Atlantic route: north or south?

[mdxix]

I am planning a tour between Washington and key West this fall in October.

Should I go north or south? I am mostly curious about the wind direction.

Also, any experience with riding that route at this time?

[litespeed]

I have gone up the east coast 4 times - twice inland and twice along the coast. I like the coastal route better. I have lucked out and didn't have hard northerly headwinds on the Outer Banks either time but I'm told it blows hard out of the northeast there more often than not. Also, North Carolina has all those nice free coastal ferries.

October is a bit late. You had better have warm clothes and a good sleeping bag. I live in Florida and we have had cold snaps in October (by our standards - down in the 40's). In the east rain brings northerly winds.

South Carolina and Virginia have lousy bicycling roads - no shoulders - so you might want to follow the ACA route in those states.