Wilmington, NC to Charleston, SC

[speedy1963]

Any recommendations for a great picturesque route covering 100-150 miles? Bike friendly?

Thanks

Patti

[litespeed]

You are pretty much stuck with US17 most of the way and it's not very scenic. I always bypass Wilmington via Military Cutoff Rd., Oleander Dr., S College Rd., then 421 down through the beaches to the ferry to Southport. Southport is a very pretty little town. Then 211 back to 17.

You can get off 17 by taking secondary roads between Shallotte and Calabash on the state border but they are a bit confusing and hardly worth the trouble. If you take BR17 through Myrtle beach you will hit services as well as the KOA and the state park.

Definitely get off 17 as you approach Mt. Pleasant. It is no place for a bicycle - shoulderless and heavily trafficked. Turn south at the hospital and continue on the parallel road - Legends Club Dr. and S Morgans Point Rd. Turn left where it ends on Porchers Bluff Rd. At the roundabout turn right on Rifle Range Rd. and go a few miles to 703 - Ben Sawyer Blvd. and Coleman Blvd. Turn right and go to the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and its very nice recreational trail. This will dump you right in Charleston.

[greenbubba]

If you are starting in Wilmington I suggest you start downtown vs the Military Cutoff Rd route litespeed mentions, which is more appropriate if starting north of Wilmington on US 17. You can take front st south then bear right onto Burnett as you pass Greenfield Lake. You can essentially take this all the way to River Road down to Carolina Beach. After crossing Snows Cut (no nice way to cross this bridge), bear right and take Dow Rd to Kure Beach. I just modified a there and back route I take to Southport via the ferry at Federal Point, that I'll link to below. It shows most of this route. After Snows Cut you can also just stay on 421 and go through the beach towns, it's just busier with stop lights. More traffic but the speed limit is low so it's not too bad. There is some rough pavement here and there around the state port, but River Road is very nice - it has recently been re-aligned and repaved and there is a nice shoulder. Even when traffic is heavy it feels safe. I would avoid 421/Carolina Beach Rd if at all possible from Wilmington to Snows Cut as it can be pretty scary as it is 4 lanes with no shoulder and moving fast, plus there is little but strip malls for scenery. As litespeed mentions US 17 is the main route and it is not a great bike road. Even when we do this route to Southport, we don't ride much around southport as the roads are usually busy and not much in the way of width. I'd suggest looking at Adventure's Atlantic Coast route. It looks like it follows what I'm suggesting down to Southport, and pretty much avoids US 17. These state roads will take longer, but be far safer and much more scenic. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12237303 Towns worth a stop; Southport, Sunset Beach NC,

[etsisk]

I wouldn't take 17 if I could avoid it. I rode this distance last year, for the most part, and followed the Atlantic Coast Rte. It runs inland, but it's not bad countryside or riding, with the exception of a short bit of road going into Shallotte and a short stretch of 17 going into North Myrtle Beach. 

[etsisk]

Also, if you're going to follow the Atlantic Coast route, the fire depts in Shallotte and Calabash are great. The fire dept in Conway, SC requires advance notice. In Conway, stay off of 15-501, and if you have to ride that way, stay on the sidewalk. That highway will KILL YOU in Conway!