best way from raleigh to Harlan

jodyfj40

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2008
Location
clayton
Heading up to harlan in a few days and was wondering what the best route would be. I know the best may not be the shortest, just wondering how people would go from the raleigh area.
Thanks
Jody
 
I-40 west to
US 52 north to
I-74 west to
I-77 north to
I-81 south to
US 421 north
 
thanks rk, i was thinking that was the way we went last time but someone had mentioned a different way so i was just checking.
 
The way RK posted is the quickest way.
- To caution you if your truck isn't up for big hills both up and down, that way way might not be the best way. 3 long 7%+ grades one after the other.
I go in that way when its daylight or I'm not tired.
Do NOT follow your GPS as it will try to take you some strange directions.

The alternate way is: (from I81) I-81N/hwy 25E N/ Hwy 119N to Harlan route.
This goes in up and around. It's a much easier tow. Once you get off the highway the roads are wide, good shoulders, 24hr gas stations and even a few truck stops along the way. I go in this way when I've head up late at night. + 45 min thought. But there are plenty of places to stop/pull over, more so the other way.
 
This has been hashed over before, but.........IMO, don't take the 421 exit out of Bristol at the hospital, exit 1 or 2, go all the way to I26 Kingsport and go in through Weber City/Gate City. 421 from Bristol to Gate City is curvy and slow especially if you get behind traffic! Just my opinion :)
 
Thanks for all the help guys, it will be dark for alot of the trip, that is why i was looking for alternatives.
Jody
 
JC said:
This has been hashed over before, but.........IMO, don't take the 421 exit out of Bristol at the hospital, exit 1 or 2, go all the way to I26 Kingsport and go in through Weber City/Gate City. 421 from Bristol to Gate City is curvy and slow especially if you get behind traffic! Just my opinion :)
Click to expand...


X2 ^

The first time I went there I followed the first directions posted above (coming from Fayetteville I took 87 to 421 to 40, then followed the above directions), but the section from Bristol to Gate City was terrible (my rig and trailer combo is a little top heavy feeling), so I only made about 25-30MPH most of that stretch and pulled over 4 times to let the accumulated traffic by.

This past trip we stayed on 81 till I26 in Kingsport and it actually seemed faster to me as well as not nearly as nervewracking. The advice about not following your GPS 100% is also good as well as the advice about the grades (2 are 7% for 6-8 miles and one is 9% I think for 4-5 miles) Keep a close eye on the engine and tranny temps if its warm out.
 
ai118.photobucket.com_albums_o101_getstucksome_harlan.jpg


Does anyone think this is the best way to get to Harlan from Raleigh?

The other recommended routes are up through Virginia (74/77) or down 40 to I-26 into Tennessee.

EDIT:

After looking at a few threads all of the recommendations seem to suggest the below route.

ai118.photobucket.com_albums_o101_getstucksome_harlan2.jpg
 
The bottom map is a better route in my opinion. But instead of getting back on 421 in bristol and going north of kingsport stay on I81 a little longer until you get to I26. Take it north through kingsport and pick 421 back up near weber/ gate city.
 
Tim C said:
The bottom map is a better route in my opinion. But instead of getting back on 421 in bristol and going north of kingsport stay on I81 a little longer until you get to I26. Take it north through kingsport and pick 421 back up near weber/ gate city.
Click to expand...

Looking at the map that will have a lot more major interstate. I'll go that route. Thanks!

Also, if anyone will be in Harlan anytime this week through Sunday I'll be in the black tj, come say hey.
 
That's why I like that route. More interstate, higher speeds. The section from bristol to gate city on 421 seems like a plate of spaghetti to me, lol. There are 3 pretty good grades on that route, so make sure your tow rig is in good shape and keep an eye on your temps.
 
If you use a GPS set it to Harln Ky not Evarts.....Evarts in a GPS will lead you in through Keokee....Rob and I made that mistake once.


I amde him stop so i could get drunk before we continued. The front bumper hit the back of the trailer, ran over it twice, jack-knifed, barrel rolled and slid down the mountain...and that was the right way!!

LoL J/K sort of....dont go through keokee
 
Nick, I always go I26 to Bristol, 421 through Gate City and straight into Harlan.
I nasty, nasty hill to pull just past the Hardees in Duffield, but overall not bad. 3 hours from my house in Candler to the trailhead.
 
It's a rough climb. It's straight, has a long run up to it, but it's steep and long. It's a third gear climb in my 454/nv4500 tow pig. It seems like it takes 15 damn minutes to get up it.
 
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