Need GPS route from Harrisonburg VA to Rally site

[briana]

I'm coming from Massachusetts and will slab it to harrisonburg the first day. I was hoping someone could create a Garmin GPS route for me that would take back roads from Harrisonburg to the Rally site. I like twisty back roads but want to be able to ride at a decent pace, not looking for dragon type twisty. It looks like about 280 miles taking the highway so maybe this route would be around 325 or 350 miles. I have made plenty of routes around my local area, but i just don't no the roads down there and i'm sure someone here knows the best roads and places to avoid.
The route doesn't have to start exactly in Harrisonburg, but somewhere in the area maybe from a decent cheap hotel.

Thanks,

Brian

[calmil]

Hi Briana,

The most obvious route would be Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway to Galax, VA, then #58 to Abingdon through Damascus, VA (a little twisty), and finally the slab to Grey. I'm not at home but will look some other routes up as well, perhaps some combination of #42 and #11. There are some great routes in western VA.

We're looking to retiring in Broadway in the next 3-4 years....My wife's home community.

___________________
EyeBiker
2007 R1200RT

[briana]

Ya that is the obvious route and sounds great but i heard it can be loaded with tourists and you really have to watch your speed. I like to cruise the back roads at 50 or 60 without having to worry about it to much.

Thanks,

Brian

[Chuck]

Hi Briana,
If you haven't been on the Blue Ridge Parkway, taking it at least part of the way would be worthwhile. From Harrisonburg you can continue on I-81S and I-64E to the Afton Exit. That puts you at Mile Post 0 on the Parkway in about 40 minutes. I would skip heading east on US 33 to the Skyline Drive. It runs through the Shenandoah National Park with a strictly enforced maximum speed limit of 35 mph. Going to the rally you will be missing the weekend traffic on the BRP, so I don't think traffic would be an issue.

An alternative I may take to Gray would be VA 42 south to I-64W for 7 miles to Exit 21, SR 616 to SR 621 to SR 619 through Oriskany to New Castle and pick up VA 42 south again. The route from I-64 to New Castle fills in the gap in VA 42 through a mostly wooded route designated as a State Scenic Byway. At the south end of VA 42 at Saltville take SR 700 south to near Bristol.

All these routes are on the State Highway Map availalbe free here:
http://virginiadot.org/travel/maporder.asp

[Chuck]

I overlooked another VA 42 gap in the route above. At VA 42 X US 460 (Newport), take US 460 West for about three miles to Eggleston Road (SR 730). Left (south) on Eggleston Road to VA 100. Left on VA 100 south three miles to pick up VA 42 South again to Saltville.

Calmil, any sugestions on the Saltville to Gray route?

[Visian]

These are some great roads... some a little, um, adventurous. (but paved... *trust me* :D)

442 miles of almost all country roads (could be shorter if you add more slab)

ian

[Ted]

Here is how I would do it - you can break off in Saltville to 81 if you are running short in time :)

<iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&amp;source=s_d&amp;saddr=I-81+S&amp;daddr=John+Wayland+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Scenic+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Churchville+Ave%2FUS-250%2FVA-42+to:US-250+to:VA-678+to:VA-39+to:VA-18+to:North+St%2FWV-3+to:US-460+to:VA-61+to:Clearfork+Rd%2FVA-61+to:36.99652,-81.650391+to:E+Main+St%2FVA-91+to:VA-80+to:Mendota+Rd+to:US-421%2FUS-58+to:Fair+St&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=Fc57SgIdOLxM-w%3BFUhhSgIdCtdL-w%3BFfyLSAIduvdI-w%3BFXRWRwIdCPtH-w%3BFeDjSAIddh5D-w%3BFRrGRQId5hlB-w%3BFZyLRAIdhLU--w%3BFc5PPQId_1A3-w%3BFfCYPQId6BYz-w%3BFSS5OQIdC_Uu-w%3BFcRqOAIdAhQr-w%3BFSKvNgIdaO8l-w%3B%3BFWTLMgIdHHMg-w%3BFbYQMgIdOtod-w%3BFVodMQId5cQa-w%3BFcDwLgIdcm8U-w%3BFZC1KwIdZG0V-w&amp;mra=dme&amp;mrcr=0&amp;mrsp=12&amp;sz=11&amp;via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 ,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16&amp;sll=36.962512,-81.639404&amp;sspn=0.398867,0.756683&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=36.963 06,-81.639404&amp;spn=0.526699,0.878906&amp;z=10&amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&amp;source=embed&amp;saddr=I-81+S&amp;daddr=John+Wayland+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Scenic+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Churchville+Ave%2FUS-250%2FVA-42+to:US-250+to:VA-678+to:VA-39+to:VA-18+to:North+St%2FWV-3+to:US-460+to:VA-61+to:Clearfork+Rd%2FVA-61+to:36.99652,-81.650391+to:E+Main+St%2FVA-91+to:VA-80+to:Mendota+Rd+to:US-421%2FUS-58+to:Fair+St&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=Fc57SgIdOLxM-w%3BFUhhSgIdCtdL-w%3BFfyLSAIduvdI-w%3BFXRWRwIdCPtH-w%3BFeDjSAIddh5D-w%3BFRrGRQId5hlB-w%3BFZyLRAIdhLU--w%3BFc5PPQId_1A3-w%3BFfCYPQId6BYz-w%3BFSS5OQIdC_Uu-w%3BFcRqOAIdAhQr-w%3BFSKvNgIdaO8l-w%3B%3BFWTLMgIdHHMg-w%3BFbYQMgIdOtod-w%3BFVodMQId5cQa-w%3BFcDwLgIdcm8U-w%3BFZC1KwIdZG0V-w&amp;mra=dme&amp;mrcr=0&amp;mrsp=12&amp;sz=11&amp;via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 ,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16&amp;sll=36.962512,-81.639404&amp;sspn=0.398867,0.756683&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=36.963 06,-81.639404&amp;spn=0.526699,0.878906&amp;z=10" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

[briana]

Thanks for the advise guys, i will be able to create my own route using your routes, info, and suggestions.

Brian

[Chuck]

Too many good roads to chose from.

[calmil]

Briana and Chuck,

The 42 route suggested by Chuck -- First Rate

Modifications I might suggest are:
- At I-64 go a bit further west to #18, a paved, meandering farming valley road,
which leads to Paint Bank and #311
- #311 to #42. Great gentle curves and recently paved...a true YeeHaw road not
to be missed
- #42 southerly to #16, not quite as far as Saltville
- #16 south past Hungry Mother State Park, an exhilarating twisty route, to #58
- #58 west to Damascus, a town well known by Appalachian Trail hikers, through
Mt Rogers State Park and the highest point in VA. Quite twisty, somewhat
technical in the Mt Rogers area, paved, to #133
- #133 to Shady Valley, then straight ahead as the road becomes #91 to Johnson
City, TN and I-23
- I-26 north to Grey (6-7miles)

If you choose the Blue Ridge Parkway, consider getting off near Meadows of Dan and follow #58 as above to get the blood circulating a bit faster.

[Chuck]

Brian (and all),
Looks like you'd better plan two days to get to a good sampling of these roads. Calmil's detour to Paint Bank is a good tip and wouldn't add extra time, plus you could lunch at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant at the Paint Bank country store (with Motorcycle Only parking and premium fuel).

If you do two days, Willville at Meadows of Dan is you destination on Day1.
http://willvillebikecamp.com/
Then the BRP, US 58, TN 311, and US 421 to the rally on Day 2 (~3 hours).

[Ted]

Don't forget about the cool fish hatchery in Paint Bank as well, a favorite stop of mine.

