Route Advice in N. VA
 

Hi,

I'm planning a trip from Western Maryland to Richmond, VA this summer and I'm working on a route. I want to leave the C&O Towpath at Brunswick, MD, cross the Potomac into VA and head south, linking up with the ACA East Coast route south of Manassas, VA.

I was thinking of Rt. 287 from Brunswick to Purcellville, Old Dominion Trail from there to Leesburg, then Rt 15 south toward Manassas. I happened to ride down 287 by car a while back and noticed not much shoulder. Haven't been on Rt. 15 in a while.

Anyone have any route suggestions for that stretch between Brunswick and Manassas?

I don't want to take the C&O all the way to DC and link with the ACA there because it'll add time I don't have and I've already done that.

Thanks!

I've ridden on Rt 15 out of Leesburg. It's not great, but it's not horrible. About a 1' shoulder for most of it. I haven't ridden further than about Aldie though. Can't help with 287. Have fun!

Why Brunswick? I'd run further to Whites Ferry and Cross to Rt 15 from there. That's certainly not adding to the trip nor taking you out of your way.

If you do leave the C&O in Brunswick, I would take 287 only to Lovettsville, then jog west on 673 and get onto 690 (mountain road). Thats a much more lovely road to take to Purcellville (I have a few road rides that takes this route and its very nice and almost entirely car-free). Follow 690 through the jog in Hillsboro (you'll be on route 9 for a few hundred yards), and when you get close to Purcellville, take a left on Alder School Road. Follow that to a right on Purcellville road, which will take you right into downtown and intersect the W&OD. Much, much nicer than riding 287 the whole way.

As for south of Leesburg, I can't help you there. But 15 isn't really a spectacular cycling road, from the sections I've seen. If you are willing to come closer to the DC, you could get off onto 7100 (Fairfax County Parkway), which has a decent adjacent bike path running almost the entire way south. Take it to 123 (which also has a path) and you should be able to pick up the ACA east coast route somewhere (not sure where it intersects though). I will note that these roads aren't exactly scenic, and the roads themselves will definitely have heavy car traffic (which you'll be separated from, but the noise gets annoying).

Thanks for the advice. I thought about crossing at White's Ferry. It's a little bit longer but I could avoid 287. I like the 690 option. It links up with a route I found on Map My Ride that uses 722/734 down to Aldie. Taking 7100 is tempting because of the path but that would add 20-30 miles. Rt. 123 hits the ACA East at Occoquan.

That is what I was thinking.
C&O to Whites Ferry to Leesburg to WO&D

Beyond W&OD I am not much help I have not been in that area of the state.
I can tell you about the C&O. I road at Whites Ferry a couple weeks back. Then crossed at Whites Ferry going toward Alexandria via truck. The road is a little narrow, but there was very little traffic to Leesburg. I have done some of the W&OD, but not in the Leesburg area. I assume it is blacktop and smooth with few traffic stops.

I am editing after looking at maps.google.com. Wouldn't the Fairfax county PKWY, get you close to Manassas?

Yeah, Fairfax Pkwy (7100) runs near Manassas but the ACA in that area is southwest of Manassas, near Nokesville (corner of 646 and Fleetwood). 7100 would run too far to the east, requiring that I go 20 miles east and then cut 20 miles back west. It looks much easier to go almost strait south from Leesburg to Nokesville. The best road by car would be Rt. 15 from White's Ferry strait south to Gainesville, then south to Nokesville on 619. But Rt. 15 the whole way doesn't look bike friendly.

I'd be interested to here from anyone who has tried Rt 15 from Leesburg south.

I think you're somewhat right on 15. It's not totally bike friendly, although it certainly is doable. The stretch from Rt7 to Rt66 I'd try not to hit at morning or evening rush though would be my only caveat.

Much better than the north side of 15 toward the MD line. I agree that 7100 would detour you, and although it has a bike path along side it's a bit chopped up by cross streets and a lot of short rollers since it doesn't follow the road contour as much as the hills alongside.

I would avoid Route 15. Lots of traffic and not much room for a bicycle. The thought of it makes me nervous.

Thanks for the advice on Rt. 15. I've been combing Google Earth and Maps looking for alternates to Rt 15. I'll let you know what I come up with.

So....did you take the ride? How did it go?

Yep, July 5-8. It went very well. I got a little lost once coming out of Purcellville and ended up going down 690 instead of 611. I cut across on Shoemaker School Road to get off 690 which was kind of busy with dump trucks. I think that road was gravel with fresh poured gravel which made it hard to ride. Other than that, it went well. Thanks again for the route advice.

I've got a report and routes here: http://planetm3.blogspot.com/2010/07/epic-journey.html

Enjoyed reading your trip report. I'll bet you were cooking !