Charlottesville to DC
05-22-10, 08:36 AM
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Charlottesville to DC
Hi everyone
I live in Charlottesville and would like to ride to DC next Saturday. I have searched around a little on the forums and found some ideas, but still have questions.
I can ride from my house to Skyline Drive. I thought I'd then go to Front Royal and then pickup the W&OD trail. That's where I need help--getting from the Skyline to the W&OD--is there a decent route? How far is it? Once on the trail can I get to Reston/Key Bridge or the Mount Vernon/National Airport trail? It appears so but I'm curious what folks' experiences are. Once I am at either Key Bridge or Mt Vernon I know what to do.
I am also open to NOT riding on Skyline and getting to the W&OD trail another way. Or not taking the W&OD trail at all if there are other good routes into DC--but that seems unlikely.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks a lot
Christian
I live in Charlottesville and would like to ride to DC next Saturday. I have searched around a little on the forums and found some ideas, but still have questions.
I can ride from my house to Skyline Drive. I thought I'd then go to Front Royal and then pickup the W&OD trail. That's where I need help--getting from the Skyline to the W&OD--is there a decent route? How far is it? Once on the trail can I get to Reston/Key Bridge or the Mount Vernon/National Airport trail? It appears so but I'm curious what folks' experiences are. Once I am at either Key Bridge or Mt Vernon I know what to do.
I am also open to NOT riding on Skyline and getting to the W&OD trail another way. Or not taking the W&OD trail at all if there are other good routes into DC--but that seems unlikely.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks a lot
Christian
05-22-10, 11:36 AM
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One route from Front Royal -
https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3747234
A few hills between Middleburg and Purcelville, but most of it is pretty gentle.
Another route https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3747249
Atoka is not as bike friendly as Zula, and there is a really big hill on St Louis, but it’s still a good option.
You could also continue up the valley towards Berryville. Less hills, but you’ll need to take route 7 for a while. I’m not sure if Williams Gap is paved, but it looks like it is on satellite view. Or you can stay on 7 if it’s not too bad (I’ve biked the Hamilton to Purcelville section and I don’t much like it.)
https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3747300
I used to have a route someone sent me, running east of route 29 and 15 to Manassas, but I’ve never tried it and can’t find it right now. I’ll post if I can remember it or find it. From Manassas, Old Centerville Rd and Braddock Rd gets you to Fairfax City and the W&OD in Vienna.
Good luck
https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3747234
A few hills between Middleburg and Purcelville, but most of it is pretty gentle.
Another route https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3747249
Atoka is not as bike friendly as Zula, and there is a really big hill on St Louis, but it’s still a good option.
You could also continue up the valley towards Berryville. Less hills, but you’ll need to take route 7 for a while. I’m not sure if Williams Gap is paved, but it looks like it is on satellite view. Or you can stay on 7 if it’s not too bad (I’ve biked the Hamilton to Purcelville section and I don’t much like it.)
https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3747300
I used to have a route someone sent me, running east of route 29 and 15 to Manassas, but I’ve never tried it and can’t find it right now. I’ll post if I can remember it or find it. From Manassas, Old Centerville Rd and Braddock Rd gets you to Fairfax City and the W&OD in Vienna.
Good luck
Last edited by cc_rider; 05-22-10 at 03:56 PM.
05-23-10, 12:48 AM
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I've ridden all these roads and they're great for riding. There may be a more direct route, but this is just from memory:
At Front Royal, Criser Rd to Remount Rd (Rte 522)
Left on Hume Rd. Keep going till you hit Crest Hill, turn left, in to Marshall
Rt 55 to Zulla, to 50, right in to Middleburg
Foxcroft to right on St Louis Rd
Cross Snickersville Tpk, road turns in to Silcott Springs, in to Purcelleville.
What the heck, here's a MapMyRide route I put together for you. Have fun! Let me know when you're coming through, and I'll give you a personal tour
https://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/va...27459726466906
At the other end, at about mile 5?? or so on the W&OD, turn left on the Custis Trail. That takes you right down to the Key Bridge/Roosevelt Island and the very start of the Mt. Vernon trail that goes right past the airport.
At Front Royal, Criser Rd to Remount Rd (Rte 522)
Left on Hume Rd. Keep going till you hit Crest Hill, turn left, in to Marshall
Rt 55 to Zulla, to 50, right in to Middleburg
Foxcroft to right on St Louis Rd
Cross Snickersville Tpk, road turns in to Silcott Springs, in to Purcelleville.
What the heck, here's a MapMyRide route I put together for you. Have fun! Let me know when you're coming through, and I'll give you a personal tour
https://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/va...27459726466906
At the other end, at about mile 5?? or so on the W&OD, turn left on the Custis Trail. That takes you right down to the Key Bridge/Roosevelt Island and the very start of the Mt. Vernon trail that goes right past the airport.
Last edited by JimF22003; 05-23-10 at 12:52 AM.
05-23-10, 01:32 PM
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Hume and Crest are both nice rides, not too hilly. Is an extra 5 miles.
55 to Zula is a good idea. I just like getting off 55 and going through Rectortown.
I'd forgotten about Foxcroft. That would avoid both the big hill on St Louis and the rollers on Snickersville.
FYI - Custis Trail comes in at milepost 4
55 to Zula is a good idea. I just like getting off 55 and going through Rectortown.
I'd forgotten about Foxcroft. That would avoid both the big hill on St Louis and the rollers on Snickersville.
FYI - Custis Trail comes in at milepost 4
05-24-10, 07:56 AM
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Thanks very much to both of you! It looks like I have a good route now.
I do wonder, however, if either of you have experience coming up from the south via a route other than Skyline--one that would take me a little further east, i.e. Madison, Culpeper, etc? I know a good route to Madison and then have an old cue sheet from the Culpeper century that can get me from Madison to Culpeper. But then from there I'm at sea. I could certainly map one out but I just don't know the roads up there and you all seem to be quite knowledgeable.
I'm going to do this ride this Saturday--in one day. The route from my house is about 25 miles and takes me to Simmons Gap on Skyline leaving me with 75 miles of that road. And then another ~100 miles from Front Royal so I'm thinking a route that tends more NE would be better.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Best wishes
Christian
I do wonder, however, if either of you have experience coming up from the south via a route other than Skyline--one that would take me a little further east, i.e. Madison, Culpeper, etc? I know a good route to Madison and then have an old cue sheet from the Culpeper century that can get me from Madison to Culpeper. But then from there I'm at sea. I could certainly map one out but I just don't know the roads up there and you all seem to be quite knowledgeable.
I'm going to do this ride this Saturday--in one day. The route from my house is about 25 miles and takes me to Simmons Gap on Skyline leaving me with 75 miles of that road. And then another ~100 miles from Front Royal so I'm thinking a route that tends more NE would be better.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Best wishes
Christian
