103

Thanks to everyone for the help, including the www.funbeaches suggestion. We have decided to take the I-75 route down since we%26#39;re actually familiar with 75. Then we thought we might take I-77 back so we can see what that route is like as well. I was wondering, LuvMbeach, if you can suggest an area to stop at on the return trip (since you live fairly close to us)? Everyone seems to suggest stops on the way to MB but not on the way back (return trips aren%26#39;t as much fun to think about, I%26#39;m sure!). We like to do more driving the first day than the second, so usually drive 9 or 10 hours the first day. Thanks again.