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Help needed with trip back from PCD
So in late November I'll be flying down to S.C. to pick up the M3. I was curious to know if anyone can help me with a route back to Philadelphia the scenic way. I want to break the car in properly so I want to stay off the highway as much as I can. Mapquest isn't that helpful but I've been using the Blue Ridge Parkway website for ideas.
I'll be departing S.C. on a tuesday afternoon and hope to arrive in Philadelphia by thursday evening. I was planning 250 miles/day average with a sleep over on tuesday and wednesday nights.
Any help would be great!
| | Reply » Help needed with trip back from PCD |
I took the scenic route back from Spartanburg to CT via a combination of Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, I-81, Gettysburg, Lancaster Co., etc.
Some thoughts/suggestions:
* BRP speed limit is 45. Skyline's is 35. If you hope to make 250 mi/day, you'll probably have to do some interstate at some point. I-81 basically parallels BRP/Skyline. Remember to vary engine speeds on any long stretch of road.
* BRP and Skyline are high-elevation roads, and I'd guess that there is at least the possibility of snow on those roads in late November. I'd call ahead to the National Park Service to check on road conditions.
If it helps, here's my itinerary:
Thursday
* Left Performance Center ~3:00pm
* I-26 to Asheville, NC
* BRP to Mitchell State Park. Found out BRP was closed at that point. BRP back to Asheville.
* I-40E to Marion, NC. US-221 to BRP at Linville Falls.
* BRP to Blowing Rock, NC. Dinner at Outback Steakhouse.
* US-221N to Boone, NC. US-421E to Wilkesboro, NC. Overnight at Hampton Inn in Wilkesboro.
Friday
* US-421E to I-77N
* Back onto BRP at Fancy Gap, VA
* Stopped at Mabry Mill on BRP.
* Off BRP at Roanoke, VA. Lunch.
* I-81N to I-64E to Charlottesville.
* Drive a 545i at Drive for the Cure at BMW of Charlottesville 
* US-29N to US-33W to Skyline Drive N
* Get off Skyline onto US-211W to Luray, VA. Dinner.
* US-211E back onto Skyline N, exiting Skyline Drive at Front Royal, VA
* I-66W to I-81N to Hagerstown, MD. Overnight at Super 8.
Saturday
* Back roads from Hagerstown to Gettysburg. Spend a couple hours at Gettysburg NMP.
* US-30E to Lancaster Co. Lunch at Cracker Barrel in Downingtown, PA.
* I-276E to I-95N to Princeton, NJ, continue on to Brooklyn for dinner, then CT.
| | Reply » Help needed with trip back from PCD |
The Parkway does makes sense for breaking in the car, but it is the long way to Philly as you'll end way west of where you need to be. To join the parkway, take US 25 to Asheville, NC rather than I-26 to avoid sustained interstate speed. You could stay the first night at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, but that wouldn't put you very far up the road from Spartanburg. If you do stay there, make sure you get one of the rooms in the main inn.
| | Reply » Help needed with trip back from PCD |
I have to agree the Blue Ridge Parkway is a beautiful drive, lots of curves and hills. All in all a bit slow but worth the time. There is a winery just north of Fancy Gap (that is where the Parkway and I-77 cross), called Chateau Morrisette (mileposts 171 and 172 on the parkway). I visit the winery when I'm at my property which is about 18 miles from the winery. Good wine, food. They also have tours. There is a link on there web site for local area lodging. It would give you a nice days drive from the PDC.
The website is: http://www.thedogs.com
After that continue on the Blue Ridge to Sky line, or jump on 11 in Roanoke and parallel I-81 north to PA.
The other option is pickup rt221 in Roanoke, then rt460 to Rt29 then north through Lynchburg then pickup Rt15 near Culpeper. Then onto Rt 30 in Gettyburg, PA, and follow that over to the Philly area.
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Help needed with trip back from PCD