Philly to Lancaster
 

I plan on making the ride from Philadelphia to Lancaster. I have a router made up at bikely (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Phila-to-Lancaster) but as I have never made the ride before I'd appreciate some suggestions on the route. Best roads, etc.

The bike path along the river is flat, enjoyable ride but there are some road intersections to watch out for. Pauwlins road is two lane road, the shoulder varies but not much traffic so that should be fine. Pickering Rd two lane not much of a shoulder in places but not much traffic either -passes through some nice farmland some short hills. Rt 23 out of Phoenixville more traffic, generally a shoulder and straight road so you should not have any problems. You can also take Rt23 through Phoenixville not much of a shoulder in places but the lanes are well marked. I think Pickering Road is the better option. No experience beyond 23 west.

bike path in Manayunk is crushed gravel, detour is stay on Main St. thru Manayunk, R on Leverington L on Umbria, Sharp L on Shawmont, R on Nixon to Port Royal / continuation of path.

I'v biked Lincoln Highway throughout York and Lancaster. Iv also driven it. Market Street goes all the way out, becomes 30 (old or new) and then back to Lincoln Highway. Generally plenty of shoulder room gets busy around Rockvale Outlets though and other suburban shopping areas (Which is always busier and worse then city riding IMO) You could bypass rockvale buy going south on 41 and then going west to Strasburg.

Be careful if you take rt 30(Lincoln Highway) a ton of traffic especailly on saturdays. Also be careful if you 41, you can 41 south to 741 west to lancaster.

Or take the bike trail out of philly and get off at Betzwood park and go through valley forge park, take yellowsprings road out of the park, you can stay on yellow springs for a while, nice rolling countryside, not sure of the roads without looking at a map but you should be able to make it to downingtown on the back roads, then either take lincoln highway(more direct) or 322.

Thanks a lot for providing this fine route! The route provided features both a long bike path (yay, no cars!) when in the Philly area, and elsewhere highways with wide shoulders, especially in Lancaster County. I used the route provided east of its intersection with Highway 322, along with Highway 322, to successfully undertake a round trip journey from Harrisburg to Philly this past weekend. Lots and lots of bicyclists in Philly use the bike path part of the route for their routine training. No very bad sections of road that I recall.

Awesome sounds great. That's some serious miles for a weekend. Nice job!

Thanks for the compliment, WCroadie!

One other thing to mention. There aren't really any places near the route to get food or go to the bathroom from Pughtown to Northern Philly, as this part of the route is largely bike path or through residential areas. So I advise that you have enough food to last for this section of the route. (I didn't buy enough food in Pughtown, and was feeling famished and weak by the time I got to northern Philly).

Topping an old thread of mine, still looking for good routes.

Since posting this I have ridden out to Lancaster via rt.23. The ride did not feel very safe in a number of spots due to fast moving traffic and narrow shoulders. I am looking at some alternative routes and wondering if anyone has any input, especially on the trails that are out past the SRT. Google hasn't street viewed any of these trails so I not sure what the condition or if they are even open.

Here are a few routes I've made
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15133551 <- via trails
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15129608 <- 113 to 741
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14979016 <- via rt. 23 (i've done this and wouldn't recommend it)

From the end of the paved portion of the SRT in Montclare to just beyond New Holland.


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15363809


Not the most direct, but it keeps you off of PA 23 most of the time. After you leave PA 23 just west of Morgantown you enter the Conestoga Valley, which is still home to a good number of Amish. It's quite pretty and takes you across a covered bridge on Weaverland Rd. Where the map ends is where I believe you can pick up PA Bike Route S, which will take you into Lancaster city proper. I need to check some other maps. Plenty of places to get food and water in Morgantown and New Holland. And you can go slightly off route from Coldstream Rd. to the Kimberton Whole Foods. There is also water in French Creek State Park.

The first one is reasonable. That said, I think you can do much better. I live in Chester County and would strongly advise AGAINST riding on 113, the section you have from Phoenixville to Downingtown is not safe IMO. There are lots of back roads you could use instead, which might take you a few extra miles but you would see gorgeous scenery.

Didn't see that. Agree 100%.