[Visian]

Don't forget about the cool fish hatchery in Paint Bank as well, a favorite stop of mine.

y'all didn't look at my GPS route, eh? it goes right through Paint Bank.

311 is a sweet one. :thumb

(has anyone ridden VA623 out of Sharon Springs?)

[Polarbear]

The Parkway is so rediculously painful for a Beemer, but so worth seeing once if you can manage the SLOW pace. I grew up at the northern end of it, near Front Royal. Its a true landmark highway with weeks of history learning. Its only time. Maybe in retirement:). I may have to do some of it again, after my 30+ year absense. My GSA1200 will just have to suffer the 35-45mph:). Randy:usa

[pffog]

(has anyone ridden VA623 out of Sharon Springs?)

It leads into Burkes garden, It is gravel into Burkes garden from Sharon Springs, coming out the north it is paved and in good shape, a nice twisty section dumps you out on 61.

[Visian]

It leads into Burkes garden, It is gravel into Burkes garden from Sharon Springs, coming out the north it is paved and in good shape, a nice twisty section dumps you out on 61.

well, then... this sounds like *my* kind of road!

if i can go to the RA rally, i think i'll give it a try. thanks!

[Ted]

It is gravel into Burkes garden from Sharon Springs

Burkes Garden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke%27s_Garden,_Virginia) is a must-visit, very cool little pocket of Virginia. The road south to Sharon Springs is Rt. 622/623 and it is indeed gravel, narrow with steep switchbacks and frequent deep ruts and exposed rocks, not the road to take on a K12LT but would be lots of fun on a GS!
<iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;ll=37.07093,-81.302948&amp;spn=0.065744,0.109863&amp;z=13&amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;ll=37.07093,-81.302948&amp;spn=0.065744,0.109863&amp;z=13&amp;source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

[142445]

Route 11 South of Roanoke through Elliston, Dublin, Pulaski, down to Wytheville is a very nice ride. Beautiful scenery with sweeping curves instead of the tight twisties. Have a great ride.

[nevada72]

The Parkway is so rediculously painful for a Beemer, but so worth seeing once if you can manage the SLOW pace.

I was planning to go well out of my way from WI to pick up the BRP at Buena Vista and ride it down to Cherokee-

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6366/googleearthimageg.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/i/googleearthimageg.jpg/)

I have never taken the BRP and heard great things. Is it really slow all the way? I couldn't stand cruising at less than 60 mph for more than 1/2 hour.

[Ted]

I couldn't stand cruising at less than 60 mph for more than 1/2 hour

You then might want to either limit your time on the BRP to a half hour (or hire a good traffic lawyer :D)

[nevada72]

Yikes! It was described to me as an endless 2-lane paradise. Now I know what he meant by endless.

What is the speed limit on the BRP?

[Visian]

Yikes! It was described to me as an endless 2-lane paradise. Now I know what he meant by endless.

What is the speed limit on the BRP?

45. you can get away with 9 over. tickets are paid to the US Marshall.

the real hassle is passing. the double yellow goes on f-o-r-e-v-e-r and most people just can't find the clue to use one of the 50 gajillion turnouts to pull over and let you pass. the people "saving lives" are the absolute worst. (however, it is possible sometimes to pass by *using* the turnouts... damhikt!)

on the weekdays, *usually* not a problem.

on weekends, fuggeddaboutit!

[alabeemer]

We rode it Monday from US276 up to ashville on the way to JC. Left Blue Ridge M/Cycle Campground at 7:30AM. Climbed the 7 miles up to the BRP and it was AWESOME!! Nice and cool, bright sunny morning, no traffic, 50 mph all the way to Ashville...but it was Monday morning!
As Visian says...weekends...forget it!

