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Need GPS route from Harrisonburg VA to Rally site

briana

New member
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
 
Harrisonburg, VA to Grey, TN

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
 
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
 
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
 
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?
 
Here's a suggestion that goes through West Virginia

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
 

Attachments

  • Brians_Route.zip
    40.6 KB · Views: 31
Here is how I would do it - you can break off in Saltville to 81 if you are running short in time :)

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

Brian
 
Harrisonburg to Grey

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.
 
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).
 
Don't forget about the cool fish hatchery in Paint Bank as well, a favorite stop of mine.
 
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?)
 
Its painfull, BUT;

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
 
(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.
 
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!
 
It is gravel into Burkes garden from Sharon Springs

Burkes Garden 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&t=h&ll=37.07093,-81.302948&spn=0.065744,0.109863&z=13&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=37.07093,-81.302948&spn=0.065744,0.109863&z=13&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>
 
Route 11

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.
 
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-



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.
 
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)
 
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