US 60 from Lynchburg, VA to Lexington, VA

radcaddy

radcaddy

Active member
Aug 15, 2020
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Clayton, NC
I plan to drive up to Harrisburg, PA area from North Carolina this week and need to go through Lexington, VA. The route from Lynchburg to Lexington is over the hills on US 60.

Has anyone driven this particular route and if so, how are the grades and the road. It crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway and looks like it gets pretty curvy.

What are the suggestions for when to drop into 2nd across mountains? I read the recent posts on the Blue Ridge trips, but want to know about US 60 particularly.
 
Hi Todd,

I personally would avoid it. If you're coming from Clayton, I'd suggest either taking 29 on the east side of the mountains the whole way up to US 15 or take I95 to I64 to I81. US 60 is pretty steep and windy on both sides. Interstates are much more gradual. If you take 29 to 15, you won't come across any mountain passes. I64 would be the only one if you decide to take that.
 
Oh wait you said you need to go through Lexington... reading isn't my forte...

Lexington isn't far south of I64. About 30 miles. I would consider just taking 95 to 64 to 81 south to Lexington and then back north on 81. I've done those mountain passes across the valley in the GMC before and i will go out of my way now to just take I64 rather than the US routes bec of how steep they are.
 
werewilfs said:
Hi Todd,

I personally would avoid it. If you're coming from Clayton, I'd suggest either taking 29 on the east side of the mountains the whole way up to US 15 or take I95 to I64 to I81. US 60 is pretty steep and windy on both sides. Interstates are much more gradual. If you take 29 to 15, you won't come across any mountain passes. I64 would be the only one if you decide to take that.
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Thanks, Jared.

What about US 460 from Lynchburg over to Roanoke and up to Lexington? (and then I-81 North). It looks less challenging across the hills into Roanoke.

I have driven US 15 several times - it is a direct route to Harrisburg and it is an enjoyable drive, but the areas around Manassas and Leesburg to the bridge into MD are heavy traffic and slow. Is there another way around from Winchester to the north to avoid the DC traffic? I have also taken US29 from Charlottesville north to Culpepper and rejoined 15 there.
 
radcaddy said:
Thanks, Jared.

What about US 460 from Lynchburg over to Roanoke and up to Lexington? (and then I-81 North). It looks less challenging across the hills into Roanoke.

I have driven US 15 several times - it is a direct route to Harrisburg and it is an enjoyable drive, but the areas around Manassas and Leesburg to the bridge into MD are heavy traffic and slow. Is there another way around from Winchester to the north to avoid the DC traffic? I have also taken US29 from Charlottesville north to Culpepper and rejoined 15 there.
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I've not done 460 before but talking to another GMCer who lives in Roanoke he says 460 is the route he always takes in his GMC.
 
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werewilfs said:
I've not done 460 before but talking to another GMCer who lives in Roanoke he says 460 is the route he always takes in his GMC.
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Good to know! Thanks.

For me, the only usual challenge for the Raleigh-Harrisburg trip is circumnavigating DC. I have also done I95 to US 17 to Warrenton to join US 15. That is pretty easy outside of rush hour on 95 North of Richmond.

I try my best to avoid the interstates in favor of US highways and often state routes. It is considerable slower but I am not in a race.

T
 
radcaddy said:
Good to know! Thanks.

For me, the only usual challenge for the Raleigh-Harrisburg trip is circumnavigating DC. I have also done I95 to US 17 to Warrenton to join US 15. That is pretty easy outside of rush hour on 95 North of Richmond.

I try my best to avoid the interstates in favor of US highways and often state routes. It is considerable slower but I am not in a race.

T
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I ALWAYS avoid 95 whenever possible. When are you coming up this way? I assume you're going to Marc Brandt's Engine raising this weekend? We're meeting up with a couple GMCers in Winchester Thursday afternoon to head up there.
 
werewilfs said:
I ALWAYS avoid 95 whenever possible. When are you coming up this way? I assume you're going to Marc Brandt's Engine raising this weekend? We're meeting up with a couple GMCers in Winchester Thursday afternoon to head up there.
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Yes, headed to Marc's. We have become friends in the struggle since meeting at Sirum's a few years ago. I have been to his home a few times now in the GMC. Look forward to meeting you, too.

Do you have a time and place in Winchester on Thursday? I was thinking that I might head there from Warrenton this time to avoid 15 around Manassas and Leesburg.
 
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radcaddy said:
Yes, headed to Marc's. We have become friends in the struggle since meeting at Sirum's a few years ago. I have been to his home a few times now in the GMC. Look forward to meeting you, too.

Do you have a time and place in Winchester on Thursday? I was thinking that I might head there from Warrenton this time to avoid 15 around Manassas and Leesburg.
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We're likely meeting at the Walmart parking lot across from Candy Hill Campground around 3:30/4pm
 
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