[rb3CLIFF]

Hello Ted I'm orginizing a groupe of riders from our club who want to ride down together to the National. We will cross the border at Buffalo NY take Hwy 219 south. I like your route plan from Harrisonburg to Gray.
However I would ride the #219 to huttonsville WV take Hwy 250 through the Monongahela National Forest to Dowell WV and hook up to your route on Hwy #678 .
Some of our club members are on Rt's 2 up, I expect your route is all paved roads?
would this be correct? Please advise
Thanks,

Cliff McEwen

Here is how I would do it - you can break off in Saltville to 81 if you are running short in time :)

<iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&amp;source=s_d&amp;saddr=I-81+S&amp;daddr=John+Wayland+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Scenic+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Churchville+Ave%2FUS-250%2FVA-42+to:US-250+to:VA-678+to:VA-39+to:VA-18+to:North+St%2FWV-3+to:US-460+to:VA-61+to:Clearfork+Rd%2FVA-61+to:36.99652,-81.650391+to:E+Main+St%2FVA-91+to:VA-80+to:Mendota+Rd+to:US-421%2FUS-58+to:Fair+St&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=Fc57SgIdOLxM-w%3BFUhhSgIdCtdL-w%3BFfyLSAIduvdI-w%3BFXRWRwIdCPtH-w%3BFeDjSAIddh5D-w%3BFRrGRQId5hlB-w%3BFZyLRAIdhLU--w%3BFc5PPQId_1A3-w%3BFfCYPQId6BYz-w%3BFSS5OQIdC_Uu-w%3BFcRqOAIdAhQr-w%3BFSKvNgIdaO8l-w%3B%3BFWTLMgIdHHMg-w%3BFbYQMgIdOtod-w%3BFVodMQId5cQa-w%3BFcDwLgIdcm8U-w%3BFZC1KwIdZG0V-w&amp;mra=dme&amp;mrcr=0&amp;mrsp=12&amp;sz=11&amp;via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 ,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16&amp;sll=36.962512,-81.639404&amp;sspn=0.398867,0.756683&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=36.963 06,-81.639404&amp;spn=0.526699,0.878906&amp;z=10&amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&amp;source=embed&amp;saddr=I-81+S&amp;daddr=John+Wayland+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Scenic+Hwy%2FVA-42+to:Churchville+Ave%2FUS-250%2FVA-42+to:US-250+to:VA-678+to:VA-39+to:VA-18+to:North+St%2FWV-3+to:US-460+to:VA-61+to:Clearfork+Rd%2FVA-61+to:36.99652,-81.650391+to:E+Main+St%2FVA-91+to:VA-80+to:Mendota+Rd+to:US-421%2FUS-58+to:Fair+St&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=Fc57SgIdOLxM-w%3BFUhhSgIdCtdL-w%3BFfyLSAIduvdI-w%3BFXRWRwIdCPtH-w%3BFeDjSAIddh5D-w%3BFRrGRQId5hlB-w%3BFZyLRAIdhLU--w%3BFc5PPQId_1A3-w%3BFfCYPQId6BYz-w%3BFSS5OQIdC_Uu-w%3BFcRqOAIdAhQr-w%3BFSKvNgIdaO8l-w%3B%3BFWTLMgIdHHMg-w%3BFbYQMgIdOtod-w%3BFVodMQId5cQa-w%3BFcDwLgIdcm8U-w%3BFZC1KwIdZG0V-w&amp;mra=dme&amp;mrcr=0&amp;mrsp=12&amp;sz=11&amp;via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 ,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16&amp;sll=36.962512,-81.639404&amp;sspn=0.398867,0.756683&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=36.963 06,-81.639404&amp;spn=0.526699,0.878906&amp;z=10" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

[CWC]

I'll be leaving the Woodbrige VA area Tuesday morning after breakfast (whenever that is) and plan to try some of the route suggestions listed here.

I'll plan to camp a few hours northeast of the rally so I can arrive early afternoon on Wednesday.

Any suggestings for camping near I81, Rt. 42 or Ian's route?

