CHAT Trip to Gatlinburg, TN from Central IL

[ReneeT]

Daughter and grandsons will be heading out on trip tomorrow to Gatlinburg; trying to decide between I-70 to 24 to Nashville and on east, or Evansville, IN through Bowling Green and on to Lebanon, then east to Gatlinburg. Any intelligence as to planned protests, etc... or whether one route would be safer than the other? I'd appreciate any info - gonna be hard to let them go in the current climate.

 

[marymonde]

Maybe it would be prudent to bypass a larger city like Nashville. There’s probably no sure protest free areas, but the bigger the city, the bigger the problem.

I hope they enjoy their trip.

Edited to add: From purely a traffic point of view, Nashville has become very irritating area to navigate through. There’s always massive road construction.

 

[Jaybird]

Hug Dolly's neck for me.

 

[Normallguy]

Stay OFF of I-70 east of Indy.
Total parking lot east and west.

 

[ssonb]

Oh man I love the Gatlinburg area , once you learn the back road routes to get around town ( Gatlinburg,Sevierville,Piegon Forge) it's a history and fun filled destination. I have not been able to go back in a couple years.
BTW I am related to half of more of the major family names in the area.
Lucky you, have fun.

 

[David Nettleton]

Hug Dolly's neck for me.

Reminds me. Last week Dolly was notified that her Social Security Disability had been approved. Claimed she was a hunchfront.

 

[ReneeT]

Thanks, All!

 

[Illini Warrior]

not a bad idea to avoid Nashville during regular times >>>> ALLLLLL the interstates that go thru US major cities could come under ANTIFA/BLM attack for the 4TH - could start as soon as tomorrow afternoon ....

 

[Jeff Allen]

I would go south thru
Paducah or Evansville.

Louisville sucks big time without protests.....

J

 

[mortgageboss]

If you want to avoid Nashville, pick up Hwy 231 in Bowling Green and take it all the way to I40 in Lebanon Tn.

 

[Bogey]

I would probably stay away from Nashville. If they were to take the Evansville to Bowling Green route. Once they get to Bowling Green. They could take 65N to the Cumberland Parkway, then east to the Jamestown exit (60 miles or so) then south to Crossville TN (I-40)

 

[ReneeT]

Thanks, Everyone - y'all are the best!

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

Stay the heck away from Nashville. They have the second or third largest black population concentration. Have the largest adolescent black incarceration rate in the country. Have one of the biggest spikes of covid in the state next to memphis. There is a killer burger shack in Lebanon that I loved when I was posted there for work for a few periods. If they LOVE fried green tomatoes Bimbos on the 75/40 split first south exit on 75 south has THE best fried green tomatoes. Aubrey's off exit 112 on I75 has an awesome Hawaiian ribeye. Now in Gatlinburg The Peddlar has the most awesome custom ordered cut steaks. The Creekside view is awesome.