I-40 West, North Carolina-Tennessee Border

Follows I-40 West from Mile 25 in NC to Mile 446 in TN through the Pigeon River Gorge.

[@Larre500]

I cannot stop watching this video.. I always end up coming back to it at times. Gotta love the Pigeon Gorge Probably some of the highest quality forests in the Subtropics right here :)

[@Mahoot]

I can’t believe this video was made 10 years ago...I was looking for a good quality video on this section of I-40 and admittedly skipped over this one since I assumed it being 10 years old that there would be a better quality one out there, but oh boy was I wrong, this video is awesome, and so HD for 2009 that it’s blowing my mind!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you, hopefully I'll have an opportunity to re-shoot it someday.

[@FlyingDogWaffle]

These videos on the Tennessee North Carolina border make me calm and less stressed

[@Freewayjim]

Awesome, thank you for watching!

[@Giavani-t4k]

Going all the way to California soon, on I-40. Can't wait. This and similar videos practically pave the way in what to expect. Pat Metheny is perfect for traveling. Gonna get the CD. Thanks Freewayjim! You and others who videotape these routes really provide a service to the traveler.

[@necroslair]

Gorgeous scenery on that stretch of highway. Metheny's music goes well with mountain roads. Thanks for the ride.

[@EuropeanRoads]

Amazing video! This road is probably one of the most scenic freeways east of the Mississippi river. And funny exits all the time leading to nowhere.

[@MrJamesgrate]

Beautiful, that was an awesome ride experience and your choice of music made it so relaxing.. Very well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@socarboy]

I stumbled across your almost 9 year old journey thru here. I did in February 2017 I can only imagine the fun you and Erik had on that trip

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, yes we always have a good time on our trips.

[@zanealbayati3599]

I watch this a lot. My ex used to live near nashville and I always drove this way to see her. Its so beautiful but makes me so sad and heartbroken. I used to be so happy driving on i-40 because I knew i was about to see her.

[@mossthatrules77]

Went down this road a lot roughly around this time period, feels like a genuine blast from the past seeing it in such crisp quality (for the time) lol. Thanks for sharing.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you for watching!

[@mossthatrules77]

@@Freewayjim Dig the choice in music too!

[@Freewayjim]

@@mossthatrules77 Thank you!

[@thinkuncagrizzthinktv7975]

I drivin in Tennessee twice in my life and the scenery never disappoint, love this video...

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@AnalyticalSurvival]

I drove this many times while stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C.. Thanks for the memories, Freeway Jim and the wonderful scenery! Many blessings --GM

[@jamesanthonygreen6170]

That was a very enjoyable video. Many parts of this road does greatly remind me both of the PA Turnpike and PA Route 33 near the Pocono area.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@uptownbronze]

Freeway, I'm from Greenville, S.C. Your videos bring back so many memories. Thank you.

[@twinkle2414]

My husband and I eloped in Sevierville, TN almost 16 years ago. After we were married, he took me down to Fort Stewart, GA so I could see where he had been stationed in the Army many years before we met. This trip was the first time I had ever been anywhere east of Illinois. This is the road we started for Georgia on (of course we were heading east). This is where my life truly began 😊. Thanks for posting.

[@iamTW64]

Great video! The Pat Metheny track is a perfect fit. This video makes me want to hop in the car and get on the road. Great job!

[@thomasdamon6511]

Great video .makes me feels like I'm young again .driving the Highway .I can't believe how real it actually looks and feels .it so nice of you share it us .I can't drive the highway s anymore .I'm only 63 but I have panic attacks.so I,ll just pretend and enjoy while you do the driving .LOL.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you very much for watching, I hope you check out the videos from 2013 on which were shot and edited with much better equipment.

[@LorenzoMoore1000]

Awesome video freeway Jim . And I am an lover of the mouintains troughout North Corolina/ Tenness. Thanks for posting

[@1xoirc]

That is one beautiful stretch of highway.Looks very relaxing.With the trees and everything.

[@JDSleeper]

When I finished grad school in Boston I drove home to San Diego. Went southwards to Norfolk first because I had a friend there and it was just before New Year's, so I wanted to avoid winter weather. I'll always regret pushing myself to try and make Knoxville. Went through this landscape in the dark. I should've stopped in Asheville for the night--ended up in Newport. Oh well.

