Mid-Atlantic: Excellent Roads Bucket List
 

After some pressure, I have finally decided to go ahead and try to catalog some of the best roads in the Mid A region.

I've tried to come up with a little format for the info that i'll try to keep consistent. If anyone else posts a review, maybe you could also follow the format to help this thread.

The Idea is to show the area's great roads so other members can decide to go out and experience them for themselves...

thanks for reading! here goes:

:driving:

Top Picks

Lime Kiln Road - (West to East) maybe the best on the list, also relatively close to civilization
River Road - (North to South) maybe the number one spot, just a little farther away.
Free State Road - (North to South) keep your eyes on the road, not the scenery.
Skyline Drive (North) - either direction. Can't beat the scenery.
Hume Road (West) - (West to East) really fun.

Lime Kiln Road
Loudoun County

map: W Lime Kiln Rd/State Route 733 to E Lime Kiln Rd/State Route 733 - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 6 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: No
Posted speed Limit: 30
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: A fun road right next to Goose Creek. It has a couple blind turns, and you need to be careful about taking up too much of the road around these since there is the off chance that another vehicle will be there and the road is basically wide enough but not too wide.

It is scenic, and filled with curves... fun to drive in either direction, but i tend to do it from west to east.

This first vid is West to East


and this one is East to West (Yes this road is that fun)

River Road
Loudoun County

map: VA-7 W/Harry Byrd Hwy to Mt Carmel Rd/State Route 606 - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 10 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 35 - 45
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: A gorgeous scenic road that follows the Shenandoah river for about 4 miles before winding through the mountain down to route 50. I like to run this one from North to South so you get to be directly next to the river.



here is River Road from South to North... this is really a great road.

Leeds Manor Road (North)
Fauquier County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Co...sz=15&t=h&z=13

Distance: ~ 6.5 miles
Road Condition: Very Good
Lined: No
Posted speed Limit: 25-35
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: This is a beautiful road that is marked as a Virginia Scenic Byway. In the summer, you can stop at the Peach orchards nearby and pick your own fruit.

Leeds Manor Road (South)
Fauquier County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Po...sz=13&t=h&z=13

Distance: ~ 5.5 miles (to Hume), ~9 miles to Crest Hill Road (<- also a nice road)
Road Condition: Rough in spots
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 25-35
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Moderate

Comments: A continuation of the Scenic Byway. There seems to be a bit more traffic on this portion of the road - still gorgeous.

Hume Road (West)
Fauquier County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Co...sz=14&t=h&z=14

Distance: ~ 7 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: No
Posted speed Limit: 25-35-45
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: A fun curvy road - you should pay respect when passing through Hume itself and keep the speeds very low. This segment is full of great turns and beautiful scenery. Also on the Western end of Hume Road, you will find a nice Winery.

Hume Road (East)
Fauquier County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Co...sz=14&t=h&z=14

Distance: ~ 4 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 35-45
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: A fun farm road - you should pay respect when passing through Hume itself and keep the speeds very low. This segment is straighter, but has a fun rollercoaster with a series of up and downs that you need to watch or you may bottom out at higher speeds. Also, full of beautiful scenery.

Skyline Drive (North Section)

map: Skyline Dr to Unknown road - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 30 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 35
Speed Enforcement: high
Traffic: light to heavy (depending on time of year)

Comments: Stunning scenery. Heavily enforced speed limits. Still worth the visit. Check out this thread for a review of one of our cruises there.

http://www.jinsonchan.com/hello/24/1...Park_098.1.jpg

Rt 211 (Between Luray and Sperryville)
Page County

map: US-211 E to Hopewell Ln - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 11 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 25 - 35
Speed Enforcement: high
Traffic: light to moderate (depending on time of year)

Comments: Stunning scenery. A super curvy and steep mountain road. It has big signs about motorcycle safety - apparently many accidents on this stretch - sure to get the adrenaline pumping. Stop at the little shops at the bottom near Sperryville for fresh picked fruit or local honey and crafts.

Rectortown Road
Fauquier County

map: Co Rd 710/Rectortown Rd to Co Rd 710/Rectortown Rd - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 6 miles
Road Condition: Very Good
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 25 - 35
Speed Enforcement: moderate
Traffic: light

Comments: A very scenic road with great views of Virginia farmland and the Blueridge mountains off to the West. This road is not for speed, it is for scenery - respect the 25 mph in Rectortown itself, it's a quiet little town with houses right off the road... also, beware the Railroad tracks crossing on the south end, it is bumpy.


updated video on 10/23/11

Foxcroft Road
Loudoun County

map: N Madison St to Foxcroft Rd/State Route 626 - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 3.5 miles
Road Condition: Good - somewhat narrow
Lined: No (Mostly)
Posted speed Limit: 35
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: light

Comments: Stunning scenery. A super curvy road.

In this vid I got stuck behind Grandma... (until about 6:20 when traffic clears)


Another run (without grandma this time)

Blueridge Mountain Road
Clarke County, Loudoun County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Bl...sz=13&t=h&z=13

Distance: ~ 10.5 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 35-45
Speed Enforcement: low - moderate (saw LEO once)
Traffic: Light

Comments: On top of the mountain - watch out for Bambi. Also, drive by the Mount Weather facility. My favorite way is to run this one North to South.

Running South to North (not my favorite - but still beautiful)


Mount Weather

Rokeby Road
Fauquier County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Co...sz=15&t=h&z=14

Distance: ~ 3.5 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: No
Posted speed Limit: ? (I don't think there is any sign)
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: Nice farm road with panoramic views to the mountains and some great farmland. Almost no curves - pretty easy to open it up.

