After looking at a map, and seeing the replies of the other posters, I wonder if you take your planned route to Louisville, go east on Rt 64 to Lexington, then drop south on I-75 to Knoxville, then east on I-40.  I have not run this route, but it makes sense to me.

I have run I-64 to Charlestown, WV, and then took I-79 north.  I do remember that WV was lots of hills.  The roads (I-79 in particular) were straight, and in very good shape, but it was lots of hills- up and down, up and down.   Looking at the map, if you go to Knoxville as I suggested, it looks like you might spend less time traveling thru the mountains.

As you said, it looks like the weather will be fairly decent - warm enough that ice should not be a big problem.