What is a better road trip: VT in oct, or Duke in nov
- Thread starter ratking17
- Start date
VT in October. Leaves will likely be near peak and if you have never experienced "Enter Sandman", it's really impressive.
Depends what you’re looking for. Ive been to both. (Have plans already made for TN this year also). VT is more congested as far as ingress and egress. Provided things are back to normal, of course. Big crowds. Excitement.
Duke is much more laid back. Free parking on campus. Easy tailgating. Light traffic. No more than 15-20K attendance at any of the Pitt games I’ve been to there. Stadium holds about 33-35K.
Both are good trips. Drivable from the Pgh/W PA area.
Duke is much more laid back. Free parking on campus. Easy tailgating. Light traffic. No more than 15-20K attendance at any of the Pitt games I’ve been to there. Stadium holds about 33-35K.
Both are good trips. Drivable from the Pgh/W PA area.
I enjoy road trips but usually like to get out right away on the road after thr game. Enjoy getting there early enough to visit campuses and have some food and drinks, but after the game I want to leave right away. For VT, how tricky is getting back on the main highway. Looks like I would take 81.
with the proximity to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge?...uh, dude Knoxville's a no brainer in the "it's a given" category....
I'd take VT (who I hate with a burning passion) in October over snooty Duke anytime...
Depends on a lot of things. But if the game is close and goes down to the wire, the traffic congestion can be awful. Blacksburg is a small town. The ingress and egress isn’t good.
After the night game there in 2002, when Pitt won 28-21 we were in traffic a LONG time waiting to get back onto 81. Full Stadium and most everyone stayed until the end. Maybe the worst traffic leaving a game I’ve ever experienced.
That’s one of the problems with the announcement of KO times being so close to game dates due to TV networks calling the shots. It can make a big difference for those traveling to away games. It does have an effect on driving logistics, especially for some of the on-campus venues in small towns. Blacksburg is a town of around 44,000. Lane Stadium is listed as holding about 66,000. It’s on campus and not right next to any major highway exits. The stadium is like 7 or 8 miles from I-81.
I’ve been to Duke for both day and night games. Zero traffic or parking problems with either on and around the Duke campus.
Up to an individual’s preferences. Both are nice trips. Nice campuses. The drive to VT through the Blue Ridge in mid-October should be pretty. The drive to Duke (if you live around here) is longer. But not difficult. And Nov. 6 should be past what can be hot temperatures in N Carolina.
I've lived from Boston to Atlanta and several places in between along within the mid-Atlantic region and that section of I81 from around Roanoke to past Harrisonburg is my least favorite roadway to drive. I have only driven through Blacksburg on I81, but as you head north into the section I mention, it's pretty much a nightmare on a normal day, so I'd mentally prepare for it to really suck after a game, should you decide to do it, but I will say it's an absolutely beautiful area from mid-October until about mid-November.
Is this really up for debate?
Duke = small time football and lame crowd and gameday;
VT = football school, big crowd, high energy, great football gameday
I lived in Roanoke twice, and would tend to agree with you about I-81 N.
I would take 460 from Princeton, WV over to Blacksburg, if I were driving from Pittsburgh.
Va Tech has a really nice campus. We tailgated in one of the campus lots about 1/4 mi from stadium. We didn’t have any traffics issues, but stayed in Blacksburg the night before and night of the game. We got to stadium around 7:30 to tailgate for noon kickoff and stayed about 1 1/2 hours after, tailgating some more, until traffic cleared up. The only downfall is, that it’s hard to get into a bar or restaurant after the game. Who knows how Covid will still be affecting things though.
Oh yeah. Two lane mountain driving at 70MPH and a million tractor trailers that love cutting you off at 55MPH whether you're driving 65 or 90 and will cruise 10 under the speed limit in the left lane for 10 miles. So stressful.
I have been to all three. Game time experience, Tennessee is the best followed by VT. Duke is meh. So, if you are driving and heading right back (with or without a night in a motel) VT over Duke is a no-brainer.
On the other hand, if you are making a weekend of it, Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill has it all over Blacksburg.
On the other hand, if you are making a weekend of it, Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill has it all over Blacksburg.
Ha. Definitely a different animal. I've driven from Willow Grove to Pitt many, many times. Not the same.
Well when there was on 7k of us to
Watch ingress and egress isn’t a problem
Came here to say this. I'd always hit Blacksburg from the west, coming down through Beckley. I think it's actually the fastest route from Western PA.
Just don’t speed through Summerville, WV.
The speed limit goes from 65 to 50, and there’s almost always a cop or two out.
Blacksburg in October is beautiful. Game day experience in October is also better. If it’s a bit chilly Just stay warm with a turkey leg. As long as it doesn’t rain, perfect experience.
Indeed. I'm usually heading through there Y 3 am on the way to the gulf and have never seen a cop at that hour.
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
Anyone know why Dan Marino never comes to Pitt games/on the sidelines?- Latest: Charlotteyinzer96
-
-
