I26 to i40 or i85 to i75 to i24 would you choose?

Choose the shorter route...up 26 to 40 (about 660 miles) versus 85/75/24 (about 755 miles)

 

and why would you want to go over mt eagle with that weight? Up 26 to The canyon will be slow, due to speed limit, and then a nice ride.

 

I would take 85-75-24, but I'm biased because I live in a Chatt and I'll take any opportunity to get by the house. But ATL traffic can be a nightmare during daytime hours. 40 west of Asheville is slow going, especially if you get behind a a Swift truck doing 30 mph thru the gorge (no passing allowed), but it's only ~20 miles. There's really not much difference, as far as time, either way. The mileage difference is negligible too.

 

Yeah there's only about 5 or 10 miles difference either way. I don't think one way is any better than the other. I just make sure if the timing is such that it'll have me in an Atlanta cluster that i go thru Knoxville instead to avoid it.

 

you did the right thing.