Hwy 98 - Florida

[aggie]

Has anyone ridden Hwy 98 in Florida this year?  I'm thinking of riding it as an alternative to the Southern Tier from Pensacola towards St. Augustine.  I'm particularly interested in the recovery of restaurants and hotels.

[John Nettles]

I do not have any first hand knowledge but I would just call a few hotels, visitors bureaus, bike shops, etc. along the way and see what they say.

That said, Google shows lots of availability tomorrow for hotels and a lot of restaurants that are open based on the "open now" filter.

I have ridden it (E>W) and recommend it.  The worst spot was between around Panama City but then we crossed the bridge Friday late afternoon right at quitting time from the air force base.  It was easily one of the Top 3 scariest times of riding in my 40+ years.  Do not do cross at that time!

Worst case, at least go from Pensacola to Navarre Beach then back north on FL-87.  A spectacular ride along the ocean.  FL-87 is fine.  Rejoin ST at US-90.  Avoids the heavy traffic too.

Tailwinds, John

[aggie]

I’ve been riding Hwy 98 from Pensacola to Apalachicola so far.  I can’t recommend this route from Pensacola to at least Panama City.  The traffic is heavier than many interstate highways with only a 3 foot shoulder.  In Pensacola there is a new bridge and the bike lane/sidewalk isn’t open yet.  Fast traffic with no shoulder.  There is no shoulder from Ft. Walton Beach through at least 10 miles past Destin.  There is road construction that has taken away the shoulder.  Fast traffic with numerous horns and shouted obscenities.  The road and traffic has been good from Tyndall AFB to Apalachicola.

Lots of damage from the hurricane is still visible.  Some business has recovered and some has not.