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As a local and very frequent traveller of this road thought a helpful and informative guide was in order. This guide is written from the northbound direction, just read it from the bottom up if traveling southbound.
Approaching the NC/VA border is the welcome center/rest area. The entrance Is actually located in NC. The speed limit drops from 70 to 65 at a point just past the offramp. Ignore the “speed limit enforced by aircraft” Aircraft enforcement was abandoned years ago due to costs and the signs remain in place as it would cost too much to remove them and later put back in place if they restarted aircraft patrols. From this point you are at the bottom of a 7 and 1/2 mile long hill.
The next 7 miles Is a variable speed limit zone. Normally 65mph in favorable conditions. Large led signs display the speed limit and change when the conditions get bad, which often does. If those signs display anything other than 65 use extreme caution! This long uphill climb offers dramatic views in good weather but the conditions can rapidly change, especially if low clouds pass by. Have personally seen it go from light rain to total whiteout in less than a quarter mile. In winter the temperature can decrease dramatically as you climb this hill which often causes issues with icing as low hanging clouds pass through. Keep in mind that this 8 mile section is often listed as one of the most dangerous sections of highway in Virginia.
Exit 8. Congrats on making it to the top, now the real fun begins. This is the normal starting point for very heavy enforcement. Both the Virginia highway patrol and the county Sheriff’s department cover this area. Look for them sitting at crossovers in the medians. The median is a mix of trees at some points to tall grassy mounds others. Some of the crossovers are very well hidden. The next 24 miles is roller coaster terrain until exit 32 when I81 and i77 merge as one. The left lane is frequently slowed by tractor trailers passing another slower one which can leave you stuck behind one at speeds as low as 40 on the uphill side. Just be patient.
The next 3 exits,14, 19 and 24 is the hot zones for enforcement. Often you will see two patrol cars at the crossovers, one working each side. There are crossovers just before and just after each exit. At nightime if you see cars stopped on shoulder alerts via waze, it is often a leo. If by chance you are not blocked in the left lane by slower traffic, any speed over 75 is just asking for trouble. Pick out a good rabbit and keep a good distance behind them if you can, but even that is no guarantee. Have seen them pull over multiple cars at the same time.
just after exit 24 is a long straight uphill climb across the New River Bridge. No it is not the one they bungee jump from, that one is further north and on a different road. At the top of the hill the median is a giant earthen mound over 50 feet high. Hidden at the end is a two lane crossover. They sit here and shoot instant on with sniper like precision. This is the highway patrols favorite spot. Seeing as many as 4 patrol cars lined up there waiting for their next mobile atm withdraw is not unusual. Notice the black tire tracks in the road just after this point. That is from cars and trucks getting jammed up when they try to get in the left lane when the leo has a victim on the side.
Exit 32 is the merge onto I81 S, for the next 9 miles the exit numbers change to I81 numbers. Also the speed limit goes up to 70 at the merge YAY! This 9 mile section is four lanes, multiple exits and lots of truck stops. The cheap gas is often not worth the trouble to get at any of them. The exits are clogged with tractor trailers pulling in or out and stopping here in a car is always an extended delay if you are in a hurry. Enforcement on this 9 mile section is light to none. At exit 72, I77 leaves 81 and turns back north.
The speed limit remains at 70. Between exits 42 and 47 is yet another hot spot for enforcement. At mile marker 48, just before the big walker mountain tunnel the speed drops to 55. It is highly recommended you maintain this speed through the tunnel AND turn on you headlights. The VAHP just love to sit at the exit of the tunnel and nab speeders when they exit. There are signs to check your headlights when you exit, just leave then on for the next tunnel a few miles ahead.
At mile marker 51 is a weigh station, enforcement from here to the WV line is very light. At MM 55 a steep downhill grade begins and the speed limit is reduced here. a few sharp curves here, use extra caution. A rest area at MM 59. At MM 66 the speed limit drops to 55 for the east river mountian tunnel. The WVHP use the same tactic of sitting at the end of the tunnel to collect revenue so again, do not exceed the speed limit. The VA/WV state line is in the middle of that tunnel.
