Southeast - Recommend a Route in Florida

Imagine you are driving from the west and taking I-10 east to I-75 south to the St. Petersburg area. You are willing to make a side trip (1-2 hours from the interstate) anywhere along that route. What would be the most scenic route to do in that area? I'm looking to do 100-150 miles.

How is the Apalachicola National Forest. Any good riding there?

Google the Withlacoochee Trail or rides around St. Anthony.

I would say that the Withlachochee is probably your best bet. 46 miles one way. Here's the link
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/with_state.htm
Ridge Manor Trailhead is close to I-75 and you can take it all the way north through Inverness and up to the North End of the trail just south of Dunnellon.

Possibly stop in Orlando for the West Orange Trail?

Pinellas Trail, Withlacoochee Trail, James Van Fleet Trail or West Orange Trail, All are good rides that you can get a 100 mile ride on. When are you going to be in the area? The Florida Freewheelers have the horrible hundred coming up soon. The Space coast freewheelers have a century ride about the end of Oct. The 2011 Salute to Freedom century is November 6th. The Rails to trails Century is Oct 2nd. The RAAM has various distances Nov. 12 the in Daytona. We have no shortage of rides that are fantastic. Let me know when you plan to be in central FL and I will give you more specifics.

Keep the suggestions coming, guys. I'd rather not do a trail if possible.

Highway 30-A in Walton County

While it is not 100+ miles, you can build on the maps shown in the Looking for a Hilly ride in the San Antonio FL thread a few items below this in this forum for a few suggestions. It is east from I-75 on Route 52 about 10 minutes to reach the starting area in San antonio (about 40 mins north of Tampa/St/ Pete)

Hey DX, I've ridden from Naples,Fl to Aurora In. several times. Pick up Mullberry,fl and ride to Arcadia or south Ft. Myers. Just Google Map: Mullberry,Fl to Arcadia under "bicycle".

I just got back from a vacation in the Ocala area. I rode around the Ocala National Forest. Many of the highways have a good sized OL or bike lane. The smaller ones had very little traffic (at least on the weekend). I found most drivers were respectful. SR 40 is the main route across, but you can split off on several of the other CR's. Bonus - you can also stop at one of the many springs and take a refreshing swim. :)

West Orange Trail and Withlacoochee Trail. See my photos of these two places at: http://www.trailviewmount.com

Imagine you are driving from the west and taking I-10 east to I-75 south to the St. Petersburg area. You are willing to make a side trip (1-2 hours from the interstate) anywhere along that route. What would be the most scenic route to do in that area? I'm looking to do 100-150 miles.

How is the Apalachicola National Forest. Any good riding there?

Take I75 north at the I10/I75 interchange. Go 5 miles to the first exit. Turn right until you get to the flashing light, approx 3 miles. You are in White Springs, Fl. Do not blink! You'll miss it. Turn right, go one block, turn right again. You will see the Suwannee Bicycle Association office on the right just a couple buildings down. Or google their website. Many of their members are from Jacksonville which is about an hour and a half away. Beautiful area to ride on road or off. I have ridden their roads at fat tire and road festivals in the past. You'll ride on lightly travelled country roads and along the the Suwanee River. So nice. Small towns like Jasper, White Springs, Wellborn, Live Oak, etc have great roads for riding.

Just curious what is your downside to paved trails DX?

I would recommend riding the Horrible Hundred (http://horrible-hundred.com/hhroutes.php) route if you want a long route, with good roads in a cycling friendly area. Clermont is only about 20 minutes off I-75 (just take the Florida Turnpike south off I-75). If you decide to ride a trail, the West Orange Trail is accessible there too. But stick to the roads and put in a good century and you will see more plus, if the "HH" routes will treat you to Florida's infamous hills. They are not mountains as we are familiar with but, as you keep riding them you will feel their wrath. Mt. Dora is a nice cycling area too.

Just curious what is your downside to paved trails DX?

All I ride is trails!!!

Florida is one of the worst places in the country for cyclists. Drivers are horrible down here. 3foot rule or not, share the road, no thanks. I would rather live to ride another day then ride on the road these days.

It doesn't matter how good of a rider you are either, it's all the other idiots out there.

If I'm not doing an organized ride or event, it's 99% trail riding for me. Yes it gets boring, but it's nice knowing that some stupid 17 year old texting isn't gonna veer into the bike lane and run me over!!!