Swede going solo from Miami to New Orleans, route suggestion?

[Nordlund75]

I am going in march to try a little "adventure" outside my comfort zone, both travelling by myself and going on a bike tour is new to me.

As I havn't been in other areas of the US besides NYC I am looking for route suggestions, I have bought the maps from this site for the area but if anyone has input besides that it would be apreciated.

Thanks in advance!

/Marcus

[Nordlund75]

I might add that I plan to complete the route in three weeks.

[John Nettles]

If you want a route that goes along the coast beginning near the panhandle of Florida, send me a private email and I can send you a cue sheet and some GPS coordinates.

I rode the route from Wauchula (on the ACA Florida Connector route) which is near Tampa to Pensacola and some friends continued onto Baton Rouge to reconnect with the ACA route.

The difference is that there is more traffic (not unbearable), and more beaches.  Due to my preference of staying on lower traffic roads when possible, there are more turns probably than the ST route.  You also get more services but the services are probably more expensive due to being near the beach.

Also, if time/money permit, I would HIGHLY encourage riding on the Florida Keys.  Again, more traffic but it is nice.

If yonovice a noive cyclotourist with limited experience riding in  traffic, these routes may not be the best for you.  They are not bad at all but if you prefer seeing only a few cars every hour, these are not the routes.

Whatever you choose, enjoy the ride.

[John Nettles]

Opps, I was typing my reply while you added the 3 weeks.  Sorry.

[Nordlund75]

I was thinking of going by the suggested route from the maps I bought (Florida connector and Southern tier mappack 6 and 7) as much as possible, hopefully three weeks will be enough.

I plan on going in march-april.

However I am open to suggestions of course, thats why I posted here. 

[tonythomson]

My own suggestion would be to go New Orleans to Miami as when I did the Southern T East to West at the same time of year, I met guys flying along while I had to constantly fight the wind.

Secondly to help get off the roads check out "Rails to Trails" as I managed to incorporate several good trails into my route and they were a high light for me. 

And send me an IM as I have a house right on the Florida connector route and if I can help in anyway you would be welcome.  However, it is only a holiday home and not always there.  The offer is also open to any other long distant cyclists also.

Have fun it's a great adventure.

[Nordlund75]

Thanks for some great tips, the wind issue and the "Rails to Trails" is just those types of tips I will benefit from greatly! 

[Westinghouse]

Take barrier islands as much as possible to Jacksonville. Then, take 90. It goes right to the Big Easy.

You can get US 1 north of Vero, FL to Bunnell. Take mapped roads to Palatka. Follow mapped routes to Perry and to Wakulla Station on 19 / 98. Ocala Forest can get quite hilly. The coastal route west from Saint Marx is flat but often windy. The Saint Marx path to Tallahassee will put you on 90. There is another highway, 20 I think it is, that is south of 90 which is just as scenic as 90 and perhaps less trafficked and less hilly. So, there are 3 main routes traversing that area, 90, 20, 19/98. 90 through AL, MS and LA is fine enough.