Quickest route to VIR from RDU

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 10:30 am

What is the fastest route to VIR from the RDU area? I have been using this route...

I40 W
Efland exit onto US70 E
In Hillsborough turn left onto NC86 N
In middle of nowhere turn right onto NC119 N
In Semora turn left onto NC57 N
Outside of Milton turn right onto Race Track Rd (VIR)

Sometimes, instead of NC119 N, I may stay on NC86 N and outside of Yanceyville take NC 62 N to Milton, then short drive on NC 57 S, then Race Track Rd. Not sure which of those two are fast. They seem very close in time. I tend to enjoy the NC119 drive more.

I am asking as I was providing directions for an out of town "forum friend" on another forum who is flying into RDU to drive to VIR for the ALMS race this weekend. He was noting that the directions posted on the VIR site say to use US501 N to Roxboro then NC57 N. I felt that might be easier to follow directions (maybe why VIR gives it), but a longer drive time due to stoplights, in-town traffic, etc.?

Richard

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:17 am

Richard Casto wrote:

use US501 N to Roxboro then NC57 N. I felt that might be easier to follow directions (maybe why VIR gives it), but a longer drive time due to stoplights, in-town traffic, etc.?

Richard

Richard,
I use the Roxboro on 501, then North on 57, of course, since I'm already in Bahama, but the lights in Roxboro won't be much of a problem. You're in and out of Roxboro so quickly. It's an easy, straight forward route.

Gwen

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:39 am

Here is the route I use. I'm usually towing so I value not stopping/going pretty highly which is why I avoid Roxboro/Hillsborough.

40 -> 147
147 turns into 85, take the very first exit (Business 70)
Turn right at the traffic light onto 86N (very well signed)
Right turn at the top of a hill that is also a school zone onto 119
Turn left onto 57 at the blinking light in Semora.
Turn right onto Dotmond rd at the VIR sign.

Door to paddock is 1:15 from South Durham. Looks like about 1:24 from RDU. All the turns have a nice landmark so it's easy to not miss turns.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=RDU+A ... via=1&z=13

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

JamesMilko wrote:

Here is the route I use. I'm usually towing so I value not stopping/going pretty highly which is why I avoid Roxboro/Hillsborough.

40 -> 147
147 turns into 85, take the very first exit (Business 70)
Turn right at the traffic light onto 86N (very well signed)
Right turn at the top of a hill that is also a school zone onto 119
Turn left onto 57 at the blinking light in Semora.
Turn right onto Dotmond rd at the VIR sign.

Door to paddock is 1:15 from South Durham. Looks like about 1:24 from RDU. All the turns have a nice landmark so it's easy to not miss turns.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=RDU+A ... via=1&z=13

+1

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:57 am

Thanks everyone. I live very near the I40/147 intersection in south Durham, so I am going to try this route this weekend as well as pass it along to my friend.

Richard

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 12:32 pm

Gwen Baake wrote:

Richard Casto wrote:

use US501 N to Roxboro then NC57 N. I felt that might be easier to follow directions (maybe why VIR gives it), but a longer drive time due to stoplights, in-town traffic, etc.?

Richard

Richard,
I use the Roxboro on 501, then North on 57, of course, since I'm already in Bahama, but the lights in Roxboro won't be much of a problem. You're in and out of Roxboro so quickly. It's an easy, straight forward route.

Gwen

I'm w/ Gwen here. Leaving from Garner, I take 40 to 147, then the Duke street exit and go downtown Durham to 501 to Roxboro. Most of this is 4 lane. I HATE getting stuck behind farmer Joe on the 2 lane traffic taking the other direction.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

If your not towing the 501 route through Roxboro is probably better. Its only one empirical data point, but this weekend on the way back I took that route while my friends took the 119/86 route and even though I left after them, I got there 5 minutes before them. Obviously speeding and stop light play a factor and I might have sped a little more, but I was also stuck behind a slow poke for at least 15 miles on 57, so not ideal. Towing through this route kinda sucks, particularly the part through Durham, but its still doable.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 5:16 pm

2 hours door to door from Angier towing. 210-55-401-40-Miami Boulevard-70-501N- Roxboro-57.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

couple of minor updates...

JamesMilko wrote:

Here is the route I use. I'm usually towing so I value not stopping/going pretty highly which is why I avoid Roxboro/Hillsborough.

40 -> 147
147 turns into 85, take the very first exit (Business 70)
go 6.2 miles, Turn right at the traffic light onto 86N (very well signed)
go 20 miles, Right turn just past the crest of a hill that is also a school zone onto 119
Turn left onto 57 at the blinking light in Semora.
Turn right onto Dotmond rd at the VIR sign.

Door to paddock is 1:15 from South Durham. Looks like about 1:24 from RDU. All the turns have a nice landmark so it's easy to not miss turns.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=RDU+A ... via=1&z=13

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:32 pm

Tried two routes today. One on trip up and one on return. On trip up I used...

147
85
70
86
119
57

Per comments above this was 1:15 on the nose from south Durham. On return trip I used...

57
501 (including downtown Durham)
147

The return was five minutes longer. I had light traffic both ways and dont think traffic was a factor in the longer return. I think what kills the 501 route is the countless stoplights from north Durham to 147 and I even felt I caught most as green. I suspect that avoiding downtown Durham may help, so I can see a 147, Alexander drive, Miami Blvd, 70, I85, 501 being faster than downtown 501, still maybe not as fast as 86 and 119. But five minutes is not a big difference. If I was towing I would absolutely avoid downtown and north Durham 501 if you are starting in the triangle area. My 2 cents.

Richard

THSCC Forums

Quickest route to VIR from RDU

Who is online