As part of next years trip I am thinking about a start in Phili and heading to DC. Anyone have a suggestion for a route? I have read that the ACA Atlantic Coast route may not be the best choice.
Thanks!

Google bike map from Philly to Washington better in my opinion, ACA kind of outdated and for some reason, avoids the NCR trail which would not only shorten the distance on the ACA map, but give you a fairly flat ride. The ACA map seems to add a ton of mileage also.

Also you can ride PA route S to York, then catch the York County/NCR trail all the way to the Baltimore suburbs, then use Maryland's bike map to take you into DC. Hopefully in a few years, the WB&A trail system should make going from Baltimore to Washington easier when it is complete.

Maryland makes an excellent bicycle route map that you can view online for order for free off the internet.

Sites: PA bike map - https://www.bikepa.com/routes/index.htm
MD bike map - https://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Office_...ycle_Maps.html

I just finished the GAP and PA Bike Route S from Bedford to Philly with a few modifications of my own. With those modifications, S is fine until you get close to Lancaster. Don't expect much nice riding between there and York.

OP: Send me a PM if you want more info. Route S uses a lot of PA 23 when it's not necessary. I know some nicer, quieter roads, especially if you want to camp at French Creek State Park, which is nice.

NCR will put in Hunt Valley MD. There is a surface train from there to take you to or through Baltimore. One possibility taking the train to BWI and then the Annapolis rail trail toward Annapolis. From there, there are several ways to get into DC.

Other possibilities if you are looking for more riding instead of less, is to ride east into Jersey Pine barrens. Then south to Cape May. take the ferry and then ride across the Delmarva. Depending on the route there are ferries across the Chesapeake or Bridges. call the Bridge police for a ride across. While this is definately, the longer scenic route, it is flatter than my first girlfriend.

I just completed a tour from NH to DC. I picked up the PA section of the ACA route at French Creek State Park. Their route on through the PA Dutch country was excellent. After the Susquehanna bridge at Columbia consider leaving the ACA route at PA 624 not far past Wrightsville on ACA map 29. Following secondary roads on the PA road map will lead you in a more westerly direction through Red Lion, Glen Rock and on into MD at Lineboro. From there follow MD secondary roads to Westminster.

From Westminster it is a straight shot down route 27 to Germantown. A little more traffic than desirable but it is a designated bike route with a wide safe shoulder for the most part, occasional bike lane markings and pleasant rural scenery. Alternatively you could take MD 75 and 109 further west for less traffic.

From Germantown I used Google bike maps to connect me to the C&O canal but it dead ended me on a bike path in Gaithersburg on a pond in a residential area. I reverted to paper maps and followed Darnestown Rd to Travilah Rd to Piney Meetinghouse Rd which took me right to Swain's Lock on the C&O where there is a hiker/biker camp. From there it's an easy 15 mile cruise into DC. 700x32 Gatorskins worked fine.

I've never taken the ACA route through MD but it seems to be and endless succession of twist and turns just to route the rider through Baltimore and DC suburbs and finally into DC on the wrong side.