Best route from Charlotte to Lexington

Eric Bartsch wrote:

I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.

I'd like to have as much altitude between me and the ground as
possible, but since the plane is VFR only, I can't really plan on
climbing to 10,000 feet and crossing over (the weather will be a big
factor there)

Does anyone have experience with routes in this area?

KEXX is a great field with friendly folks. No need to go all the way out
by Asheville to get there from Charlotte unless you're sightseeing or want
to get some mountain experience. Asheville will be very pretty for the
next week or two, by the way.

Since you're VFR, just follow I-85 out to Lexington. You'll see the
airport where US 52 and I-85 diverge. Can't miss it.

Tamara Whitman wrote:
I'll be flying a VFR-only plane from Charlotte to Lexington next
weekend, and I'm in the process of planning the best route to cross the
mountains. The sectionals should arrive in a couple of days, but in the
mean time I'm looking at the route, and the elevations appear lower in
the route from Asheville up to Greeneville. Also, it looks like this is
entirely over a major highway vs. being in the middle of nowhere.

KEXX is a great field with friendly folks. No need to go all the way out
by Asheville to get there from Charlotte unless you're sightseeing or want
to get some mountain experience. Asheville will be very pretty for the
next week or two, by the way.

Since you're VFR, just follow I-85 out to Lexington. You'll see the
airport where US 52 and I-85 diverge. Can't miss it.


Unless he's talking about Lexington, TN (M52)... half way between Nashville and
Memphis along I-40.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE

I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.

The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
Greeneville through the river valley.

Eric

"Eric Bartsch" wrote in message
oups.com...
I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.

The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
Greeneville through the river valley.

If you are going I Follow Roads, you could go up I-77, all the way. It is
the most direct route by car, but I do not know the elevations of the
passes, going that way.
--
Jim in NC

He won't make it to Lexington by following I-77 I-75 would take him to
Lexington if he flew over to the Knoxville area and followed it north.
Have a good trip Eric and say hello to ManOWar Blvd for me,...such a
cool name for a street. Named after the race horse..of course of course!

Patrick
student SP
aircraft structural mech

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"Eric Bartsch" wrote in message
oups.com...
I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.

The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
Greeneville through the river valley.

If you are going I Follow Roads, you could go up I-77, all the way. It is
the most direct route by car, but I do not know the elevations of the
passes, going that way.
--
Jim in NC

Eric Bartsch wrote:
I think I may have needed to be more specific. I'm heading from
Charlotte, NC to Lexington Kentucky and then on up to Northwest Ohio.
You had me going there for a moment when you referred to following I-85
since to my knowledge it doesn't cross the mountains.

The consensus appears to be the gap by Asheville that heads up toward
Greeneville through the river valley.


Alright... I finally pulled out the charts and had a look. Charlotte V259
(through Hickory) to HMV (Holston Mountain). Then V53 through Hazard, KY (AZQ)
the rest of the way to Lexington. I don't think there's a minimum enroute
altitude over 7500 feet.... easily done in a C-172. Just pick a decent VFR day
to go.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

VE