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      11-22-2020, 02:13 PM   #1
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Anyone do the drive from PCD to Richmond, VA?

I was thinking of doing Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP)

If I did, it would be a drive north from PCD to Blowing Rock, get on Blue Ridge Parkway, take BRP to Roanoke then head East to Richmond.

I've heard BRP is better closer to Asheville (southern segment) and The above route would put me on the Middle segment.

If anyone has another route recommendation to Richmond or BRP route lmk. I'd like to avoid I-95 if possible.
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      11-22-2020, 06:39 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sublime00 View Post
Anyone do the drive from PCD to Richmond, VA?

I was thinking of doing Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP)

If I did, it would be a drive north from PCD to Blowing Rock, get on Blue Ridge Parkway, take BRP to Roanoke then head East to Richmond.

I've heard BRP is better closer to Asheville (southern segment) and The above route would put me on the Middle segment.

If anyone has another route recommendation to Richmond or BRP route lmk. I'd like to avoid I-95 if possible.
I live in the Roanoke section of the BRP and think it's a fantastic drive, although I haven't driven other parts to compare it to. FYI - there is a section that collapsed in the summer due to heavy rains so you'll have to cut thru Roanoke for some time before you can get back on it to continue thru to Richmond.
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      11-23-2020, 06:36 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sublime00 View Post
Anyone do the drive from PCD to Richmond, VA?

I was thinking of doing Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP)

If I did, it would be a drive north from PCD to Blowing Rock, get on Blue Ridge Parkway, take BRP to Roanoke then head East to Richmond.

I've heard BRP is better closer to Asheville (southern segment) and The above route would put me on the Middle segment.

If anyone has another route recommendation to Richmond or BRP route lmk. I'd like to avoid I-95 if possible.
A few years ago when I did this drive, I went west (Amelia -> Danville -> Greensboro -> Charlotte). Not the BRP but it keeps you off of I95. Still some stretches of I85 though.

It was OK. I was so worried about the break-in procedure and not getting stone chips that it wasn't as enjoyable as it should have been.

If I could go back in time, I'd probably just let her rip and have fun on the way back.

EDIT - just realized I put the waypoints in reverse order - but you get the idea.
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      11-23-2020, 07:52 AM   #4
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There are a bunch of choices, depends on how much extra time, how many stops, etc. Maybe even an overnight along the way.

From PCD (near Greer, SC), head up 276 to Brevard NC, and up to the BRP. Tight twisties, mountain climbs, overlooks, waterfalls, and a neat small town.
Or hit rt 25 to I-26 to Asheville to pick up the BRP. 4 lane mountain climbs on that route.

Tons to see and do along the BRP from Brevard, to Asheville to Mt Mitchell to Little Switzerland to Linville Falls to Blowing Rock, on up to the VA section (Mabry Mill & Chateau Morrisette Winery are famous there...).

The BRP is nice but the best roads are those that climb and descend from the BRP. 276, 151, 80, 226A are all awesome twisties.

I've read the BRP near Roanoke is closed. Having to rebuild some sections?
North from there is Peaks of Otter and the James River area, both neat stops.
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      11-23-2020, 10:53 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richard in NC View Post
There are a bunch of choices, depends on how much extra time, how many stops, etc. Maybe even an overnight along the way.

From PCD (near Greer, SC), head up 276 to Brevard NC, and up to the BRP. Tight twisties, mountain climbs, overlooks, waterfalls, and a neat small town.
Or hit rt 25 to I-26 to Asheville to pick up the BRP. 4 lane mountain climbs on that route.

Tons to see and do along the BRP from Brevard, to Asheville to Mt Mitchell to Little Switzerland to Linville Falls to Blowing Rock, on up to the VA section (Mabry Mill & Chateau Morrisette Winery are famous there...).

The BRP is nice but the best roads are those that climb and descend from the BRP. 276, 151, 80, 226A are all awesome twisties.

I've read the BRP near Roanoke is closed. Having to rebuild some sections?
North from there is Peaks of Otter and the James River area, both neat stops.
I'm doing a few hrs on BRP. my plan is to get to Richmond by the evening after taking delivery at 10:30/11 am in Greer.
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      11-23-2020, 02:01 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sublime00 View Post
I'm doing a few hrs on BRP. my plan is to get to Richmond by the evening after taking delivery at 10:30/11 am in Greer.
A BRP excursion that adds just a few hours may be hard to do.
One possibility is the rt 25 to I-26 to Asheville to I40 east to Marion NC. 226A is a very twisty road up to the BRP. Take it to rt 421 east and then either I77-I81-I64 or I40-I85-I95. The BRP may seem to be a shortcut here and there but expect a 40 mph average with just a handful of stops at overlooks.

Or simply get up to Roanoke on I-81 and hit the BRP north of the closure.
https://www.nps.gov/blri/learn/news/...epair_oct7.htm

Note that it could be after lunch before wrapping up delivery. It depends on how many folks there are and if factory tours are open but there are about 2 hours of on-track, 2 hours of X5 offroad/factory and 1-2 hours delivery time. With lunch in-between.
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      11-23-2020, 02:12 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richard in NC View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sublime00 View Post
I'm doing a few hrs on BRP. my plan is to get to Richmond by the evening after taking delivery at 10:30/11 am in Greer.
A BRP excursion that adds just a few hours may be hard to do.
One possibility is the rt 25 to I-26 to Asheville to I40 east to Marion NC. 226A is a very twisty road up to the BRP. Take it to rt 421 east and then either I77-I81-I64 or I40-I85-I95. The BRP may seem to be a shortcut here and there but expect a 40 mph average with just a handful of stops at overlooks.

Or simply get up to Roanoke on I-81 and hit the BRP north of the closure.
https://www.nps.gov/blri/learn/news/...epair_oct7.htm

Note that it could be after lunch before wrapping up delivery. It depends on how many folks there are and if factory tours are open but there are about 2 hours of on-track, 2 hours of X5 offroad/factory and 1-2 hours delivery time. With lunch in-between.
Great. Thanks for the tip.

I'm just picking up the car, not doing the whole PCD bc of delivery delays with the vessel my car was on and work scheduling obligations (essential worker). So I can neither enjoy all of PCD nor all of BRP, so trying to figure out a route where I'm not just sitting on I-95 in T giving traffic.

I'm staying in Richmond then straight shot to NY.

May do some backroads to avoid I-95 from Richmond to NY too but haven't looked into it yet.
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      11-23-2020, 02:22 PM   #8
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Playing with Google....
Greer straight up I-85 is just under 6 hours to Richmond.
Greer to I-26 to rt74 to 221 to Marion, 226A to Little Switzerland, BRP to Boone, 421 to I-40 to Greensboro and then up I-85 is 8 hours, so a 2 hour detour.
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      11-23-2020, 04:03 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richard in NC View Post
Playing with Google....
Greer straight up I-85 is just under 6 hours to Richmond.
Greer to I-26 to rt74 to 221 to Marion, 226A to Little Switzerland, BRP to Boone, 421 to I-40 to Greensboro and then up I-85 is 8 hours, so a 2 hour detour.
That's great.

Depending on when I get out of PCD I'll pick from one of these routes.

If I get out even earlier I'll try to wrk out some more time on BRP but these look good.

Thanks guys.
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      11-23-2020, 05:02 PM   #10
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      11-24-2020, 06:01 PM   #11
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