"From Bluegrass to Beaches: Traveling from Brandenburg, KY to Kinston, NC"

If you're looking for a road trip that offers plenty of variety, driving from Brandenburg, Kentucky to Kinston, North Carolina is a great option. But before you hit the road, it's important to plan your route and give yourself plenty of time. Here are some of the best options for getting from Bluegrass country to the beaches of North Carolina.

Route 1: The I-65/I-85/I-40 Route

If you're looking for the fastest route, taking the interstate highways is your best bet. From Brandenburg, head south on KY-794 to get to I-65. Follow I-65 southwest until you reach Montgomery, Alabama where you'll switch to I-85 and head southeast through Auburn and Columbus, Georgia. Once you reach Atlanta, merge onto I-20 for just a few miles before switching to I-75/I-85 and heading east through Atlanta, then merging onto I-85 northeast into North Carolina. You'll then merge onto I-40 and head east through Greensboro, Raleigh, and eventually arriving in Kinston.

This route covers approximately 700 miles and will take you approximately 11-12 hours of driving time. But don't just drive straight through! Make some stops along the way to explore some of the cities and towns you'll pass through, like Montgomery, Atlanta, or Raleigh.

Route 2: The I-65/US-231/US-231 Route

If you're looking for a more scenic route that takes you off the interstate highways, you can follow US-231 through Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee until you reach Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where you'll merge onto I-24 and head east to Chattanooga. At Chattanooga, switch to I-75 and head southeast through Atlanta until you reach Macon, where you can pick up US-129/US-441/SR-11 and head east through small towns and rural areas until you reach US-17, which can take you into Kinston.

This route covers approximately 800 miles and will take you approximately 13-14 hours of driving time. But along the way, you can explore attractions like the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, the Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia.

Route 3: The KY-79/TN-52/US-64 Route

This route heads through smaller cities and rural areas, giving you a chance to experience a slice of Americana on your journey. From Brandenburg, head south on KY-79 until you reach TN-52, which you can follow southeast into Tennessee until you pick up US-64 east. Follow US-64 through Chattanooga and into North Carolina until you reach I-540, which will take you to US-64 toward Kinston.

This route covers approximately 700 miles and will take you approximately 13-14 hours of driving time. Along the way, you can check out historic downtowns in towns like Portland, Tennessee, and Franklin, North Carolina.

Final Thoughts

No matter which route you choose, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the journey and see all the sights along the way. Consider breaking up your trip with overnight stays in cities like Nashville or Asheville, or stopping for meals in quaint towns like Watertown, Tennessee, and Clayton, Georgia. And when you finally arrive in Kinston, take the time to explore the beaches and history of the region – you've earned it!