Florida to New York

[taptap]

I would like to plan a trip from Orlando to New York City. I expect to motel it. Has anyone done a similar ride and can give me some tips. I've never done a long distance multi day trip like this before.

[litespeed]

I have bicycle toured from my home in Florida to the Northeast three times - once up the coast and twice inland. Hugging the coast in 2002 was very pleasant except for US17 between Hardeeville and Charleston SC and the hair raising Charleston bridge. But they were working on 17 so it might have shoulders now and the bridge can be avoided. Don't miss the Wright Memorial in NC.
   To cross the Chesapeake Bridge/Tunnel just go to the toll office and ask for a ride. It's free but they prefer that you call in advance.
  In New Jersey you can just go straight up US9 to South Amboy and take the ferry to 34th St. in NY. Up to Tom's River it is a very nice ride with huge shoulders and lovely little towns. After that it gets busier and more freeway-ish but is not a problem.
   If you go up through central Georgia I recommend US41, 129 and 441 but skirt around Macon. This will take you right up to Asheville NC or Great Smoky Mts. Nat'l. Park. The Biltmore Estate is not to be missed.
   In Virginia stick to back roads as the major highways are heavily trafficked and have no paved shoulders. Avoid US15 in Northern VA at all costs. SW Virginia is brutally hilly.
   The roads in Maryland and Pennsylvania are very good with wide shoulders. In PA good, cheap places to eat abound. Also there are plenty of ice cream and fudge places. Gettysburg and Hershey are well worth a day or two each.
   For your first tour I suggest you go up the coast. That's what I did.

This message was edited by litespeed on 11-20-06 @ 2:24 PM

[fredlonas]

  For good info get maps from Adventure Cycling and Eastcoast Greenway Alliance.com, both good Organizations to belong to.
  Fred

[bktourer1]

Check out the book by Donna Aikenberry
Cycling the Atlantic Coast
It might be a little outdated
but has good directions

ED

[litespeed]

The Adventure Cycling maps are widely used but I've never gotten used to them. They take a lot of attention and will cost you an hour or two a day. Also they meander a lot. From my house on the west coast of Florida to Dobbs Ferry NY, where my brother lives, is 1150 miles by the shortest driving route. I usually log about 1450 miles bicycling it. It would be 1850 miles using the Adventure Cycling route. But you would probably have good bicycling roads and few unpleasant surprises using their maps. If you are on a leisurely schedule you might give them a try.