I am heading up and expedition to the Dragon over Labor Day weekend. We are staying Saturday night in beautiful downtown Alcoa by the airport. I plan to make a stop in Newport on the way up I-40 and am curious about the road from there to Maryville/Alcoa. If I recall it's US 411. Good for a shortcut, or carry on thru Knoxville? The last time we did this we were coming from the north on I-75 and we stayed near I-140. Opinions, please if the spirit wills.

Patrick