Best Route - Philadelphia to Missoula

[skullboy]

I am trying to find a route from Philadelphia to Missoula, MT without having to ride up to the Northern Tier in Maine via the Atlantic Coast Route.  Can anyone please give any suggestions?  I searched but didn't find anything other than up to Maine and then over.  It's about time, not distance. 

Thanks!
Kurt

[indyfabz]

United or Delta.  I am flying the former to Missoula in June to start a tour.   

Have you considered taking AC's Atlantic Coast Route south to meet up with the Trans Am route?  I believe they intersect in or around Richmond, VA.  The section from Conshohocken to Richmond is 387 miles.  At 65 miles/day, that's six days.  Certainly faster than taking the Atlantic Coast route north to Maine to pick up the Northern Tier.  Besides, the Northern Tier doesn't pass through Missoula.  You would likely head south from Whitefish.  It's about 2-3 days from there to Missoula.

The Trans Am spur from Lolo, MT takes you right into Missoula.  Think it's about 12 miles.

[staehpj1]

United or Delta.  I am flying the former to Missoula in June to start a tour.   

Have you considered taking AC's Atlantic Coast Route south to meet up with the Trans Am route?  I believe they intersect in or around Richmond, VA.  The section from Conshohocken to Richmond is 387 miles.  At 65 miles/day, that's six days.  Certainly faster than taking the Atlantic Coast route north to Maine to pick up the Northern Tier.  Besides, the Northern Tier doesn't pass through Missoula.  You would likely head south from Whitefish.  It's about 2-3 days from there to Missoula.

The Trans Am spur from Lolo, MT takes you right into Missoula.  Think it's about 12 miles.

+1 on using the TA.  It is a nice route and goes to Missoula.

There are a variety of routes you could use to join the TA.  Another option you might consider rather than using the Atlantic Coast Route is joining the TA via skyline drive  I think that could save some time.  That said if it was me I might just get on a train to get from Philadelphia to the TA near it's start.

[skullboy]

great advice!  i will definitely look into the TA route.  thank you very much!

[John Nelson]

You said it's about time. How much time do you have?

Also, your departure date may strongly influence the best route. So it might be good to mention that.

[litespeed]

Here's a route suggestion: Go down to Yellowstone, avoiding very bad route 191 (287 is much more bicycle friendly, I've heard), then get on US14 and head east. This will take you over the Bighorns and on to the Black Hills with Mt. Rushmore and nearby Devil's Tower. When you get to the end of 14 near Lacrosse, Wisconsin cross the state to Manitowoc. Then take the ferry to Ludington, Michigan. To get to Philadelphia the most direct way would be part way along the south shore of Lake Erie and SE to Philadelphia. For Pennsylvania bike routes go to: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/BIKE/WEB/tour_routes.htm.

[Constellation21]

From Philadelphia, take the PA state route up to Trenton, then the NJ state route along the Delaware/Raritan canal towpath to Branchburg, then the NJ State route all the way up to Port Jervis, New York State.  Once at Port Jervis, you can get the NY State route 17 all the way to Lake Erie.  From Lake Erie, you can join the Adventure Cycling maps that lead you to the Northern Tier all the way to Missoula.  You can find the PA map on the PA Dept. of Trans. website, the NJ Maps on the NJ Dept. of Trans. website njdot.nj.gov, and NY State #17 on the NY State Dept. of Trans. website. www.dot.state.ny.us

I live in New York and toy with the idea of riding to the West.  Would you be interested in joining me from Port Jervis onward? 

[cdavey]

I would second that you should consider getting to Erie or the Lake Erie shore and picking up the Northern Tier route there. As has been already pointed out, check the PennDOT web site for the PA Bike Route system, or go further north into NY state and take NY Bike Route 17 across NY. That would put you on the Northern Tier route at Westfield, NY heading SW to Erie.

It's also possible to continue west into Ohio from PA before you pick up the Northern Tier, but the problem is that as far as I been able to find, all the bike maps in Ohio are privately published and you have to buy them in order to lay out a route through there. It's also fairly hard to find the list of sources. It would be easier and cheaper to use the PA and NY DOT sites for your research.

FWIW, I have ridden NY Route 17 from Corning to Westfield. It's a nicely thought out route with only a few hills. Can't say anything about the part of NY 17E of Corning, though. That may be more hilly since that's where the Appalachians pass throuigh NY state.