NoVa Safe commute route - Leesburg to Chantilly

[mpomata]

I'm looking to commute from Leesburg VA to Chantilly VA. Can anyone suggest a safe morning commute path?

Any way you slice it you have to travel/cross Rt 28 or Rt. 50 both of which are not bike friendly at all. Taking secondary routes and crossing 50 would probably be my best bet. Wonder if there's any lesser known dirt/access roads I could use to stay away from the 55mph two lane roads???

Thanks

[cc_rider]

There's Evergreen Mills, but I'm not sure how it is to bike or how much traffic it typically gets.

One route the I've taken before on weekends:
Take the W&OD to Clairbourne Parkway and head south for several miles.
Left on Croson, right on Old Ryan, left on Mooreview, right on Loudon County Parkway, right on Ryan, left on Belmont Ridge (alternate I haven't ridden is right on Croson, left on Belmont Ridge, shorter but busy)
Left on Evergreen Mills. Right on Gum Springs in Arcola.
Cross route 50. Left on Braddock Road.
Next depends on where you want to go in Chantilly.
Edgewater or Pleasant Valley for west of 28.
Old Lee/Stonecroft or Westfields for east of 28.

Good luck. Post which rout you end up with and how it turns out.

[ncdave45]

WOD to Reston and Fairfax County Parkway to Chantilly. FCP has a separate bike trail but I don't know if it goes all the way to Chantilly. Look it up on Google Maps (directions) and click the bicycle icon.

[mpomata]

Didn't realize Google Maps had bike routes. Nice! I'll have to give them both a try

[ks1g]

The FCP sidepath is in CRAPPY condition. I've used it maybe twice in 2 months. There are parallel subdivision routes that are much easier IMO and won't take the OP as far east as the Parkway.

mpomata - I replied in the SE thread. I should have looked here 1st. PM me where you are going and I can suggest routes - I've been doing Herndon to Chantilly since March. My suggestion is W&OD to Crestview, Spring St, or Van Buren/Monroe, then S from there.

[ArtM]

There's Evergreen Mills, but I'm not sure how it is to bike or how much traffic it typically gets.

I drive Evergreen Mills often - and don't consider it suitable for biking. 2 lanes, little to no shoulder, and 55 mph traffic that gets fairly heavy during rush hour. My wife doesn't even like to drive the car on it...

[Mr. Hobbes]

WOD to Reston and Fairfax County Parkway to Chantilly. FCP has a separate bike trail but I don't know if it goes all the way to Chantilly. Look it up on Google Maps (directions) and click the bicycle icon.

+1

I ride out to Leesburg all the time on the WO&D - that I take from Fairfax Co. Parkway.