[@trexlergreen]

Took a minute or so to get used to the speed and not being in control of the "wheel" but what a cool way to see the country - You are right about looking like parts od PA turnpike - better roads here though.. I'm hooked - this is very cool! Love it! Enjoy the comments on the ride too! Awesome Idea ! Thank you!!

[@jsx6x]

this vid is soo awesome. the scenery is beautiful isnt it? Me and my family travel to Minnesota every year, and we pass through that general area every time and Every time it's BEAUTIFUL.

[@adbailey78]

Waterville Road (@ Waterville Gap) is where the Appalachian Trail crosses under I-40 at the north end of the Great Smoky Mountains.

[@wonderwoman3197]

Wow! 2:20- 2:38 FTW! Just when I thought my beloved WV Turnpike was crazy to drive.

[@epistte]

This is deceptively steep. I first drove it in 1999 when I was leaving my sisters in Asheville and I decided to take I-75 home instead of going I-40 back to I-77/. It was almost bumper to bumper and I had a Mack truck tattooed to my bumper all the way down the hill. I thought that I was going to be a greasy red smudge on the highway.

[@FreewayBrent]

Wow. I'm pretty speechless, watching this video. The scenery may not be as dramatic as I-80 over the Sierra Nevada; rather this stretch of I-40 is lush and greener vs I-80, the tunnel was an unexpected surprise, and the numerous cliffs that reside, literally right next to the roadway all add up to one spectacular stretch of freeway. 6******!

[@pepsibottleq]

Flew to purchase a new to me Taurus SHO in Tulsa and drove I40 back home to VA. This stretch in that car gave me a new lease in life, what a blast

[@RicksTravelogue]

I like the "Middle of nowhere" destinations you put for the exits there. Good job.

[@rjaiswal11]

Awesome capture and superb driving man....I can't imagine the scene in Fall..!!

[@benjaminevans5867]

I love this part of the interstate. Just go a little farther and you'll pass through my hometown of Newport TN. My grandparents were raised not far from the Hartford exit. I sure love the mountains!!!

[@GBraidi78]

Beautiful states, I been to tennessee before, Gatlinburg I don't know if you heard of it but I loved it so much. Thanx for this wonderful video!!

[@drummerchef851]

Ironically, when you said parts of this look like PA turnpike I was thinking the exact same thing!!!!!!! Great video.

[@Freewayjim]

Ha, thanks!

[@Freewayjim]

I-77 in NC is nice through Fancy Gap but it does last very long. I-68 is an outstanding drive, and you can really enjoy it for a while.

[@Thegunwire]

Top notch video. I've driven this road 60 or 70 times at least, and love the drive.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks! The video is sped up about 4x so you are looking at it from a 225-250MPH perspective.

[@uptownbronze]

The mountains are always breathtaking!

[@historygirl0126]

Just made this drive last weekend. Beautiful scenery.

[@Bluetailvappy]

I-40 reopened about 3 weeks ago. So that is good news. It is still restricted to one lane westbound so more stabilization can occur.

[@FreewayBrent]

I had no idea that I-40 through that area was so awe-inspiring! I just might have to drive this section of I-40 in August...

[@skywatcher75]

Beautiful ride and music.

[@PHILLYCHEESESTEAK26]

I agree, there are videos of the PA Turnpike on KZbin but none compare to the quality that you make them Freewayjim. I would love to see a you make a video of driving through the mountainous area of PA. I would also love it if you had a video of I-80 in PA through the coal region. By the way, I found out about you Freewayjim while looking for videos on I-95 in PA. I love it of course. And the scenery in this video reminds me so much of the state of Pennsylvania.

[@jmantra623]

Speaking of the PA Turnpike, you need to a video on it, I was on this weekend and was in awe of the scenery.

[@Flonnezilla]

I made many trips down this road when I was a kid (when grandma was still living in western NC). The rockslides happen every other year at least. NC got sick and tired of dealing with the rockslides to the point they ended up extending 26 into TN.

[@Bluetailvappy]

As for wintertme driving Ji, I have a video hiding somewhere of taking US 441 through the Great moky Moutains National Park. it was filmed I think on 1/15/09, when there was this bitterly cold spell all over the southeast and east going on. There was snow on the ground above about 3000 feet. it was about 14 degrees where it tops out at 5300 feet, and there were ice all over the rock walls forming this ice tunnel effect around curves. I really need to dig that up.

[@b.j.]

