Best route to Bowling Green?

[jerrsvette]

Im planning my first trip to the NCM this week from central NJ. Mapquest says Pa tpk. to 81S into Maryland to 68W, 79S & 64W in W.Va into Lexington Ky, then 65 S into Bowling Green. The AAA route suggests Pa Tpk all the way to 70W thru Wheeling, W.Va., & Columbus,Ohio, then 71S thru Cincinatti, to Louisville,then 65 south. The AAA route is about 15 min. shorter & mileage about the same. I am not sure if I am driving strait thru, or making an overnite stop depending on when I leave. Any suggestions on which is the better way??? Thanks for any advice.

[Glennm27]

Originally Posted by jerrsvette

Im planning my first trip to the NCM this week from central NJ.

Mapquest says Pa tpk. to 81S into Maryland to 68W, 79S & 64W in W.Va into Lexington Ky, then 65 S into Bowling Green.

The AAA route suggests Pa Tpk all the way to 70W thru Wheeling, W.Va., & Columbus,Ohio, then 71S thru Cincinatti, to Louisville,then 65 south.

The AAA route is about 15 min. shorter & mileage about the same. I am not sure if I am driving strait thru, or making an overnite stop depending on when I leave.
Any suggestions on which is the better way???

Thanks for any advice.

Your MapQuest way is a good way EXCEPT, From I-81 you will need to take I-70 West for about 25 miles to get yourself to I-68 AND From Lexington, KY you'll want to take the Blue Grass Parkway to I-65 then I-65 south to Bowling Green.

The trip down I-79 to Nitro West Virginia is a gorgeous ride. Have the camera's out and ready.

The AAA route is boring. It's just the basic trip. The 81-70-68-79-64-BGP-65 is the scenic & fun route.

[JVM225]

From my home on Long Island in NY I went west through NJ and PA, then south through Ohio. That's what Mapquest suggested to me when I did it.
I found out later that had I entered a start location that was a few miles south of me it would have taken me a different way that basically picks up the route Mapquest suggested for you.
I would take that way. The tip through Ohio wasn't the best. There were very few of the traditional easy pull off and get back on quickly gas and food places you find on most Interstates. I would think the route through West Virginia in to Kentucky would be a better choice than the trip through all the cities in Ohio.

[Bill W]

Remember radar detectors are illeagal in Va. Don't ask me how I know. On the way home I actually came up through West Virginia and across 68 to 81. Nice ride through the mountains and the detector was on the whole way.

[Glennm27]

Originally Posted by Bill W

Remember radar detectors are illeagal in Va. Don't ask me how I know. On the way home I actually came up through West Virginia and across 68 to 81. Nice ride through the mountains and the detector was on the whole way.

Radar detector in VA shouldn't be a worry for this trip. If you're in VA heading to Bowling Green, you're going the wrong way....

[love my car]

Originally Posted by Glennm27

Your MapQuest way is a good way EXCEPT, From I-81 you will need to take I-70 West for about 25 miles to get yourself to I-68 AND From Lexington, KY you'll want to take the Blue Grass Parkway to I-65 then I-65 south to Bowling Green.

The trip down I-79 to Nitro West Virginia is a gorgeous ride. Have the camera's out and ready.

The AAA route is boring. It's just the basic trip. The 81-70-68-79-64-BGP-65 is the scenic & fun route.

I did the mapquest route also.stunning ride some really cool interstate driving.

[C5C6Norm]

Heading down from Baltimore after the Bash next Monday, 68, 79, 64, staying overnight in Grayson, KY, then a 4 hour ride to BG.

Have a safe trip.

[jerrsvette]

Thanks all for the info.
The AAA rep. made it sound as if the ride thru W.Va. was going thru coal mine towns w/ few normal interstate rest/food/fuel stops & advised the Ohio route.
I will follow your recommended routes and will hope to be traveling during the day to enjoy the scenery. BTW, where is Nitro?
C5 Norm.- sorry my work sched. didnt allow me time off next week to tag along w/ your caravan. Thats something I always wanted to do ,esp. when going somewhere for a first time. Have a safe trip as well.

[Glennm27]

You will take I-79 down through the West Virginia mountains to Charleston WV. Charleston is where I-79 ends and you'll then pick up I-64 and head west. Nitro is about 15 miles west out I-64 from Charleston.

[It'sHerVette!]

We did it slightly differntly on the way out. I78 to I 81 to Carlisle PA and then the PA Tpk. Route through Ohio. There is a great place to eat ribs both beef and pork in NE Cincinnatti, The Mongomery Inn, on Montgomery Road in Montgomery Ohio that we can't miss when we're in the area.

We came home via W. VA which was interstate all the way to Hagerstown Md and then 81N to 78 and home.

[Mr Mojo]

I've made the trip 10 times.

I take PA turnpike to I-81 south to I-70w which joins up with I-68 west. Take that to I-79 south. When you get to the Charelston,WV area, you will pick up I-64 west into Lexington. Take I-75 north to 904 to 7 and then to 60w to the Bluegrass Parkway which will take you to I-65 south into Bowling Green. Exit 28 is the museum and assembly plant.
Exit 22 is where most of the big hotels are.

Just be careful with my directions around Lexington, I just drive it from memory, and I forget if I got those numbers right.

[Z28TOZO6]

Mapquest tells me I have a 15 hour trip there.