Travel without Interstates?
 

Hi,
I'm making the trip from Indiana to Washington DC in a few weeks, and am considering riding my motorcycle instead of driving my van. Partly because of gas prices, partly because it's more fun, and mostly just because I want to!
However, I am a fairly new rider, and am rather nervous about the prospect of riding on the interstates. Ok, I'm REALLY scared about riding on the interstates!
I'm sure I can get there by taking smaller highways, and I know I should just go buy an atlas and plan my trip that way, but do any of you know of a website that offers this type of travel planning? I'm a big mapquest fanatic and use it for everything, but they always take you the quickest route, which means interstate travel.
Any advice?
Thanks!
Jen

Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon is a good starting point. Be careful which ever road you take.

1) If you (or a family member or a friend who is willing) belong to AAA, ask for trip planing (called trip-tics?) using Scenic Routes. My DD & family are going from CT to Prince Edward Island on their motercycle & requested that type of route planning from AAA. It can be done on line.

2) Mapquest -- put in your starting address & finishing address (I would do it in segments based on either stopping for a meal or staying over in this or that town). Then when the directions come up, there is usually an option above them for "Avoid highways" -- select that option & the revised directions should omit interstates. I use that option 99% of the time when I need a route here in CT -- hate I92, I95, I84. Of course there are spots when you can't avoid these interstates, such as the bridge between New London & Mystic.

It certainly can be done. My sister & her husband just got back from a motorcycle trip between Chicago & SD region & they certainly didn't use any highways for that portion of the trip. Took the bike out via car/trailer so they did do the interstates between CT & Chicago.

Good luck & enjoy your ride.

I've not done the route you ask about, but I have driven and bicycled on sections of US40 in IN, IL and MD. Since it's called the "National Highway" and was once one of "the" routes to take before the interstates, I'd imagine it might be a good route to look at. I know it goes to Baltimore, not sure about DC. TELL US ABOUT THE TRIP AFTERWARDS?? Okay?

Mapquest can show you routes without using highways....but it will only do that if the trip is 50 miles or less....if you knew a point within 50 miles each leg, you could do it that way....but I'm sure there's an easier way.

Let me offer an observation about your proposed trip: You might very well be better off traveling the interstate.

The main hazard to motorcycle travel is other drivers not seeing you at intersections and driveways. It's romantic to consider traveling through small-town America, but it's loaded with potential accidents for bikers.

You folks must have better luck with Map
Quest than I. One time it routed through the middle of downtown Atlanta to get to Georgia Tech from the airport; there is an exit right at the university. Another time the directions it gave just weren't right. The street it used wasn't a through street. Just a couple weeks ago I used it for Des Moines Iowa to get to a hotel. Wrong exit off the interstate and we ended up in a parking lot. It's definitely not my favorite travel resource.

Bookhall, I agree with your statement of motorcyclists' greater risks: other vehicles, side-traffic, intersections, etc. BUT

Having done my share of motorcycling, I'm not a fan of the interstates either. At the higher speeds of interstates, while car-bike collisions are fewer, the results are MUCH more severe. I've had drivers totally "hynotized" not even see me and ride up my pipes, drivers who tried squeezing between me and the next occupied lane, and countless other incidents. I'd ride in a group on the interstates, or short local trips, but would do as Jenny5786 is considering for a lengthy trip.

You need to cross the Appalachian mountains on this trip. The older routes - US30, US40, and especially US50 - have pretty sharp curves, and are mostly 2 lanes. I think for a new rider they will be a lot more dangerous than I-68 or I-70. At least through the mountains.