Atlantic Route distance

[dk0993]

I am new to this site and was looking for some general info on the atlantic coast route and the Adv maps in general.   I am thinking about doing part of this route maybe as soon as next month.   Thing is I am somewhat time limited, so I may do as much as possible in a week or 10 days.   What I can't understand is why the distance seems to be fully 1/3 higher than driving.   i.e- From Richmond to St. Augustine, driving is 641 miles, Adv maps show 1006 miles.   Where is the extra 400 miles coming in?   Are there any shortcuts?   This 1/3 additive seems to hold across most of the maps I looked at.

As I said I want to do this but I am time limited.

Suggestions?

Thanks-Dave

[staehpj1]

I am not all that familiar with the AC Atlantic coast route, so take this for what it is worth...

You could probably find a route that was much shorter, but the AC routes are usually longer for a reason.  They tend to avoid big cities and favor more scenic choices with lighter traffic.  That necessitates a longer route.  Additionally many bridges and tunnels need to be avoided in some way since they do not allow bikes.  That too can add substantial mileage.

[litespeed]

If I took the Adventure Cycling route from my home here in Florida to my brother's place just north of New York City it would be about 1850 miles. The shortest highway route is about 1150 miles. When I bicycle tour I cover about 1450 miles.

I stick a lot closer to the coast than the AC route except for South Carolina. 17 and 17A have horrendous, shoulderless high-traffic stretches south of Summerville and Charleston.

I also go up the Outer Banks of NC with its numerous delightful ferry rides. You can get across the Chesapeake Bridge-Tunnel by going into the toll booth offices and simply asking for a ride across. They will grumble a bit if you don't call ahead but you will get a free ride across in a maintenance pickup.

I also take the huge Lewes DE-Cape May NJ ferry and shoot straight up US9. It's a fine bicycling road except for an unavoidable 2 1/2 mile stretch of Garden State Parkway shoulder near New Gretna. I have done this a couple of times, hammering hard. The cops ignored me.

To get into NYC you can take the ferry from Atlantic Highlands or the train from South Amboy. The ferry is much more pleasant albeit a lot slower.

I really like bicycling in New York City. The drivers are the best in the world. I've never gotten any hostility and it is certainly interesting. For the Manhattan Greenway map go to:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/edc/pdf/greenway_mapside.pdf

Along the Connecticut/Rhode Island coast you will have bridges closed to cyclists at Newport RI and, probably, New Haven CT.

Generally, I find coastal bicycling much more scenic and pleasant than inland despite the hassles. There are also a lot more facilities

This message was edited by litespeed on 9-23-08 @ 2:34 PM

[Westinghouse]

I cycled from south Florida to Bangor, Maine in 22 days with 20 days of actual cycling and two days off for torrential rains. I am not sure of the distance. Somebody said 1800 and something miles. I have done the atlantic coast three times. It is a good ride. Even NYC was a good ride.

[dk0993]

Thanks everyone for the info, I appreciate it.

How many miles avg. per day, 80?   And did you follow
Adv Cycle AC map route?   If not, did you follow coast?
Any hilly areas south of Washington along coast/

Thanks-

Dave

[litespeed]

Averaging 80 miles a day is probably doable once you get in shape. Even with the occasional rest day.

If you are within 30 miles of the coast your only hills will be the bridges.

This message was edited by litespeed on 9-30-08 @ 8:50 AM

[Westinghouse]

I averaged about 85 miles a day. Of course, some days were over 100. That was back in 1990 when I was in better condition than now. I did not use anybody else's predetermined route. I chose my own the full way. I used common, every day road maps.

I am aware a book by Donna Ikenberry is out there. It details the Atlantic route. I have studied it carefully. Quite a bit of her route goes where I went. But I went right through NYC via the George Washington bridge. Then I followed coastal routes to Maine. It was actually a very good trip. There were two days of rain, and it rained like hell those two days. I could not cycle in it at all.