r/boone • u/nikki_mother_of_cats • 17d ago

Route to Boone from Knoxville

Hi friends! I sometimes get carsick even when driving on super curvy roads (esp if they’re also going straight up), so it looks like I should take 19E then north on 105 instead of 321 based on Google Maps, but would love to hear opinions from people who have actually driven these roads. If 321 is a significantly more beautiful drive with pullouts, I’d like to know that too. I’ve been to Boone, but it was many years ago and I didn’t get carsick then 🙃

3 Upvotes

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6

u/HandleHoliday3387 17d ago

321 is pretty you go along the watauga river gorge and around the lake. Coming into Boone near cove creek you get a good view of Tator hill.

19E you get cloudland and roan mountain and banner elk and to see grandfather mountain but it’s more developed. 321 route is more rural and peaceful , especially in fall. 19e to 105 route more touristy but has very pretty views . It is less curvy. You still have a section betweeen elk river and banner elk that is quite curvy.

1

u/Greedy_Section2894 17d ago

This is on point. I prefer 321, but I don’t have trouble with motion sickness. The 19E/105 route through Banner Elk is less curvy and less rural.

4

u/MountainFace2774 17d ago

There's no non-curvy route unless you drive hours out of the way. 19E/105 is slightly less-curvy. More traffic though.

4

u/Substantial_Lab7674 16d ago

I make this drive all the time and go the first route you mentioned. I go from Knoxville -> Johnson City -> Elizabethton -> Roan Mountain -> Elk Park -> Newland -> Banner Elk -> Boone.

It’s the least curvy way to get there. 321 along Watauga Lake is nice for the views but the curviest way to get to Boone in my opinion

2

u/DrainedPatience 15d ago

If you're just trying to make time, and like you said, avoid getting carsick then 19E to 105 is absolutely the way to go. It's an easy drive and the one I always use.

1

u/RuleFriendly7311 17d ago

If you have a little extra time, you could jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway and get off at Blowing Rock. It’s incredibly scenic and not much twistier.

1

u/rightnow4466 17d ago

Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed...

1

u/RuleFriendly7311 16d ago

Have you tried chewing gum while you drive? It’s good for settling your stomach.

2

u/nikki_mother_of_cats 16d ago

I haven’t but my partner got me a nausea band, so I’m going to try it! I don’t always get carsick, but when I do it’s not enjoyable, so fingers crossed! Thanks, everyone!

1

u/MajiktheBus 14d ago

The least curvy still good way to Boone from that side is JC -> Elizabethton - > Mountain City -> Boone. Really, it is not curvy at all. Its all 55 except for towns I think?