Approaching the NC/VA border is the welcome center/rest area. The entrance Is actually located in NC. The speed limit drops from 70 to 65 at a point just past the offramp. Ignore the “speed limit enforced by aircraft” Aircraft enforcement was abandoned years ago due to costs and the signs remain in place as it would cost too much to remove them and later put back in place if they restarted aircraft patrols. From this point you are at the bottom of a 7 and 1/2 mile long hill.
The next 7 miles Is a variable speed limit zone. Normally 65mph in favorable conditions. Large led signs display the speed limit and change when the conditions get bad, which often does. If those signs display anything other than 65 use extreme caution! This long uphill climb offers dramatic views in good weather but the conditions can rapidly change, especially if low clouds pass by. Have personally seen it go from light rain to total whiteout in less than a quarter mile. In winter the temperature can decrease dramatically as you climb this hill which often causes issues with icing as low hanging clouds pass through. Keep in mind that this 8 mile section is often listed as one of the most dangerous sections of highway in Virginia.
Exit 8. Congrats on making it to the top, now the real fun begins. This is the normal starting point for very heavy enforcement. Both the Virginia highway patrol and the county Sheriff’s department cover this area. Look for them sitting at crossovers in the medians. The median is a mix of trees at some points to tall grassy mounds others. Some of the crossovers are very well hidden. The next 24 miles is roller coaster terrain until exit 32 when I81 and i77 merge as one. The left lane is frequently slowed by tractor trailers passing another slower one which can leave you stuck behind one at speeds as low as 40 on the uphill side. Just be patient.
The next 3 exits,14, 19 and 24 is the hot zones for enforcement. Often you will see two patrol cars at the crossovers, one working each side. There are crossovers just before and just after each exit. At nightime if you see cars stopped on shoulder alerts via waze, it is often a leo. If by chance you are not blocked in the left lane by slower traffic, any speed over 75 is just asking for trouble. Pick out a good rabbit and keep a good distance behind them if you can, but even that is no guarantee. Have seen them pull over multiple cars at the same time.
just after exit 24 is a long straight uphill climb across the New River Bridge. No it is not the one they bungee jump from, that one is further north and on a different road. At the top of the hill the median is a giant earthen mound over 50 feet high. Hidden at the end is a two lane crossover. They sit here and shoot instant on with sniper like precision. This is the highway patrols favorite spot. Seeing as many as 4 patrol cars lined up there waiting for their next mobile atm withdraw is not unusual. Notice the black tire tracks in the road just after this point. That is from cars and trucks getting jammed up when they try to get in the left lane when the leo has a victim on the side.
Exit 32 is the merge onto I81 S, for the next 9 miles the exit numbers change to I81 numbers. Also the speed limit goes up to 70 at the merge YAY! This 9 mile section is four lanes, multiple exits and lots of truck stops. The cheap gas is often not worth the trouble to get at any of them. The exits are clogged with tractor trailers pulling in or out and stopping here in a car is always an extended delay if you are in a hurry. Enforcement on this 9 mile section is light to none. At exit 72, I77 leaves 81 and turns back north.
The speed limit remains at 70. Between exits 42 and 47 is yet another hot spot for enforcement. At mile marker 48, just before the big walker mountain tunnel the speed drops to 55. It is highly recommended you maintain this speed through the tunnel AND turn on you headlights. The VAHP just love to sit at the exit of the tunnel and nab speeders when they exit. There are signs to check your headlights when you exit, just leave then on for the next tunnel a few miles ahead.
At mile marker 51 is a weigh station, enforcement from here to the WV line is very light. At MM 55 a steep downhill grade begins and the speed limit is reduced here. a few sharp curves here, use extra caution. A rest area at MM 59. At MM 66 the speed limit drops to 55 for the east river mountian tunnel. The WVHP use the same tactic of sitting at the end of the tunnel to collect revenue so again, do not exceed the speed limit. The VA/WV state line is in the middle of that tunnel.
