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From Knoxville to Atlanta
Is there a particularly good route from Knoxville to Atlanta? I was thinking of going either Rt 441 and 23 or Rt 411. Is either of these two routes good riding? Or is there a better way? TIA. Peter |
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#2
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peter wrote:
Is there a particularly good route from Knoxville to Atlanta? I was thinking of going either Rt 441 and 23 or Rt 411. Is either of these two routes good riding? Or is there a better way? Since nobody else has responded, I'll throw in my 2 cents. I have driven parts of both of these (roughly down to US 64 along the Georgia border). First, there's no good way to get out of Knoxville, IMHO. 411 down to Alcoa is four fast lanes, curvy, no shoulder, heavily trafficed. Traffic stays heavy through Maryville, and then lightens up (at least outside of rush hour) while the road widens (turn lane and a reasonably good shoulder) most of the way down south of Madisonville. It goes back to two lanes south of the Hiwassee River, and traffic tends to be heavier down to 64. 441. Two lanes, too fast, too narrow, too winding. Some of Chapman Highway east towards Sevierville is two lanes, and then it widens to four. Sevierville through Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg is turning into an LA freeway with driveways -- world's longest parking lot full of tourists, moving occasionally to the next red light. Four to seven lanes until you get into Gatlinburg. I'm frankly amazed to read that some people have cycled from Gatlinburg to Cherokee -- two lanes, winding, steep, narrow, filled with SUVs going too fast driven by people watching the (admittedly magnificent) scenery. They were paving this summer through the park, but that may be complete now. IIRC it's mostly two lanes from Cherokee down to Franklin, but the traffic is generally lighter, especially after you get south of the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway. Rugged terrain all the way from Gatlinburg down to Franklin. I really don't know how I'd approach this trip. A couple of things to think about, though. If you can work your way west of Knoxville, Tennessee 58 from Kingston down through Decatur to Chattanooga is lightly travelled, and has few large (length and slope) hills. You could fight your way through Chattanooga to US 27 going south, and there's not much traffic (except for Rome), and then cut back east to Atlanta. Alternatively, if you can get down to Maryville, you might look at US 129 and 19 south to Murphy. 129 is SO curvy that traffic is light and relatively slow. Once you hit 19, you have about 5 miles of winding, two lane road to get to the Nantahala Gorge, where most traffic slows to watch the river. Two miles after the road leaves the river, you hit divided highway (wide, mostly flat) into Murphy. 19 is lightly travelled except during tourist season(s). You'd have to ask someone else what these routes look like in north central or northeast Georgia. Maybe if this doesn't help, it will at least stimulate some discussion. Pat |
#3
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peter wrote:
Is there a particularly good route from Knoxville to Atlanta? I was thinking of going either Rt 441 and 23 or Rt 411. Is either of these two routes good riding? Or is there a better way? Since nobody else has responded, I'll throw in my 2 cents. I have driven parts of both of these (roughly down to US 64 along the Georgia border). First, there's no good way to get out of Knoxville, IMHO. 411 down to Alcoa is four fast lanes, curvy, no shoulder, heavily trafficed. Traffic stays heavy through Maryville, and then lightens up (at least outside of rush hour) while the road widens (turn lane and a reasonably good shoulder) most of the way down south of Madisonville. It goes back to two lanes south of the Hiwassee River, and traffic tends to be heavier down to 64. 441. Two lanes, too fast, too narrow, too winding. Some of Chapman Highway east towards Sevierville is two lanes, and then it widens to four. Sevierville through Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg is turning into an LA freeway with driveways -- world's longest parking lot full of tourists, moving occasionally to the next red light. Four to seven lanes until you get into Gatlinburg. I'm frankly amazed to read that some people have cycled from Gatlinburg to Cherokee -- two lanes, winding, steep, narrow, filled with SUVs going too fast driven by people watching the (admittedly magnificent) scenery. They were paving this summer through the park, but that may be complete now. IIRC it's mostly two lanes from Cherokee down to Franklin, but the traffic is generally lighter, especially after you get south of the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway. Rugged terrain all the way from Gatlinburg down to Franklin. I really don't know how I'd approach this trip. A couple of things to think about, though. If you can work your way west of Knoxville, Tennessee 58 from Kingston down through Decatur to Chattanooga is lightly travelled, and has few large (length and slope) hills. You could fight your way through Chattanooga to US 27 going south, and there's not much traffic (except for Rome), and then cut back east to Atlanta. Alternatively, if you can get down to Maryville, you might look at US 129 and 19 south to Murphy. 129 is SO curvy that traffic is light and relatively slow. Once you hit 19, you have about 5 miles of winding, two lane road to get to the Nantahala Gorge, where most traffic slows to watch the river. Two miles after the road leaves the river, you hit divided highway (wide, mostly flat) into Murphy. 19 is lightly travelled except during tourist season(s). You'd have to ask someone else what these routes look like in north central or northeast Georgia. Maybe if this doesn't help, it will at least stimulate some discussion. Pat |
#4
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peter wrote:
Is there a particularly good route from Knoxville to Atlanta? I was thinking of going either Rt 441 and 23 or Rt 411. Is either of these two routes good riding? Or is there a better way? Since nobody else has responded, I'll throw in my 2 cents. I have driven parts of both of these (roughly down to US 64 along the Georgia border). First, there's no good way to get out of Knoxville, IMHO. 411 down to Alcoa is four fast lanes, curvy, no shoulder, heavily trafficed. Traffic stays heavy through Maryville, and then lightens up (at least outside of rush hour) while the road widens (turn lane and a reasonably good shoulder) most of the way down south of Madisonville. It goes back to two lanes south of the Hiwassee River, and traffic tends to be heavier down to 64. 441. Two lanes, too fast, too narrow, too winding. Some of Chapman Highway east towards Sevierville is two lanes, and then it widens to four. Sevierville through Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg is turning into an LA freeway with driveways -- world's longest parking lot full of tourists, moving occasionally to the next red light. Four to seven lanes until you get into Gatlinburg. I'm frankly amazed to read that some people have cycled from Gatlinburg to Cherokee -- two lanes, winding, steep, narrow, filled with SUVs going too fast driven by people watching the (admittedly magnificent) scenery. They were paving this summer through the park, but that may be complete now. IIRC it's mostly two lanes from Cherokee down to Franklin, but the traffic is generally lighter, especially after you get south of the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway. Rugged terrain all the way from Gatlinburg down to Franklin. I really don't know how I'd approach this trip. A couple of things to think about, though. If you can work your way west of Knoxville, Tennessee 58 from Kingston down through Decatur to Chattanooga is lightly travelled, and has few large (length and slope) hills. You could fight your way through Chattanooga to US 27 going south, and there's not much traffic (except for Rome), and then cut back east to Atlanta. Alternatively, if you can get down to Maryville, you might look at US 129 and 19 south to Murphy. 129 is SO curvy that traffic is light and relatively slow. Once you hit 19, you have about 5 miles of winding, two lane road to get to the Nantahala Gorge, where most traffic slows to watch the river. Two miles after the road leaves the river, you hit divided highway (wide, mostly flat) into Murphy. 19 is lightly travelled except during tourist season(s). You'd have to ask someone else what these routes look like in north central or northeast Georgia. Maybe if this doesn't help, it will at least stimulate some discussion. Pat |
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