Wagley

Hey all,

I am currently in the planning phase for a trip down to South Carolina and back. I live around Rochester NY, and am planning to ride my bike down along the coast to visit a friend in Jacksonville, NC, and then heading west to visit my brother in Greenville, SC. After that I would head back up here. Being a roughly 1500 - 2000 mile trip depending on the route I decide upon.

The reason I am posting is that I am looking for some tips, some good places that I could stop on the way down there if any of you have been around any of those areas. I am planning to be cutting diagonally through Pennsylvania, then I want to stay as close to the coast as I can. But anyways, any suggestions would be great, I'm still in the planning phase, so if any one has suggestions as to better routes, or places I should go, I'm pretty much open to any and all suggestions. Thanks a lot!

-Tyler

Cyclebum

No specific route suggestions.

I always use Google maps, both auto and cycling. Then customize it to preferences, always avoiding major cities. Check on WS hosts that might be on the route as well as camping parks. Once settled, I transfer the route as a track file to my gps. Or, collect state maps, mark the route, and cut/paste to a fold out version.

WS site map has a check box to show ACA routes.

Maps are free from state tourism departments.

gpsblake

South Carolina's northern crescent a good route from Jacksonville to Greenville, catch it just south of Laurinburg.
https://www.sctrails.net/trails/alltr...de/biking.html

Wagley

That warmshowers site looks really interesting. Thanks for that link. I am thinking that I will mark out a route on google maps or something similar, print them all out, and use that. But also on the way down I'll get maps of the areas I am going through as I get to them so I can have some other reference material just in case I want to take a little detour.

Also the trail in South Carolina, the northern crescent trail looks like it would be a good route to take to get to Greenville from Jacksonville. Thanks!

valygrl

Pennsylvania Dept of Transportation has maps and bike routes. I found PA the hardest state to ride in for my entire cross country tour - due to hills and traffic - so I would recommend using the state suggested routing rather then building your own.

GAP & C&O Towpath are possibilities for this route (google).

valygrl

P.S. - just because Google Maps shows a "bike route" doesn't mean it's a good one. They don't do any research about what roads are good for traffic & shoulder, only if a road exists - and their "bike" feature is in its infancy, and will often lead you onto roads that end abruptly or are not paved. It's worth doing careful research on specific routes, especially in such a highly populated area of the country.

Most state D.o.T.'s have some sort of bike routing info.

ks1g

+1 on GAP and C&O. Lots of info in this forum and on their Yahoo email groups. GAP is packed gravel and C&O is double-track packed dirt (mud if it's rained hard) so wider tires may be required. Numerous camping, B&B, hostel, etc. accomodations. On approaching the DC area, you could exit C&O at Brunswick or White's Ferry (NOT Point of Rocks - Rt 15 is unbikeable between PoR and the White's Ferry turn off) and come down thru Northern VA/Leesburg, or go all way into DC and take the East Coast Greenway (Bike Route 1, I think, and I forget what ACA calls it). If Pittsburgh is too far west, I know Gettysburg PA to Frederick MD is very bikeable (final segment of Balto Bike Club's Civil War Century) as is Frederick to VA (several routes). Not familiar enough with PA to suggest how to get to Gettysburg, however.

Wagley

The trail along the canals all the way into DC looks really nice. I will keep that in mind as I continue to plan. Any other suggestions / possible routes to take or places to stop on the way through?

Wagley

I'm planning out the route for this trip and I've come to the end of PA and heading further South. I followed Route J from the PA DOT's Bicycle travel website (Thanks for that site by the way). Now I am following the North Central & York County Heritage Trails.

I am wondering if any one has had experience riding these trails and what I could expect when going on them. From the website they have the trails seem to be in pretty good condition and well kept for the most part. If any one has personal experience they could tell me about that would be fantastic. Thanks for all the help so far everyone!