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