Aspen Hill to Downtown DC

[Terpfan]

@noworriesinmd 91795 wrote:

Has anyone commuted from Aspen Hill, MD to Downtown DC (close to Mount Vernon Square)?

I’d like to do this 15 -20 mile commute (depending on path) daily.

Where in Aspen Hill? It does make somewhat of a difference.

The least confusing route would be to work your way over to Rock Creek and then take Rock Creek Path all the way down into DC and then cut up and over to 13th st or 15th st cycletrack depending upon where you go/comfort level riding on the road. If it were me, I would probably cut over way up by Sheridan and take Aspen over to 14th and then 14th all the way in (or until 15th is two-way). I’d probably cut over Q to to 11th and then take that down.

Other choices could be taking RCP/Beach Drive over the Capital Crescent Trail. Then take CCT all the way in and head up to L and cross town that way.

Google agrees with both (albeit, mine are slightly different per my preferences). It also offers Sligo Creek down to Maple Avenue and then taking Maple to 3rd and then 3rd->Kansas->5th->New Hampshire->11th. That doesn’t sound fun to me at all.

[Randyp]

That’s a long daily commute; I salute you.

I commute from the Wheaton area; I’ve tried:

(1) Capital Crescent Trail – nice, but goes a bit out of the way for getting to downtown DC and can be crowded;

(2) Rock Creek Park: the roads are narrow, busy with cars, and the surfaces are crap; the path is calm but slow (lots of sharp turns);

(3) straight down 16th (taking to the west-side sidewalk after Eastern Ave) to Decatur Ave left on Decatur > right on 14th to Mass Ave or K St over to Mt Vernon Square: not many intersections going down 16th, due to Rock Creek Park on the right, but lots of driveways, a narrow sidewalk, and bus stops with passengers waiting make the morning ride exciting along there;

(4) straight down GA Ave/7th Ave to the Square – carefully, on the sidewalk until south of downtown Silver Spring; after that, the road is wider and traffic is slower than on 16th.

My suggestion:
Grandview to a left on Arcola Ave (to cross GA Ave) > right on Amherst > left on Franwall > right on Orebaugh and get on the Sligo Creek Trail. After crossing University Ave, get on Sligo Creek Parkway and take it to Maple Ave in Takoma. Right on Maple > right on Aspen St > left on Blair Rd > after Kansas Ave, left on Madison and right back onto Blair Rd, which turns into Fort Totten Dr. Left on Bates Rd to McCormack (CUA Campus). You’re now on the MBT route; follow that to K St, then right on K St to Mt. Vernon Square. Most of this is my daily commute (except for K St), and I prefer it to the other options.

Try them all and see which you prefer.

[noworriesinmd]

Thanks for the suggestions!!!
I’m close to Parkland and Aspen Hill Road.

The commute is long. It will be between 14-20 miles each way depending on traffic. I assume I can always catch the metro or go on a bus if I get tired.
I’m getting a Specialized Turbo S for the commute, so I’m hoping that it will help.

I was thinking about taking the Matthew Hansen trail to NIH to the Capital Crescent Trail. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[sleeplatekate]

With an electric motor that hits 45 km/hr, it’s hard to believe you won’t just be cruising straight down Georgia Ave to 16th St. But for regular bike commuting from Aspen Hill/Wheaton, the last suggestion in Randyp’s post is super. To get to Grandview, cross under Connecticut Ave on the Matthew Henson trail, cross Randolph at the light on Dalewood Dr., and wind through the neighborhoods (…Henderson Ave) to Grandview. Good luck — I hope you find a nice route.

[jrenaut]

@sleeplatekate 92266 wrote:

With an electric motor that hits 45 km/hr, it’s hard to believe you won’t just be cruising straight down Georgia Ave to 16th St…

Pretty sure you’d get murdered by a commuter if you were only at 45 km/hr on 16th St. Even in a car that’s not safe.

When I was taking the kids to camp I did 16th on the sidewalk until Aspen (just south of Walter Reed) and then Aspen to 14th, which has a bike lane almost all the way downtown, and when it doesn’t is so heavily used by bikes that it’s about as safe as it gets. I’ve never really done north of Kalmia, though, so I can’t help with that part.

[Author]

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