Originally Posted by BobG

Thus the OP's stated desire in his opening post to follow the ACA Route makes a lot of sense. The only state where that route goes "straight up the coast" is Florida, plus one optional loop in North Carolina and one day in Maine. The rest of the way it is a winding route of inland back roads intended to avoid the noise and traffic. (See indyfabz's photos of NJ/PA section).

The ACA Route does go through Richmond and Washington with close passes to Baltimore and Philadelphia. They can all be bypassed using supplemental state maps. But if the OP needs "step by step" directions, sticking to the ACA Route would be wise and, as previously noted, the maps can be followed in either direction of travel. Following the East Coast "Greenway" would likely take them to the most traffic and noise.