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Hwy 220

D

david46

Guest
We are staying in Cumberland M.D. over night then heading southeast to pick-up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Is Hwy 220 between Cumberland and Warm Springs and Hwy 39 to Lexington in good shape at this time? Is it a worth while ride? Any feed back will help.

Thank you,
Dave.
 
It is one of my favorite roads - lots of rolling and gentle hills with long sweepers as it passes through valley after valley. If you are looking for tight mountain twisties you will be sorely dissapointed, if you want an exceedingly scenic and relaxing ride you are in for a treat.

The lower half of your time on 220, between 33 and 39, is definitely more interesting. Make sure to stop here in Warm Springs for a quick dip in the Jefferson Pools, incredibly refreshing especially after a several hot hours on a bike.

If I could make a suggestion, to mix things up a bit consider going just a bit out of your way by hitting 55/28 West out of Petersburg down to Rt. 33 in Seneca Rocks. That stretch of highway is a little touristy at times but it is one of the original West Virginia road cuts so the views are excellent and the road is quite interesting. In Seneca Rocks, a famous climbing destination, 55/28 joins up with Rt. 33 heading south - while this is a wide and new road, after you follow Rt. 33 back east after Rt. 28 breaks off in Riverton, the road is *exceedingly* twisty in a very nice banked sort of way, that climbs right over two mountain ridges. It is a lot of fun and the views from the pulloffs are spectacular. Rt. 33 crosses Rt. 220 in Franklin, where there is a great sandwich shop and hamburger place right next to the 7-11 that sells booze even on Sundays. Franklin is over 200 years old and from this point south there are lots of historical markers referencing the times when this region was an outpost on the frontier through its strategic value in the Civil War.

Some other favorites on 220...

The Highland Inn in Monterrey, a great old Hotel that is reasonable and motorcycle friendly.

Blue Grass Valley - a real gem hidden away, this scenic hop is always worth the short detour.
 
Highland Inn

The Highland Inn in Monterey, Virginia is an excellent place to stop for a night. The Richmond BMW Riders pretty much take the place over for a weekend every August. It doesn't get much better than sitting on their porch with a cold beverage or two, telling lies after a great day riding in the hills.

And, enjoy the run on 39 from Warm Springs to Lexington. The ride through Goshen Pass along the Maury River is one of the prettiest parts of Virginia. Fairly heavily travelled, and somewhat slow, but just sit back and enjoy the view.

Roy F

Some other favorites on 220...

The Highland Inn in Monterrey, a great old Hotel that is reasonable and motorcycle friendly.

Blue Grass Valley - a real gem hidden away, this scenic hop is always worth the short detour.
 
Rt. 39 is indeed an amazing road - and is in fact THE oldest road in the area. If you happen to be passing through Goshen in the evening and want to stop at an amazing B&B give Jeremy a call at the affordable yet seriously refined Hummingbird Inn. I would say "motorcycle friendly" is an understatement as he is an avid BMW rider, MOA & IBMWR member, and has a small collection of bikes in the back including an exceedingly nice R90S.
 
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