Coming from "Off the Mountain"

1. FROM THE NORTH, EAST -- AND ONE WAY FROM THE SOUTH:

   The main road into Boone from the North or East is Rt 421. See Map of Northwest NC for how 421 connects to I-77 and I-40.

2. ANOTHER WAY FROM THE SOUTH:

   You can also come up Rt 321 from the south, especially if you are coming from Atlanta... If your trip takes you through Charlotte, though, it is easier to continue up I-77 from Charlotte and take 421 into Boone. See Map of Northwest NC for how 321 connects to I-85 and I-40.

3. FROM THE WEST:

   From the west it can be complicated. The map makes it look like 421 works, and it does, but it is VERY twisty -- full of switchbacks. It is much better to go through Johnson City and pick up 321 there. 321 is twisty, too, but not as bad as 421.

   There is a much straighter route from Johnson City -- which is longer in mileage than taking 321 all of the way to Boone, but the same in time without the "scenic" trip around Watauga Lake. (Watauga Lake is pretty, but if you get stuck behind a lumber truck, you will drive very slow...) This straighter route involves picking up 19E in Elizabethton (actually 19E and 321 run together for a while, then 321 turns off to the left to go towards Watauga Lake and 19E goes straight). See the directions from the tri-cities airport for this route, picking up with step 4 on that list in Elizabethton.