503 miles via US 129, I-40, I-275 (around Knoxville), I-75, KY 491, US 25, KY 14, KY 17, KY 16, I-275 (around Cincinnati), I-471, I-71, I-271 (west of Akron), OH 8 and OH 82 with a refueling/bio stop and a lunch break. Auto miles: 646. Cumulative route miles: 2517. Cumulative auto miles: 2704. The additional auto miles were due to sightseeing around Pigeon Forge TN.
This route was not as difficult as it sounds. Most of the KY state route pieces were due to a decision to avoid yet another 30-minute slowdown on I-75 south of Cincinnati. I don’t know if zig-zagging through Kentucky saved any time but it was more interesting than sitting in stop-and-go traffic on the interstate.
The sightseeing in Pigeon Forge was not what I had planned. I wanted to visit Gatlinburg. But when we hit heavy traffic 4 miles from our destination and the GPS said it would take 37 minutes to get there, I turned around. See the theme? I don’t like bumper-to-bumper traffic.
The most interesting part of our trip to Pigeon Forge (which is nearly 90 minutes from Alcoa) was the return trip. We took a more southerly route which was a series of very narrow back roads with very sharp turns. Very remote. At one point we encountered a black bear in the road. We stopped and I tried to get a photo, but it scampered off into the woods before I could get it. But that was my first encounter with a bear in the woods.
Our two nights in Alcoa were at the La Quinta Inn and Suites Knoxville Airport. Yes, we were near an airport. But it isn’t a big airport and we heard no air traffic noise. This hotel was very good in every way: good bed, good cable, good A/C, good shower, good free breakfast. It even had a good gym and a good pool – neither of which we used. And very reasonably priced. I give it an 8 out of 10.
We dined out, which is unusual for us – we went to the Shoney’s down the road. Shoney’s is like a small Golden Corral. A smaller buffet selection, but they had some good stuff. And cheaper than Golden Corral – $15.
