Annapolis to Washington DC Route?
 

Greetings! This fall I am starting off a week long ride to Raleigh NC with a ride from Annapolis MD to the Capitol area of Washington DC (specifically to the HI Hostel). I've been scouring the web for routes, and this looks like the best I've found:
West Annapolis to SW DC at Bikely.com. It is, however, seven years old.

Can anybody from the area comment on this route, or offer other routing suggestions? I would greatly appreciate it.

BTW, here's another one I found:http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...Verizonhttp://

Thanks,
Eric

here's an idea it adds some more miles but I believe the routes are nicer style roads to ride. And that would be to go from Annapolis to Greenbelt/College Park then hop on the Northeast Branch Trail that connects to the Metropolitan Branch Trail and that will take you right to Union Station very close to the National Mall and Capital.

One caveat there is a section between the two trails where you need to go back on the roads so make sure you study that section.

forgot to mention if you are interested in this idea i could draw up a route for you, just let me know?

That looks like a really good option, as it avoids Benning Rd, which looks like a death trap. And when I rough it out on Google Maps, it seems like about the same mileage.

Annapolis Rd seems like maybe not the most scenic road, but it looks like it's got a path next to it most of the way.

If you would be willing to draw up a route, or even just fill in a little more detail, that would be wonderful!

Thanks so much for your insight!

Regards,
Eric

here is a route that uses a lot of trails but some what lengthy. The section from DC to Bowie in enjoyable.
D.C. to> ANNAPOLIS, MD.; 46 mi. one-way (9.5 mi. offroad, w/Q-Sh.) at Bikely.com

another discussion.
Bike to Annapolis [Archive] - Washington Area Bike Forum

[QUOTE=balto charlie;18123051]here is a route that uses a lot of trails but some what lengthy. The section from DC to Bowie in enjoyable.
D.C. to> ANNAPOLIS, MD.; 46 mi. one-way (9.5 mi. offroad, w/Q-Sh.) at Bikely.com

I think Charlie's route is a fine route, let me say I've ridden West St 450 Defense Highway (all the same street different names) all the way from Annapolis to route 3 some unpleasant spots with traffic, the worse making the left turn on 3, but not undoable and kind of my preferred way of getting out of the confusion. One reason is that section of Governers Bridge that crosses the Patuxean(sp) river has been closed - there is no problem lifting your bike up over the stone pile barricade and riding down to the bridge crossing it and riding up out of the valley (it's a neat little metal bridge)

If you're not in a hurry for a route I can draw up an alternative one, trying to learn OpenStreet Maps, but Charlie's route is probably the preferred route.

I'm sorry, but I'm not very familiar with the area (I'm writing from upstate NY), so I'm a little unclear about your first paragraph. Are you saying that the closed section of Governor's Bridge is part of the Defense Highway route or of Charlie's route? Are you saying it's an advantage (because no motorized traffic?) or a disadvantage (b/c you have to cross a barricade) for whichever route its on that the bridge is closed ? Are you saying that overall Defense Highway is kind of your preferred route?

I'm not in too much of a hurry; my trip is at the beginning of October. A map would be nice, but I'd be happy with enough route definition to be sure I understand the route. For instance, I put your suggested route, as I understand it, into Google Maps, and generated a quasi-cuesheet, below. Is this the route you were describing? Any potential navigation issues that aren't addressed there?

Thanks,
Eric


[From Annapolis] Turn [onto] onto MD-450 W
[directions for staying on MD-450 omitted]
Turn right onto Carter Ave
0.4 mi
Turn right onto Lanham Severn Rd
0.1 mi
Turn left onto 94th Ave
0.5 mi
Turn left onto Good Luck Rd
3.7 mi
Continue onto Paint Branch Pkwy
0.4 mi
Turn right toward Anacostia Tributary Trail System/NE Branch Trail
128 ft
[directions for staying on Anacostia Tributary Trail System/NE Branch Trail omitted]
Turn left onto U.S. 1 S/Rhode Island Ave
1.0 mi
At the traffic circle, continue straight onto Rhode Island Ave
Entering District of Columbia
1.1 mi
Slight right onto Hamlin St NE
0.8 mi
Turn left onto 10th St NE
0.2 mi
Turn right onto Evarts St NE
371 ft
Turn left onto Reed St NE
0.2 mi
Continue onto Washington Pl NE
279 ft
Turn right to stay on Washington Pl NE
0.1 mi
Take the pedestrian overpass
0.1 mi
Turn left onto Metropolitan Branch Trail
0.7 mi
Turn right onto R St NE
0.8 mi
Turn left onto 3rd St NW
0.2 mi
Turn right onto P St NW
0.6 mi
Turn left onto 11th St NW
Destination will be on the left

That worked out perfectly! Almost all of Defense Highway was either wide shoulders or had a separate bike path running next to it. Easy navigation onto GoodLuck road and into the trail system, and clear sailing to the capitol district from there.

Thanks again for the advice!