Routes from Upper Chevy Chase / Barnaby Woods to downtown (White House)

[cvcalhoun]

@Italian_Kayaker 186582 wrote:

Looking up bike commuting routes from Upper Chevy Chase / Barnaby Woods to downtown (White House).

Google Maps suggests taking Broad Branch Rd & Beach Drive to Penn Av. But I know that, during the week, you have to share Broad Branch Rd & Beach Drive above the zoo with cars. Any other options?

Would heading north to Bethesda and catching the CCT from there be crazy?

Longer, but not crazy. And some of the distance is made up for by the fact it’s a gentle downhill there and a gentle uphill on the way home, instead of having a lot of steep uphills and downhills. I personally avoid Beach Drive except on weekends when it is closed to cars.

If you use Google maps, I’d recommend setting it to go to AMC Georgetown 14. One of your alternatives will be via the Capital Crescent Trail. From there, you just continue on K Street up to where there is a fork, with the left side going down into a tunnel and the right side going up to Washington Circle. Take the right fork. From Washington Circle, you get off at Pennsylvania Avenue, and then it’s a straight shot to the White House.

[DCAKen]

I normally take Beach Drive on my way to work in Silver Spring, but with upper Beach Drive closed with the construction, I go through the Barnaby Woods neighborhood, on Western and Utah. Utah is a very quiet road, wide but with little traffic. My preferred route is Utah to 27th, then a short hop on Military (you can ride the sidewalk on this stretch) to Glover Road. Take this down to the start of the trail at Broad Branch. I only see a handful of cars on Glover each day.

[Crickey7]

@DCAKen 186644 wrote:

I normally take Beach Drive on my way to work in Silver Spring, but with upper Beach Drive closed with the construction, I go through the Barnaby Woods neighborhood, on Western and Utah. Utah is a very quiet road, wide but with little traffic. My preferred route is Utah to 27th, then a short hop on Military (you can ride the sidewalk on this stretch) to Glover Road. Take this down to the start of the trail at Broad Branch. I only see a handful of cars on Glover each day.

That way sounds fantastic, but if I understand it, you ride on Ridge Road right before hopping on the trail. A word of warning, Ridge Road heading North is quite the workout.

[Author]

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