[142445]

If you come down Rt. 42, there is camping at Big Falls Road on the New River.
http://www.newriverjunction.com/ At the intersection of Rt. 42 and Rt. 460 (Newport, VA, north of Blacksburg, VA) Go straight on Spruce Run Road, SR 605 At the end of SR 605, turn Left on SR 625 Part of 625 is gravel. It passes a campground on the gravel part. New River Junction is across the Montgomery County line where the road turns back to paved surface. I haven't camped there, but spent many fun afternoons on the river.

If you go down I81 or US 11, check out Claytor Lake State Park.
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/cla.shtml

From this area, you will be about 2 1/2 hrs or so to Johnson City, TN

Have fun and safe riding.

[Ted]

I expect your route is all paved roads?

Rt. 91 is an awesome backroad, but it is pretty degraded in the higher elevations with a single lane pave and hard-pack making up the rest of the road. You can always skip it by taking a left on (great road in its own right!) Rt. 16 in Frog Level and joining up Rt. 42 about 10 miles earlier than if you were to take Rt. 91. The entire length of Rt. 91 is covered by Google Street View (drag the little yellow guy at the top of the scale to the road and you can see the actual road) so you can "preview" it and see if you want to take it.

Go to GoogleMaps and go to this section of West Virginia. Look to the left for the little yellow "Street View" guy:

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/001.jpg

Click on him and drag him to the road you want to see:

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/002.jpg

Here you can see the road approach to the ridge lines - it is a bit narrow in this part but in good shape and lots of fun.

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/003.jpg

Here in this part you are up in the views at the top of the peak - it is single-lane somewhat degraded pavement with hard-pack sides, but still a lot of fun.

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/004.jpg

I was last through here a few years ago and my Delorme notes are that is is winding with great views and lots of "oldness" to the countryside. If you are riding fast and making miles, think about taking Rt. 16.

[ride_on]

I'm coming from Massachusetts and will slab it to harrisonburg the first day.

How much time are you allowing for that?

I was down in WV a few weeks ago and from Harrisonburg back to Danbury, CT was
7+ hours on the slab.

[CWC]

If you come down Rt. 42, there is camping at Big Falls Road on the New River.
http://www.newriverjunction.com/

If you go down I81 or US 11, check out Claytor Lake State Park.
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/cla.shtml

From this area, you will be about 2 1/2 hrs or so to Johnson City, TN


Thank you.

Those both look good.

[briana]

I plan on a 600 mile day. leaving at 6:00am should be there by 7:00pm. I did 9 New England states last Sunday, 660 miles about 2/3rds slab and was done in 15 hours.

Brian

[rb3CLIFF]

I plan to take most of your route, thanks for all the info especially the little info guy
I did not know about him.

Hope to see you at the Rally, I'm volunteering at the registration booth Thursday
12:00 to 4PM and Friday 8 to 12:00PM


Cliff McEwen
R1100RT


Rt. 91 is an awesome backroad, but it is pretty degraded in the higher elevations with a single lane pave and hard-pack making up the rest of the road. You can always skip it by taking a left on (great road in its own right!) Rt. 16 in Frog Level and joining up Rt. 42 about 10 miles earlier than if you were to take Rt. 91. The entire length of Rt. 91 is covered by Google Street View (drag the little yellow guy at the top of the scale to the road and you can see the actual road) so you can "preview" it and see if you want to take it.

Go to GoogleMaps and go to this section of West Virginia. Look to the left for the little yellow "Street View" guy:

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/001.jpg

Click on him and drag him to the road you want to see:

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/002.jpg

Here you can see the road approach to the ridge lines - it is a bit narrow in this part but in good shape and lots of fun.

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/003.jpg

Here in this part you are up in the views at the top of the peak - it is single-lane somewhat degraded pavement with hard-pack sides, but still a lot of fun.

http://www.verrill.com/misc/rt91/004.jpg

I was last through here a few years ago and my Delorme notes are that is is winding with great views and lots of "oldness" to the countryside. If you are riding fast and making miles, think about taking Rt. 16.