anyone familiar with doing that? I reckon the bridge tunnel is the only way - is that even viable for a bike? I don't particularly want to succumb to CO poisoning! I want to do the Atlantic Coast Route (assuming my left knee also wants to do it), but would like to bike across the bay and go up the delmar peninsula... but that does require crossing the bay. I reckon I could hire a boat to ferry me across if the bridge tunnel doesn't do it! (I've done the bridge on a motorcycle, at night, in a storm... it was kinda scary!)

Seriously, NOBODY has done this?? Er, maybe I can learn from THAT, too!

Per this, you can ride a shuttle van across for $12.

Nobody has done it because, to the best of my knowledge, bicycles are prohibited on all of the bridge/tunnel crossings of the Chesapeake Bay.

There are some private shuttle services (the link Velo Vol provided has some Virginia info; see Chesapeake Bay Bridge Drive-Over Service, Bay Bridge Drive-Over Help, Parcel Services for one such service in Maryland.) There are also some ferries/mail boats that cross the Bay (Reedville VA or Point Lookout State Park MD to Smith Island MD and/or Tangier Island VA, and then to Crisfield MD and/or Onancock VA) but the timing and logistics of those might be tough.

The two first crossing points into MD from VA are the bridge-tunnel and the Nice Bridge, further upstream. And yes, you CANNOT ride a bike on either

The Nice bridge crosses the Potomac River at Dahlgren, Va., not the Chesapeake Bay. You will be on US Rt. 301 headed north through Maryland, crossing the Rt. 301 Bay Bridge at Annapolis (same problem) to get to the Eastern Shore. I'd look into the shuttle van at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at Norfolk. That drops you at the southern end of the Eastern Shore (Delmarva Peninsula).

Thanks for all the tips,y'all! I think the plan will be to grab the shuttle across the bridge tunnel and head up from there.

I stand corrected...the bay-bridge tunnel and the Nice Bridge do cross diff bodies of water....but I believe they are the first and only two crossing points east headed west. Also, I have known of riders who have contacted I believe local clubs to hitch a ride, at least across the Nice Bridge. Another possible option. Be safe.

I will give it my best shot! I may have knee surgery looming next month, but I should be able to do a workaround that will let me ride straight up to Oshkosh and do the Atlantic Coast Route on the way back. Or something!