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As you may have heard, a rockslide in October closed all lanes of Interstate 40 going both directions near the North Carolina-Tennessee border. While they hope to have the road open in January, we will continue to post updates on this website.
If Interstate 40 is still blocked at the time of the conference, here is how you should proceed:
Driving east from Knoxville, do NOT take the first detour that would put you on I-81 toward Bristol, TN. That is for primarily for semi-trucks. If you are low on gas, however, fill up while you are on I-40.
Stay on I-40 until you reach Exit 435 (for US 321), which is where the second detour for cars and non-semi-trucks begins. At the stoplight at the top of the exit ramp, turn LEFT toward Newport (do not go right toward Gatlinburg).
Drive approximately one mile on Rt. 321 toward Newport, at which point you will come to a stoplight at the junction of Rt. 25/70. Turn RIGHT. Signs will indicate you are headed toward any of the following: Asheville, Greenville (TN), or Hot Springs (NC).
Drive on Rt. 25/70 through Hot Springs toward Marshall and Asheville. Around Marshall you will turn onto Rt. 19/23 going SOUTH to Asheville, which also becomes I-26.
As you enter Asheville, watch the signs closely as you approach what is a tricky interchange. Watch for the signs for I-240 East and take that exit. On that exit ramp you also will have the option of taking another exit for downtown Asheville. Do not. Merge onto I-240 East and stay in the right hand lane, for you will exit at Exit 5B for either the Grove Park Inn, the Renaissance Hotel or any lodging close to Charlotte Street.
Additional Driving Directions
Regardless from which direction you approach Asheville, get onto I-240, which forms a horseshoe around north Asheville, connecting with I-40 at either end. Leave I-240 at Exit 5-B, which will put you on Charlotte Street. Those staying at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel will see it two blocks away. To get to the Grove Park Inn, turn north onto Charlotte Street and drive one mile to Macon Avenue, directly across from the E.W. Grove City Park. Follow Macon Avenue up Sunset Mountain one mile to the entrance to the Grove Park Inn.
For MapQuest, the Grove Park Inn's address is: 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.
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