I know I will probably be in them minority here, but I’ve lived in NC for a long time and I would not take US-421up via Boone, NC, etc. and beyond with a big rig and I’ve driven semi’s.  I would go I-40 to I-26 up through Johnson City and then backtrack down I-26 if I were taking our 5er.  It’s not that you can’t go us-421, it’s that I wouldn’t in spite of the fact it is shorter mileage wise.

I-26 has some steep, 7% inclines, but its fine and I have done it all the time with our rig as we have I-40 which is a very pretty drive this time of year.  I-40 is the same going into Ashville but isn’t a real problem.  It’s interstate and you have 4 lanes to always work with and you can travel at your own speed etc.

I not real pulsed about taking US-74 /441 off I-40 to the west of Ashville either.  But your only other option is down I-81 to Knoxville and then I-75 south to Cleveland and then back east.  That’s the way I would go if I were traveling to get to your destination.  But that’s just me.

Jerry, I think this has to do with how comfortable you are with mountain roads and going through a large number of communities, etc.  But IMO, I-26 is the least of your concerns on this trip.  It’s the mountain US Hiways and I’m not referring to climbs and descents.  It’s just how comfortable you are with mountain turns, stops and the like.

Bill