Gonna be a long while before this kind of video is shot on this route.

[@Freewayjim]

Supposedly they'll have two-way traffic moving on the westbound lanes in a week or two.

[@admiralcapn]

Nice footage. You got this only three months before the most recent rock slide! I think it is in the area of 5:30, but its hard to tell where mile 2.6 is.

[@1xoirc]

@Freewayjim I have to give it to you man.This is very unique and great all together.To go to different parts of the US and explore is a great way to be open.What an adventure man keep it up.

[@smflatt]

Driving a semi through the gorge is a special experience as well. I've done it many times.

[@gordonmccoy4537]

Drove this road about a thousand times back in the '70's while stationed at Ft Bragg, NC and visiting Gatlinburg, TN on weekends... (Also drive it once, eastbound, on a BMW R1200CLC from Gatlinburg back to Raleigh then on to Annapolis, MD...)

[@Freewayjim]

Never drove it at night but check traffic reports, there was a rockslide a few months back that closed the road, not sure if it's re-opened yet.

[@ashtonnesmith]

Beautiful Scenery and well done to You .

[@outwestexplorer1966]

I love driving i40 thru the smokies. Beautiful scenery.

[@ladonna1902]

This is a very windy section of I-40. No straightaway in sight. You have to be very alert to drive through here. I also like the Pat Metheny music selection.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you, yes and it just experienced a rock slide a week or so ago.

[@zzzurd]

Nice vid! I like the twisties and the soothing music! It totally matches the scenery in this vid. Doing a road trip now is just so tempting. Perhaps the gas prices might come down a bit more and perhaps I'll do one...

[@Larre500]

@Jean1juan I think that those are just the mile markers. it means that he traveled 25 miles in NC (assuming that Mile 25 is 25 miles from the state border), and then whatever distance he traveled in Tennessee to reach mile marker 446. if he traveled 400 miles he would be in Arkansas by the time the video ended :)

[@franksantore2327]

Jim, because this section of 40 was built into the mountain in the gorge, it is one of the few sections of the Interstate system to have at grade crossings.

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you. I use a Sony HDR-HC9 camera and Apple Final Cut Express 4 for the editing and effects.

[@mmt2853]

great video jim!

[@wonderwoman3197]

Exit 451, Waterville Rd. To: Appalachian Trail trailhead, Standing Bear Farm Hostel, and Davenport Gap-entry on the Appalachian Trail to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You'll see a lot of hikers at this exit during the summer months. The Appalachian Trail actually crosses under the overpass.

[@AnimatorDevronBliss]

I love North Carolina's scenic beauty :) And Tennessee's too.

[@trexlergreen]

shared with FB friends - people love it! Keep driving and filming - please!

[@Freewayjim]

@trexlergreen Glad to have you on board, thanks for watching!

[@robphilll22]

Driving from Winston Salem,NC to Sevierville,TN Christmas Week.Does anyone know how the roads are at that time of year?

[@Freewayjim]

@1xoirc Thanks, I appreciate that and wish I could do it more often.

[@CheeseMasterSports]

Waterville Rd goes to Smokey Mts National Park. Plus, (secret) the night hole

[@NINJAMASTER-k5u]

Omg you know about the night hole. I have slipped in there at night and fished.My ancestory begins on that creek in the National Park there. Also called the Mount Sterling Community/Waterville Area. Go hike that trail at the end of Waterville Rd. into The Smokies. Then report back. I got a photo from the top of a MTN (6200 elev.) on a cliff looking down onto I-40 and that tunnel in the video. The river in the photo is the lowest elevation in the whole area (1500 elev) a 4500 drop. 4 Times the new World Trade Center its real and its just off Waterville Rd.If I posted the photo the amount people going to what we call"buzzards roost " would be insane so another Smoky Mtn secret kept

[@NINJAMASTER-k5u]

I apologize for not posting my elevations in "feet" length got excited you knew about the" midnight hole".

[@BruceLeigh-eu3wm]

Nothing gives me an adrenaline boost like having the concrete barrier on my left and a semi on my right…in a sharp curve. Gotta do this trip tomorrow

[@karlhungus5554]

For anyone who has time, I recommend taking Exit 7 (Harmon Den) and checking out Max Patch. The parking lot is small, so it's not suitable for an RV or for those towing anything. But, if you're in a passenger car or truck, you should be fine. Bring printed maps and driving directions, as cellular and satellite services can be spotty.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, glad you like it!

