Overnight trips by bike leaving from DC or metro?

[claudiaindc]

Does anyone have ideas for a weekend trip 100% by bike, leaving from DC or from metro/bus?

Ones already on my list are the WO&D to Leesburg or Purcellville, C&O to Harpers Ferry, and Annapolis (leaving from the Metro bus to BWI, taking the BWI and Baltimore & Annapolis trails).

The ideal parameters would be riding on bike paths and/or relatively bicycle-friendly roads; between 20 and 60 miles one-way; overnight in an area different from the city, preferably with a little history, sites, or landscapes; and ability to stay in a hotel (versus camping). However, I’m curious to hear ideas that don’t fit all these parameters.

Topic

[Rod Smith]

I’ve been riding to Baltimore with alarming frequency lately. It’s a nice ride, less than 45 miles each way.

[Justin Antos]

If you do W&OD to Leesburg, I strongly recommend the Norris House Inn – very bike-friendly, right in downtown Leesburg, and they have secure covered bike parking too.

[Mikey]

If you are interested in camping, there are a few nice options. Swain’s lock on the C&O is always popular, My wife, the boys and I are planning a trip from our home in Fairfax out to either lake Fairfax, park, Burke Lake Park, or Bull Run Park. Prince William Park is also supposed to be nice. All of these could be reached on a Friday afternoon/evening.

[Dirt]

It is a little longer than a single overnight, but I’d really love to head down the Northern Neck of Virginia on Adventure Cycling Association’s Tidewater Potomac Route:

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/tidewater-potomac/

I’d love to add a little trip over to Smith Island and maybe the Eastern Shore.

Pete

[americancyclo]

@Mikey 51807 wrote:

If you are interested in camping, there are a few nice options. Swain’s lock on the C&O is always popular, My wife, the boys and I are planning a trip from our home in Fairfax out to either lake Fairfax, park, Burke Lake Park, or Bull Run Park. Prince William Park is also supposed to be nice. All of these could be reached on a Friday afternoon/evening.

Heading out to Burke Lake Park this weekend for camping. Any suggestions for routes from Falls Church that aren’t too congested? I’d like to ride on part of the CCT and would prefer to avoid the sidewalk riding on Braddock.

[ShawnoftheDread]

You could pick up the CCT in Wakefield Park and take that to the Fairfax County Parkway Trail.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Shreve+Road,+Falls+Church,+VA&daddr=38.803078,-77.220884+to:Burke+Lake+Park,+Ox+Road,+Fairfax+Station,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.795035,-77.246075&spn=0.104491,0.153637&sll=38.808948,-77.245388&sspn=0.104471,0.153637&geocode=FQpgUQIdj-Fl-yk_dpv0N0u2iTEKaiP0ZXiSeg%3BFYYWUAId7LNl-ylbwzTTFE22iTGHT0hGsp7gOA%3BFYNxTwIdg3hk-yGu9uwY7lARhinVIpUrkFG2iTGu9uwY7lARhg&oq=Burke+Lake&t=h&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1&z=13&lci=bike

[ShawnoftheDread]

Or you could ride through Vienna and Fairfax and take Ox Road to the park.

[americancyclo]

@ShawnoftheDread 87270 wrote:

You could pick up the CCT in Wakefield Park and take that to the Fairfax County Parkway Trail.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Shreve+Road,+Falls+Church,+VA&daddr=38.803078,-77.220884+to:Burke+Lake+Park,+Ox+Road,+Fairfax+Station,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.795035,-77.246075&spn=0.104491,0.153637&sll=38.808948,-77.245388&sspn=0.104471,0.153637&geocode=FQpgUQIdj-Fl-yk_dpv0N0u2iTEKaiP0ZXiSeg%3BFYYWUAId7LNl-ylbwzTTFE22iTGHT0hGsp7gOA%3BFYNxTwIdg3hk-yGu9uwY7lARhinVIpUrkFG2iTGu9uwY7lARhg&oq=Burke+Lake&t=h&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1&z=13&lci=bike

How’s riding on the FFX Cty parkway path? enjoyable at all?

[jrenaut]

Not exactly bike-related, but vrbo.com is a great hotel alternative, especially in places that are off the beaten path.

[mstone]

@americancyclo 87276 wrote:

How’s riding on the FFX Cty parkway path? enjoyable at all?

it’s utilitarian

[ShawnoftheDread]

@mstone 87284 wrote:

it’s utilitarian

This.

[mstone]

@americancyclo 87258 wrote:

Heading out to Burke Lake Park this weekend for camping. Any suggestions for routes from Falls Church that aren’t too congested? I’d like to ride on part of the CCT and would prefer to avoid the sidewalk riding on Braddock.

If you want to do the CCT, just take it straight down to the franconia/fairfax county parkway trail and go in the northeast side of burke lake. From Falls Church I’d probably take the W&OD to Tapawingo, through the bottom of nottoway park, etc.

[americancyclo]

Any opinions on this route? I cut through some of the neighborhoods to avoid the FFX trail
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4909923

[ShawnoftheDread]

That looks fine. You can stay in the neighborhoods instead of going over to Annandale rd if you prefer. There’s a very steep but short section of trail on the CCT just as you pass accotink dam that you should be aware of if you’ll have a heavy load. And the section through Hidden Pond is primarily a walking trail I think.

[lordofthemark]

@americancyclo 87310 wrote:

Any opinions on this route? I cut through some of the neighborhoods to avoid the FFX trail
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4909923

You could get off the W&OD at Gallows, take the bike lanes down to Dunn Loring, use Merrilee to get to Mosaic, then head down to Inova Hospital via Williams and Willow Oaks Corp Drive (some fun hills there) navigate the unfun part of Woodburn from Wellness (!) to Holly, then Holly to King Arthur to the CCT.

Or as alt to Annandale road you could go through Fairview Park (not sure the best way there from the W&OD – I’ve only done the side path rte 29 bridge to Merrifield going north from there) down through neighorhood streets to Lafayetter Village to Hummer and LRT. But most would prefer Annandale Rd (the S exit from Fairview park involves a staircase)

If you do take any route to Hummer and LRT I would suggest taking the side path across the beltway on the Southside of LRT, to the connection to the CCT, rather than taking Americana to the footbridge to Wakefield Park. Unless you really like hills, and winding among tennis courts with lots of pedestrians.

[Author]

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