Great Lakes - ?? I-75 or I-77 for Interstate routing ??

Fellas,

We're bringing the rig back north in the next couple of days from FL to OH. I am painfully familiar with I-77 as it is very hilly, windy, and extremely mountainous at times from southern Ohio ALL THE WAY to just north of Columnbia, SC. :mad:

We've always used I-77 because it is the shortest route but I am sick of all the mountains, curves, tolls, etc.. I am considering I-75 but it is 80 miles longer. I will happily drive 80 more miles if there is signifigantly less mountain time.

I've googled "directions for flattest route" "I-75 topographic map" and even looked at an aviation chart in an effort to get elevation figures along I-75. It seems better but I am not totally convinced that its worth a little more than an hour extra on the road.

If anyone is familiar with I-75 as compared to 77 I'd really appreciate some comaparo info. Specifically on the areas between Lexington - Knoxville and Knoxville - Chattanooga.

Thanks!:thumbsup:

I am from the Cleveland area too.

I assume your coming from Tampa. I've done both routes but mostly I-77, and it is shorter as you say. I can sympathize with you also on the mountains, curves, etc on 77 also. However, my choice would always be 77 over 75, just for the fact that I could avoid Atlanta and I think there are less trucks to deal with on 77 (the road less traveled).

To help with the toll booths on 77, you should get yourself an EZ Pass for your truck (or car). You still have to pay the tolls but you pretty much "roll through" the booths and you don't have to jerk around with cash and change.

Walleye,

Thanks for the insight. We are coming from tampa and do have an ez pass.

Im thinking that the mountains may be more intense on 75 but for a much shorter duration. The semi trucks you brought up are something I had considered yet.

I probably should have put this in the main forum.... Oh well, anyone else?

is the rig you're bring back the donzi in your signature? what are you towing it with. My experience, best I can recall for I-75 is.....you will have some rolling hills in southern KY but nothing too major. The worst part is north of knoxville to the KY line. Everything else is manageable. If I was towing a big boat, I'd avoid I-77 IMO.
my 2 cents.

Drove from FL to Mich a few weeks back, and my dad just did it. I 75 construction and traffic in Cinci and Atlanta are a bitch. A guy from work did 77 to Daytona area (again to SE Mich). We talked and he had much less issues of traffic, construction, etc.

I'd stay off I75 if I had a choice. For SE mich to Tampa area, it is closer, but I'm not sure faster...

I thought I'd report back after travelling I-75 on our last trip towing the rig northbound.

It is ~60 miles longer to go the I-75 route as opposed to the I-77 route. I was leary but had read some info on RV forums saying that 75 was a much easier drive....AND IT WAS!

I'll never travel on I-77 for our trip towing the boat ever again.

The entire trip seemed like a non-event. I-75 is 3 lanes alomost the entire way. The ups and downs through Knoxville and Chatanooga are not bad at all. The gas stations (at least at the stops we chose) seemed to be much larger to accomodate the larger traffic (busses, RV's, larger non-commercial trailers) so they were easier to use.

The entire trip was great and we actually drove a further distance in less time due to the greater average speed allowed by the flatter and straighter highway.

is the rig you're bring back the donzi in your signature? what are you towing it with. My experience, best I can recall for I-75 is.....you will have some rolling hills in southern KY but nothing too major. The worst part is north of knoxville to the KY line. Everything else is manageable. If I was towing a big boat, I'd avoid I-77 IMO.
my 2 cents.

Sorry I did not get back to this earlier...

Your info was spot on. Thanks:thumbsup:

Yes, it is the boat in my sig and we use an F250 diesel to tow her.

Great info! Thanks to OP

I've towed my 32 foot travel trailer on both of those roads and as you say 75 is a much nicer drive. 77 can be really tough if there is much traffic since the trucks always want to hold me back going up and pass me going down, and they usually pass right on the worst curve of the hill. It just makes me nervous to have 65,000 lbs of truck 10 feet behind my trailer going down a 5% grade, hell you can't slow down they don't have time to react.

Glad you had a safe trip,
Jerry