The Cost of Driving from Abingdon, VA to Asheville, NC based on Current Gas Prices

Are you planning a road trip from Abingdon, Virginia to Asheville, North Carolina? If so, you may be wondering how much you can expect to spend on gas and tolls for the trip. In this post, we'll break down the cost of driving to Asheville from Abingdon based on different routes, taking into account current gas prices.

Route 1: I-81 South to I-40 East

The first route is the most direct, taking you along I-81 South and I-40 East. This route spans approximately 230 miles, taking around 3.5 hours to complete. Based on current gas prices, you can expect to spend around $27 on gas for the trip. However, there are no tolls on this route, which means you can save some money there.

Route 2: US-19W South to I-26 East

The second route goes south on US-19W and joins I-26 East, which takes you into Asheville. The total distance of this route is about 250 miles, and you can expect it to take around 4 hours to complete. This route has one toll at the Cherokee National Forest, which costs $2. However, the gas prices for this route are slightly lower than Route 1, coming in at around $25 for the whole trip.

Route 3: US-11W South to I-81 South

The third route takes a slightly different path, taking you south on US-11W and into I-81 South, before connecting to I-40 East. This route is roughly 260 miles and takes around 4 hours to complete. You can expect to spend slightly more on gas for this trip than the previous two routes, at around $30. Additionally, there is one major toll on this route, costing $5 at the West Virginia Turnpike.

Route 4: Scenic Route through Appalachia

If you're feeling adventurous, you may want to try a fourth route that's a little more scenic. Taking this route, you'll travel on US-19 and NC-197, before joining I-40 West into Asheville. The total distance for this route is about 280 miles, which takes around 5 hours to complete. Unfortunately, this route is the most expensive of the four options, at around $36 for gas due to the longer distance. Additionally, there are no tolls on this route, but the cost of gas makes this route more costly overall.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the cheapest and fastest option is Route 1, taking I-81South and I-40 East. Although the other routes may be more scenic and interesting, they do take a bit longer and can cost a bit more. However, depending on your preferences, it may be worth the extra money to take one of the scenic routes and see more of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.