Running South to North

Zulla Road
Fauquier County / Loudoun County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Co...sz=15&t=h&z=12

Distance: ~ 7.5 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 45
Speed Enforcement: Moderate - notice smokey at 0:16 on the left. this is mostly around the ends of the road (near the towns)
Traffic: Light

Comments: Wide, gently curving road with very nice scenery

Lovettsville Road
Northern Loudoun County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=VA...sz=14&t=h&z=15

Distance: ~ 3.5 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 45
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: Wide, gently curving road with very nice scenery

Free State Road
Fauquier County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Ad...via=1&t=h&z=14

Distance: ~ 6.5 miles
Road Condition: Very Good
Lined: No
Posted speed Limit: 35
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: Another absolutely gorgeous scenic road. Winding through beautiful woods, and pop out onto a jaw dropping mountain vista... superb.

updated (day after scrubbed Spooktacular Cruise - perfect day for a drive)...

Thanks for doing this Randy. :tup:

You da man Randy!

:iagree::tup:

Charlestown Pike (RT 9)
Loudoun County / Jefferson County WV

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Ch...sz=13&t=h&z=13

Distance: ~ 11.5 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 35 - 55
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Moderate

Comments: A gorgeous scenic road that cuts across the mountains and into West Virginia. Gorgeous panoramic views and fun curves...

Taylorstown Road
Loudoun County

map: US-15 N/James Monroe Hwy to State Route 663/State Route 665/Taylorstown Rd - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 4.5 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes (Mostly)
Posted speed Limit: 30 - 45
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light

Comments: A nice back road that cuts through the foothills. Fun and moderately curvy.

Great job! Maybe you could add city/state info there to help people find what's closest to them.

Good idea... not alot of 'City' here.. but i'll do something...

No problem. Brian (brian0128) has a thread with a bunch of these roads as well, but no videos.

Doh! i feel like a heel... sorry to Brian :icon14: i can move posts one way or the other... (I did search for this kind of thread too - just didn't find any)

Brian had the great idea to include the County... I'll go back and do that.

Here is the other thread for reference
http://www.the370z.com/mid-atlantic-...-maryland.html

Beckleysville Road (Pretty Boy Reservoir)
Baltimore County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Be...h&z=13&vpsrc=6

Distance: ~ 11 miles
Road Condition:
Lined: No
Posted speed Limit:
Speed Enforcement:
Traffic:

Comments: There is a 5 mile long section on Spooks Hill Road that is very curvy. There are no lines, it's similar to the road that cuts through Loch Raven. Really fun to drive if there is no traffic, but it's a great way to cut over to Falls Rd and scenic.

York Road
Baltimore County North

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=MD...h&z=11&vpsrc=6

Distance: ~ 18 miles
Road Condition:
Lined:
Posted speed Limit:
Speed Enforcement:
Traffic: Moderate

Comments: Good road with some curves. A few areas to pull off to wait for other cars. A little crowded once you're south of the Hunt Valley area and there is stop and you will hit red lights closer to town. Take I-83N to Shawan Road exit, go right and turn left onto York Road N. It will be a nice drive up to the PA line. This is part of the route we used on the Mid Atlantic Cruse.

Black Rock Road
Baltimore / Carrol County

map: MD-88 E/Black Rock Rd to Blackrock Rd/MD-88 - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 8 miles
Road Condition:
Lined:
Posted speed Limit:
Speed Enforcement:
Traffic:

Comments: This drive is short but nice to hit up if your already on Falls Road. It's got small hills, sweeping turns and a few small semi - twisty bits.

St Stephens Church Road
Anne Arundel / Calvert County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=St...h&z=11&vpsrc=6

Distance: ~ 39 miles
Road Condition:
Lined:
Posted speed Limit:
Speed Enforcement:
Traffic:

Comments: A bunch of different roads linked together to get down to North Beach. Quite a few stop signs, but it's a nice drive.

Burkittsville Road
Frederick County

map: MD-153/MD-17/Wolfsville Rd to Burkittsville Rd/Petersville Rd - Google Maps

Distance: ~ 31 miles
Road Condition:
Lined:
Posted speed Limit:
Speed Enforcement:
Traffic:

Comments: Either direction traveled will be satisfying. This scenic route will take you through several small towns ( One of these small towns is Burkittsville, MD - home of 'the Blair Witch) providing where you can stop for food or gas. The road has sweeping turns and straightaways as well as limited stop signs and various speed limits allow for a fun drive. Link it to Route 77 for a longer drive

Randy, you've driven all these roads? Thats a whole lotta driving..:driving::tup:

Yeah... i did 5 hours today :) several I did before I had the camera.. so now I have a mini mission to go back and grab dash cam views of the rest. (The reservoir was on shado's cruise - awesome) - also, there are plenty that don't make the cut... these are in general the best roads I can find - I typically run them each direction too - to see which is better :)

Nice! You are the man..:tup:

Great job, Randy. you are the man x2!

Crest Hill Road
Fauquier County

map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Cr...a=mrv&t=h&z=12

Distance: ~ 16.5 miles
Road Condition: Excellent
Lined: Yes
Posted speed Limit: 45
Speed Enforcement: low
Traffic: Light - Moderate

Comments: Crest Hill is aslightly more mainstream road than the rest in this neighborhood... but still a great connector, and very pretty.

I like this thread already! Getting ready to head down to Skyline drive on Thursday to check out the leaves.

Nice... take pics and a video if you can.:tup:

I wasn't able to go on Thursday. The gf and I are going to go in the morning. Drive out and get breakfast on the way. Might even see some flurries!

awesome job randy. Do you have any rating system? I'd like to run your top 10

I'll add my very favorites on the first post - good idea...
Also, happy to have anyone else contribute their favorites...