Ok Team,
We will be departing from Detroit for the trip. Mapquest pretty much has us using 77 for the trip. This is our first time for the area and we haven't a clue what we are doing.
Thanks,
Bonnie
Can't help you on the camp grounds but can offer a bit of advice on the route.
Once you are in West Virginia take your time through the mountains and follow posted truck speed limits or slower on the curves and grades. Once south of Charlston WV it is a toll road, there are 3 tolls you'll be stopping for. They should be $3.25 each for a pickup with the Bighorn which is the rate for a motor home with a trailer..... If you're lucky, they'll only charge you $2.50 which is for a pickup with a trailer under 7'6" tall.
425 or 460 miles into your trip depending on how you go through Ohio at exit 45 on the WV turnpike in Beckley WV there is a HUGE travel plaza with plenty of car, RV and truck parking, food, gifts, fuel and a travel store. Good safe place to dry camp for the night. Remember that even though you can't plug in you can still run water, water heater and the furnace for a good overnight stay.
Once south of Beckley will be the toughest portion of mountain driving, pay attention and run the truck speed limits or slightly under and you'll be fine. There are 2 tunnels in the last few miles of I77 in WV one right at the WV/VA border... You'll actually enter the tunnel in WV and exit in VA.
I77 and I 81 run together though Wytheville, VA..... Going south on 77 stay in the right lane through this entire section and it will dump you onto I77 south when they split. When you return home you will need to be in the left lane for the exit at the merge of these 2 highways and the right lane for the split to stay on I77 North.
Once you get about 7 miles from the NC state line there is a steep and long mountain grade called "Fancy Gap" .... 6 mile downgrade at 5% IIRC ..... you gotta go up on the way back so watch your engine and trans temps on the way back..
Fancy Gap is one of those grades that is famous like Sandstone, Saluda and Mont Eagle on the east coast. These grades are famous for a reason.... Bad wrecks and bad fog.... so be carefull not to burn your brakes up here, drive this grade in the right gear so you barely need to use your brakes to maintain a safe speed.
Once past Fancy Gap the roads get much more user friendly to drive for the rest of the trip as you are pretty much done with the hardest part of the mountain drivng.
This isn't to scare you, just make you aware of the worst sections of the ride through the mountains if you've never been through here before. It's absolutly beatiful drive and I recommend you run it during daylight so you can see the beauty of the mountains and valleys.
Safe Travels. Mike