US East Coast Roads
 

Hey everyone. I'm new to this site, and from what I can tell it's phenomenal. I'm sure it will be one of my new favorites and there seem to be a lot of friendly/helpful people here (or at least in the touring forum).

I was hoping someone could redirect me to a site or inform me of some good north/south roads that run the east coast (I have some state maps but I can't really tell which roads are ride-able). I'll be traveling from north NJ to NC. I called the Chesapeake bridge company and they said someone could take me through the tunnel so I can go that route to avoid Baltimore/DC. Later this summer I plan on going north from NJ, so any suggestions on some of those roads would be awesome too.

I don't like to have a strict route planned out on my trips, but this is my first one over a few hundred miles, so I'd like to have a couple backup roads.

Thanks a lot for any suggestions...

Why avoid Baltimore and DC?
The East Coast Greenway passes right thru here.
Here's the website. http://www.greenway.org/

I am not really a fan of riding though cities/near big highways, so I'd like to avoid them for this trip. I've never heard greenway, it seems great. I have a road bike though, and I don't know if i'll be able to utilize it right now, but thanks.

Adventure Cycling has some routes that cut down into NC. Might be worth checking out.

The Greenway is nowhere even close to being completed. I recommend starting from North Jersey.... Go to Cape May, take the ferry to Delaware... Ride down the eastern shore to Crisfield, MD and take another ferry to Reedville, VA which is on the mainland of Virginia. Then you decide what part of North Carolina are you going to and take it from there. You'll avoid the major NORTHEAST metro areas that way. Your initial idea is also a good choice.


Have fun,

http://biketour.ne1.net

DC is tough!! Stopped us, couldn't navigate through it. We used Adventure Cycling maps a lot, but didn't agree with their route through the Capitol. We tried way west out in Purciville, sheesh. That's just more Washington traffic.

Our percieved problem was getting from Mt Vernon through Northern Va. I used to live there, but it never looked like it does now.

I was half kidding about the Greenway, since it is so spotty.


Eastern NC:
Reedsville Ferry is a good idea. Then you can use the the route 3 bridge near Kilmarnock, stay more or less on 3 to Glouchester. Then south along 17 to Yorktown (although I think they still don't allow bikes on the York River bridge). Then the Colonial Parkway to Jamestown and the ferry from Jamestown to Scotland. Once south of the James River, it's country roads to the NC border.
Alternate - from route 3 bridge, take 33ish west, 155 down to the route 5 bikeway and into Jamestown from the other way.

Western NC:
If you can get near DC, there are good routes through DC and west to the Shenandoah Valley or Skyline drive, which turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway.
One way from DC to the Valley is WO&D trail to Purcellville, Airmont, Middleburg, Marshall, Markham, through the gap to Front Royal. The local clubs have these routes very well documented.

No need to ignore the urban areas just because they are urban. There is some good riding near here.

I can tell that while in NJ I'd get as much coastline in as possible.
From Atlantic City (Atlantic County) south through Ocean City (Ocean Drive - cape may county) you can ride along side the ocean for a pretty nice stretch. Plan to be in AC/OC in the a.m. and you can ride the boardwalks. A more rural road is rt. 9.
South of OC you can pick up the ferry in Cape May.
I can tell you about this stretch of your trip - it's scenic.
Don't miss Lucy the Elephant.

Wouldn't it be cool to meet up with different BF members along the way?
I'll do a few miles with you.

lucy
bridge - $1 toll for bikes
lunch on the beach

Good Idea. When we rode from NJ to Fla we went across the Cape May-Lewes ferry, across rt 24 to 113, down 13 to the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Held a sign saying "Pay toll for ride". Done that for three trips, never waited longer than 10 minutes. Over to Princess Anne, through Back Bay Refuge to the Curritick ferry, and on to Cape Hatteras connecting with the Adventure Cycling maps.
t

http://www.doh.dot.state.nc.us/preco...cle_routes.htm

Shows routes of NC bike routes.

North Carolina has an pretty good system of bike routes within the state. The one negative is the cue sheets aren't online but they will mail you them free of charge but it takes a few weeks to get them. I got them to send me the Carolina Connector route.

http://www.bikewashington.org is a very good site with detailed cue sheets of bike routes in the Baltimore-Washington area.


Good luck

Cheers,
http://biketour.ne1.net

those maps can be hard to read, mine were that I got 7 months after I requested them 3 times.

If you are interested in one, message me and i'll mail you copies of what i've got.

Timhines,

I just relooked at my NC maps that their DOT sent me and I must agree to a point. They aren't the best maps when I looked at them compared to my Street Atlas program. I know the Carolina Connector route is marked with road signs though in some areas. I don't know why they don't have them online in a pdf format though and save everyone headaches in getting them to mail you the maps and save them money in mailing them to you.

If I go to Baltimore in August from SC via my bike to my family reunion, I'll probably do my own routes and not follow the NCDOT maps.

Cheers
http://biketour.ne1.net

Wow, you guys are awesome. Thanks for all the replies. Graduation is over, so now this trip is first priority (leaving tomorrow)!!! I still don’t know exactly what I plan on doing, but I now have a good guideline. How’s this sound…

From northern NJ to 9 down the coast and eventually to the cape.
Across Lewes Ferry
24 to 113 and eventually to 13 (or 1 to 13)
Chesapeake bay tunnel

Haven’t figured it out past here, but I’ll get some maps to figure it out along the way.

You guys are great. I can’t believe how helpful everyone is. (I’m new to the cycling community and love every ones attitude)

stop in at a Kinko's or ask at a store/hotel to use there computer.
Check in with us and let us know how the ride goes!

kevie, it looks like you are doing the similar (but going south instead of north) route that i am about to do. hope it works out!

Since your route includes NJ you should check out NJ Bike Maps . This is a fantastic resource for anyone riding in NJ.