Quiet roads in US
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Quiet roads in US
Hi, I road cycle but live near philadelphia pennsylvania. Theres little to no quiet roads around my area, but I want to take a road trip to a state or multiple states and ride accross quiet rual countryside roads, does anyone have any reccomendations to where I ahould go to, I dont want to be biking on trails but rather roads that have little to no traffic. Thank you!
#2
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Unless you just want to take a road trip, there are plenty of nice quiet roads north of Philly. I live 55 miles north of Philly and I always ride about a 50 mile circumference from there.
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Try the Natchez Trace Parkway. End to end it's about 444 miles. B&B's, hotels and camping off the Trace available near by. Some or all camp areas on the Trace itself may be closed for Covid so check with the Park Rangers.
https://www.scenictrace.com/why-you-...trace-parkway/
https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/b...the-trace.html
There are only a couple areas where you have to worry about heavy motor traffic. One of them being around me in the Jackson MS area. From just NE of Ridgeland to SW of Clinton during morning, noon and evening motorist going to and from work, it's quite busy. But a 11 mile long bike trail paralleling it will let you bypass some of the worst part. But if you time it to miss the rush hours, it's not bad then.
How far you wanting to go? I know you said you didn't want trails, but there are rails to trails routes that are fairly nice and scenic too. And they are just about long enough (40 and some odd miles) for a decent slow day of traveling. Two are in my state and I've seen some others elsewhere that look interesting.
Tanglefoot Trail
https://www.longleaftrace.org/
Being old railroads, they don't have any hills to even consider hills. Just a 1.5 to maybe 2 % steady grade.
https://www.scenictrace.com/why-you-...trace-parkway/
https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/b...the-trace.html
There are only a couple areas where you have to worry about heavy motor traffic. One of them being around me in the Jackson MS area. From just NE of Ridgeland to SW of Clinton during morning, noon and evening motorist going to and from work, it's quite busy. But a 11 mile long bike trail paralleling it will let you bypass some of the worst part. But if you time it to miss the rush hours, it's not bad then.
How far you wanting to go? I know you said you didn't want trails, but there are rails to trails routes that are fairly nice and scenic too. And they are just about long enough (40 and some odd miles) for a decent slow day of traveling. Two are in my state and I've seen some others elsewhere that look interesting.
Tanglefoot Trail
https://www.longleaftrace.org/
Being old railroads, they don't have any hills to even consider hills. Just a 1.5 to maybe 2 % steady grade.
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Hunterdon & Warren Counties in NJ.
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Another vote for the Natchez Trace. No commercial traffic, low speed limits, excellent pavement. On Saturday mornings you'll see more cyclists than you will cars. The northern terminus is about 10 miles from my house. There are plenty of opportunities to ride back country roads too. If you plan a trip down this way I can give you some good routes.
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Hi, I road cycle but live near philadelphia pennsylvania. Theres little to no quiet roads around my area, but I want to take a road trip to a state or multiple states and ride accross quiet rual countryside roads, does anyone have any reccomendations to where I ahould go to, I dont want to be biking on trails but rather roads that have little to no traffic. Thank you!
my cycling as a decades-long, year-round commuter and occasional centurian in Metro Boston ranges from dense urban, to suburban, to exurban, but no rural. I'm goal-oriented, be it miles or destinations, so I take the Road as it comes, to satisfy my Goal.
Over the years, I have described roads, so for this post I compiled my descriptions in order of cycling pleasure (paved roads only):
Over the years, I have described roads, so for this post I compiled my descriptions in order of cycling pleasure (paved roads only):
- Enchanted
- Exurban (no residences, no commercial buildings)
- Residential: Urban (dense, multi-unit dwellings), Suburban (single unattached homes)
- Light commercial (storefronts close to the sidewalk, street parking)
- Heavy commercial (shopping malls, driveway accesses, parking lots)
- Industrial: (dreary vistas, rough roads, debris-strewn)
For some generalities, my favorite map is the AAA road map of metropolitan Boston [and other cities]. The size is large enough to plan century rides, yet the scale is small enough to find excellent cycling roads nicely defined by the road color and weight of the line.
#11
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Hi, I road cycle but live near philadelphia pennsylvania. Theres little to no quiet roads around my area, but I want to take a road trip to a state or multiple states and ride accross quiet rual countryside roads, does anyone have any reccomendations to where I ahould go to, I dont want to be biking on trails but rather roads that have little to no traffic. Thank you!
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This is a beautiful area to ride! In addition to the quiet roads, this area also has quite an extensive system of paved trails that are primarily built for cyclists.
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Anywhere around the Twin Cities but out of the city. We have more gravel roads and paved quiet country roads than almost any place I’ve been. Western Wisconsin is also another good place. Back in the day, roads were paved and kept very smooth so dairy farmers bottles didn’t clink together and chip. So there is a lot of lightly traveled pavement that is very smooth. We’ve cycled in far Northern Wisconsin a lot and we’re always impressed with the smooth roads and virtually no traffic. Try Boulder Junction, Presque Isle, Manitorwish Waters area - many many roads with no cars.
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Wisconsin has paved roads due to the dairy industry. The unpaved roads over in MN/IA are also fun, though.
#15
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I’m not far from either of you and agree that it is quite easy to find quiet roads to ride, especially if you are willing to drive 20-30 minutes. Drive from Philly to West Chester. Start riding on 162 and just head west. You’ll quickly be surrounded by nothing at which point you can head any direction for more of the same. Be prepared to climb lots of short but steep hills.
#16
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Check out the East Coast Greenway. I know only a minuscule part of it, but it looks like it may be very ggod. They were planning an NYC-Phily ride for 2020, but something interfered with it. https://www.greenway.org/
#17
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There are also signed bike routes that bisect PA: https://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/R...le-Routes.aspx
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Hi, I road cycle but live near philadelphia pennsylvania. Theres little to no quiet roads around my area, but I want to take a road trip to a state or multiple states and ride accross quiet rual countryside roads, does anyone have any reccomendations to where I ahould go to, I dont want to be biking on trails but rather roads that have little to no traffic. Thank you!
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You can thank the dairy lobby for that. Dairy farmers need to get their milk out while its fresh, all year 'round, regardless of weather or anything else. So almost all the secondary roads in Wisconsin are paved (far northern Wisconsin is a notable exception). Makes for nice, low traffic riding.
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There are also signed bike routes that bisect PA: https://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/R...le-Routes.aspx
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I have no idea about the area you live in, but , in Southern California the traffic and noise can be overwhelming. I live in the eastern part of Ventura county which is , for now, agriculture. Miles of citrus(smells great) and some avocados , flowers , and veggies. Then I have a few miles of city to get to the beach area. After cruising about 8 or 9 miles through the ag land the city riding is cool, especially old downtown. I think finding a ride that has a balance of both is optimum . I feel blessed to live where I have that.
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Hi, I road cycle but live near philadelphia pennsylvania. Theres little to no quiet roads around my area, but I want to take a road trip to a state or multiple states and ride accross quiet rual countryside roads, does anyone have any reccomendations to where I ahould go to, I dont want to be biking on trails but rather roads that have little to no traffic. Thank you!
Check out State College, PA.