Performance Center Return Route Suggestions

[Hind]

I am scheduled to pick up my whip on 8/28/09 in greenville, SC performance center.

I'm looking for return route advice to Tampa, FL. I would like to drive some cool roads out of south carolina, but dont know the area. Anybody have any favorite roads? (or thread links to other people's routes)

Thanks in advance!

BMWFTW

[Citizen Z]

Kentucky and Tennessee both have awesome roads... outta yer way though. ;P

[holo777]

How much time do you want to devote to your return trip? If you have time to go over to the mountains and down into GA you could find some fun stuff.

The closest good road is 276 through Caesar's Head State Park. I've driven that one and its pretty nice.

[JimD]

Tail of the Dragon is kind of out of the way but something to look at (if you google it, you can find a whole website with maps, etc.).

I do not have nearly as far to go, I live in Lexington, SC which is outside Columbia. By interstate, I am less than 2 hrs from the Performance Center (making PC delivery a bit of a no brainer). But I plan to spend a bit more time coming home by staying off the interstate. I looked at routes in mapping software I have but tried Google maps this morning and was pleasantly surprised. It had the same "stay off the intersates" option and actually gave me 3 alternate routes. And it also gives you a topigraphical picture map of the route so you can blow things up to get more of a feel than just a normal lines-on-a-page map. I do not know how to get my Nuvi to follow this route but I think I will try it.

I took a quick look on Google Maps. The quickest route is I-26 to I-95 which it shows at 9 hours 13 minutes. The first part of that route takes you to the Columbia area which is where I live. That would be boring but not problematic except for a few miles in the Columbia area where you would have to slow down if you come through here around rush hour. That is probably better than the I-85 to I-75 route which takes you through the Atlanta area. The more interesting route it gave, without turning on the avoid highways option, went 11 to 129 and seems to stay off major interstates and avoid big cities. It is 10 hours and 3 minutes. When I turned on the "avoid interstates" it gave me a an 11 hour and 19 minute trip. The other thing I learned is that your route is mainly south which goes away from the more interesting roads. Going a few minutes north to pick up 11 as close to Greer as possible should give you a bit nicer drive without adding too much time. Even further north you find things like the tail of the dragon. Unless you plan a two day trip, however, it will be difficult to see the more interesting roads.

Jim

[Jake C]

Another vote for Tail of the Dragon. It's out of the way but worth the short drive up from the Performance Center.

- J

[Hind]

thanks for all the advice, I think the tail of dragon would be good if I didnt have to drive all the way to tampa. I just discovered the "avoid highways" option on google maps, and the topo maps help alot. I've had to use the street view to investigate some roads because they look good on a map, but when I actually see what it looks like... its dirt! I have a long way to drive.

[bluesunit]

Originally Posted by holo777

How much time do you want to devote to your return trip? If you have time to go over to the mountains and down into GA you could find some fun stuff.

The closest good road is 276 through Caesar's Head State Park. I've driven that one and its pretty nice.

I used to live in Clemson, which is very close to that area.

276 is a true 1st gear road . . . it's a lot of fun going both up and down.

My favorite is 130 . . . very fast road in good condition, and you can stop and check out Whitewater Falls.

Any of those roads north of hwy 11 that cross the North Carolina border are a ton of fun.

[SlickShift]

Small world...I just picked up my 1er from the performance center in May and live in Tampa too. Just like you I took all back roads. I took some great roads through SC and GA. PM me if you want my route.