[@Freewayjim]

@Larre500 Thanks, glad you enjoy it!

[@wakcedout]

Trucks banned but they still use it, and exceed their posted speed. Went thru there recently and in a small box truck was doing 50 or less dependent on turns and just taking my time. While I got passed by semis that wanted to race thru the area. They need more strict enforcement there, going the speed limit makes that road a very nice little cruise.

[@michaelmerck7576]

Love the pat metheney music,I hear them onmy Sirius radio channel 66 watercolors jazz

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@Freewayjim]

@raynermantos 3-4 depending on driving habits and the exact route.

[@ChaZabalou]

YO I LOVE CROSS-COUNTRY DRIVING IS SO EXCITING TO DISCOVER HOW MUCH UNITED STATES IS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. I CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE UNTIL LOS ANGELES.

[@MarkRussellGopro]

Nice video! I really enjoyed it😄👍

[@Freewayjim]

Thank you!

[@roadtripboy]

It's a shame you didn't drive it west to east. In that direction you can see into the gorge and the river that's often way below you. In the fall the the color show put on by the trees is pretty impressive too.

[@MazdaStrider]

That driver who flew past you.. in a hurry.. that's the new Subraru WRX STI.. shoot.. that car is pretty quick.. haha. wonder what the driver's hurry is... anyways, I LOVE this section of I-40... SO scenic.. So breathtaking.. The section of I-40 in Tennessee.. after Exit 443 to Exit 27 in NC.. the best section of I-40 ever.

[@Shumetra]

I recently drove this interstate in Tennessee near Gatlingburg

[@7ification]

I love the Tennessee sign, its a great welcome to a wonderful state!

[@1xoirc]

@Freewayjim I guess I'm saying that because of the music and how smooth the trip looks:-)

[@Freewayjim]

@LorenzoMoore1000 Thanks, I love the mountains too.

[@Freewayjim]

@raynermantos Maybe by 5-10 MPH in places, the video is sped up about 3.5x,

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks, Good Call on the Franconia Notch Comparison.

[@Freewayjim]

Thanks!

[@1xoirc]

@Freewayjim I mean wow,this so cool to travel and record your trips.What inspired you to do this?

[@Freewayjim]

Another issue is that this was early afternoon and the lighting was not nearly as good as it would have been had I shot this 3-4 hours earlier.

[@Jean1juan]

@hwyrunr68 did he seriously drive 400 miles or is it the exit signs?

[@Jean1juan]

@Freewayjim can you make a vid on Tn state route 840?

[@rodneynewton4582]

This music is so relaxing😍

[@BillP-kg1yp]

This F1 racing video is pretty exciting. is this the Silverstone Circuit?

[@Freewayjim]

This is Interstate 40 in North Carolina & Tennessee

[@brianmears3388]

There are a lot of accidents on this stretch of highway. It's going through the edge of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

[@valkhorn]

Nope. The Nantahala is south of the Smoky Mountains and lies along hwy 19/74 in NC. I know both areas pretty well. The Pigeon River follows I40 from the NC border into TN.

[@cochrab]

Great video, I love that part of the country!!

[@freemandam1]

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS!!!!!!

[@Rhythmicons]

Will be driving this tomorrow, eastbound to Asheville. Hope we have a safe journey. How dangerous is this at night?

[@Freewayjim]

@hwyrunr68 I said depending on driving habits and exact route, of course there are exceptions.

[@luckyotter623]

This part of I40 is either scary or fun. Lots of fatal accidents on this stretch. Those hogs in front of you were probably intimidated. Not for the faint of heart! Also, trucks don't always obey that "no trucks in left lane" rule. Be careful!

[@raynermantos]

@Freewayjim how many days if you travel from east coast to west coast by using the interstates? :-D

[@shayh.3556]

3 to 4, just depends on the trip.

[@MrMariobig]

The Gorge aint no joke in A semi truck carring 80,000 pounds so cars dont jump in front of one going down hill

[@Freewayjim]

I was photographing the route too so I was not in a position to drive at his level of urgency at the time.

[@cheitohernandez5437]

En 2017 yo viaje en ese tramo De la I-40 cuando viajaba hacia Hendersonville NC muy bello ese paisaje por esa zona de Curvas

[@Freewayjim]

I've taken US-19 in WV and stopped at that visitor center, it is indeed pretty cool.