Raleigh to Mississippi Best Route

[adwerkema]

I'm driving from Raleigh to Mississippi tomorrow (Sunday). Here's the catch: I won't know which city I am driving to until Sunday afternoon. It could be:

1) Greenville
2) Starkville
3) Meridian
4) Vicksburg

So, which route should I take that will allow flexibility? Also, is I-40/I-85 or I-40/I-95/I-20 better for getting from Raleigh to Atlanta?

[froggie]

Getting yourself to Tuscaloosa will allow for the flexibility you're looking for, as two of those destination cities are along I-20 and the other two are along US 82.

Unless there's an incident somewhere, you can probably stick with I-85.

[rlb2024]

Getting yourself to Tuscaloosa will allow for the flexibility you're looking for, as two of those destination cities are along I-20 and the other two are along US 82.

Unless there's an incident somewhere, you can probably stick with I-85.

I agree with Froggie about getting to Tuscaloosa and going from there.

There's a lot of construction on I-85 in South Carolina between the NC state line and Spartanburg, and you never know what you'll get into with the hellhole that Atlanta traffic can be, so another option is I-40 west to Knoxville, then I-75 south to Chattanooga, then I-24 west for a few miles to I-59 south -- that will get you to Tuscaloosa as well.

[hbelkins]

Getting yourself to Tuscaloosa will allow for the flexibility you're looking for, as two of those destination cities are along I-20 and the other two are along US 82.

Unless there's an incident somewhere, you can probably stick with I-85.

I agree with Froggie about getting to Tuscaloosa and going from there.

There's a lot of construction on I-85 in South Carolina between the NC state line and Spartanburg, and you never know what you'll get into with the hellhole that Atlanta traffic can be, so another option is I-40 west to Knoxville, then I-75 south to Chattanooga, then I-24 west for a few miles to I-59 south -- that will get you to Tuscaloosa as well.

From Asheville to Chattanooga, is there really any benefit to taking I-40 to I-75 over using US 74? I know there are a couple of two-lane segments, but it sure seems like you go awfully far out of the way north on I-40.

[skluth]

Getting yourself to Tuscaloosa will allow for the flexibility you're looking for, as two of those destination cities are along I-20 and the other two are along US 82.

Unless there's an incident somewhere, you can probably stick with I-85.

I agree with Froggie about getting to Tuscaloosa and going from there.

There's a lot of construction on I-85 in South Carolina between the NC state line and Spartanburg, and you never know what you'll get into with the hellhole that Atlanta traffic can be, so another option is I-40 west to Knoxville, then I-75 south to Chattanooga, then I-24 west for a few miles to I-59 south -- that will get you to Tuscaloosa as well.

From Asheville to Chattanooga, is there really any benefit to taking I-40 to I-75 over using US 74? I know there are a couple of two-lane segments, but it sure seems like you go awfully far out of the way north on I-40.

I wondered that too. Using Google Maps directions, US 74 is 24 miles less but 13 minutes longer. I guess it depends on how you drive.