Touring - US route 50 in West virginia

I plan on riding form northern Ohio to Front Royal, VA. Does anyone know how good/bad US 50 in West Virginia is for bike touring?

I haven't been on it lately, but the last time I drove it, 1986, there were a lot of coal trucks on it and it was scary to drive.

US 50 is a major truck route going east and west. In eastern WV there are some major steep grades. You might want to consider going a little farther south toward Charleston and then acrossing there. Still hilly but some nice scenery and less traffic. If memory serves me right I think there are some rails to trails going east to west in that region. It is definitely not flat like Mercer county. I am from south of you, Greenville.

VonAlt

Rt 50 in West Virginia is a major route. Lots of traffic, lots of trucks. It's been two years since I've been on Rt 50, but I don't recall overly generous shoulders. Like everywhere in WVa lots of switch backs climbing steep grades.
Not that this would be much of an issue on a bicycle, I got a speeding ticket in Bridgeport WVa. The town's 25mph speed limit extended seven miles through undeveloped countryside to an interstate. Speed trap doesn't quite cover it.

For the reasons others mentioned I would sugest avoiding WVA as much as possible in spite of the great scenary and take backroads generally paralleling the interstate across western Md. to rt 522 and south along that road or roads paralleling it.

US 50 is a major truck route going east and west. In eastern WV there are some major steep grades. You might want to consider going a little farther south toward Charleston and then acrossing there. Still hilly but some nice scenery and less traffic. If memory serves me right I think there are some rails to trails going east to west in that region. It is definitely not flat like Mercer county. I am from south of you, Greenville.

VonAlt
Thanks. Any Idea about US33?

33 is a scenic route with long straight stretches passing Seneca Rocks and Mon. Natl. Forest.I have driven that route many times skiing or hiking.Your major concerns would be high speed and reckless Wva. drivers generally(not many coal trucks east of Elkins on that route though)and the steep mtn crossing on narrow switchback road at the Wva/Va border .There is also some steep and winding grades between elkins and Seneca and once into Va the road is narrow and hilly and though I do't recall the condition of the shoulder i would be surprised if much of any existed.

Thanks. Any Idea about US33?

No, But check this out. From Celina to Pittsburg, PA. Columbus Outdoor Pursuits has a route over back roads that follows along close to US 40. These are the guys that are behind GOBA. Once to Pittsburg there is a rail to trail route to Cumberland MD. At Cumberland MD jump on the C&O canal path goes 184 miles to DC. Get off C&O canal way at or before Harpers Ferry WV and then down to Front Royal. On the C&O there are FREE biker/hiker campsites every 5 miles. They include water pump, picnic table and outhouse. In the area there also some great state and federal parks to stay in. On the route that Outdoor Pursuits puts together there are motels and camp grounds to stay at. The route map from outdoor pursuits is about $7 and fits in a handlebar bag easily. C&O canal map can be downloaded off of the net at www.bikewashington.org. The PA part of the trip can be found on the internet also. Look at rails to trails PA.

Here is the net address for info on Pennsylvania rails to trails Pittsburgh to Cumberland route. http://www.atatrail.org/ata-home.htm

No, But check this out. From Celina to Pittsburg, PA. Columbus Outdoor Pursuits has a route over back roads that follows along close to US 40. These are the guys that are behind GOBA. Once to Pittsburg there is a rail to trail route to Cumberland MD. At Cumberland MD jump on the C&O canal path goes 184 miles to DC. Get off C&O canal way at or before Harpers Ferry WV and then down to Front Royal. On the C&O there are FREE biker/hiker campsites every 5 miles. They include water pump, picnic table and outhouse. In the area there also some great state and federal parks to stay in. On the route that Outdoor Pursuits puts together there are motels and camp grounds to stay at. The route map from outdoor pursuits is about $7 and fits in a handlebar bag easily. C&O canal map can be downloaded off of the net at www.bikewashington.org. The PA part of the trip can be found on the internet also. Look at rails to trails PA.
Thanks a lot. I thinkk I'll take Your advice. Hans

Thanks a lot. I thinkk I'll take Your advice. Hans

Let me know how your tour went. I think you will like the C&O Canal. I know I did. Just make sure to follow the recommendations on the website. Narrow tires can be a problem on the C&O canal way.

VonAlt