I'm heading from Vermont to Raleigh, NC and I'm looking for a southwest passage through Pennsylvania. I want to stay off the superslab, especially I-81. Rte 220 gets me to West Virginia where I'm going to meander over to Front Royal and then south again. Is Rte 220 a good touring route through the Keystone State? Any recommendations for two laners that aren't through 30 MPH towns one right after another would be appreciated. We'll be coming into PA off NY Rte 30 through the Catskills and I want to enjoy some of the great two laners in WVA for a bit before heading for Virginia.
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Ooooops, my bad. I see where you wrote coming into PA at 30. You've got2 1/2 days. No problem.
The trick with PA is that you have to piece the state together. There's some GREAT roads there, that's for sure. I have heard from someone that 220 isn't that great below Williamsport. I have not taken that stretch of road, but he was convincing enough to talk me out of it. I did find another route that I absolutely loved. 522. It goes from about Selinsgrove down to Winchester, VA. Nice, nice, nice. Perfect most of the time for cruising, yet some stretches in there with some twisties as I remember.
So, getting to 522 from NY 30. My map is clear as mud, but I've traveled on 29, 487, 239,14, 414 and92all north of Wilkes-barre and west of Scranton. Most of that was really good, but you have to connect the dots, so to speak, which can eat serious time. Still, it's very doable and rewardingin you're allotted time. You can make up some time maybe on 80 for a mere 30 minutes if you have to.
Oh, and maybe for the trip home if you've got an extra 1/2 - 1day. You have GOT to ride 144 from Galeton to I-180 (well, backwards as you'll be going north.) One of the very best roads I've ever been on. During one stretch, I went 45 minutes without seeing my tailgunner....just 12 bikes back. Another gem to try to work in sometime is 219 through WVA. Really nice.
You doing 340 -> 250 -> 151 -> 29 into NC from Front Royal?
OK. So I'm changing my plan because I was also told to avoid Rte 220 in Clinton County because of road work. To get to 522 from 220, my map looks like I could get on I-180 south around Hughesville, hit 147 south in Milton to 45 west in Lewisburg and then take 104 from Miffinburg to 522 in Middleburg.
Once I get to Front Royal, I am planning on doing some BRP to around Lynchburg and then follow Rte 501 into NC.
We went north/south through WVA last summer and found some great roads including 219 and 119. Rte 150 (Highland Scenic Highway) between Rte 39 and 219 isn't twisty but it sure has some nice views.
Looks like a good trip. I hope it goes well! It looks like a good one.
I would suggest having an alternative route available in case the BRP is covered in fog/cloud. Quite possible for this time of year, and it's supposed to be a bit rainy off and on down here (Raleigh).
Maybe you can share your pre-220 route with us? I make the trek to the BF area every now and then, and more once my mother moves back there in a few years.
I gotta get packing but I can give you more detaila about out WVA trek later. GREAT ROADS! The link below is BluePotato's WVA trip report. I added my $.02 about five posts below his report.
Yup, I've taken some of those roads you mentioned. Good fun. I'm actually more interested in your Brattleboro to northeast PA and some of your connect the dot roads in NE PA. My Vermont destinations are Putney and Bellows Falls, so that's really close.I've not honed in on a direct-ish, but fun route from around Scranton to southern Vermont yet. I normally have to go to the Cooperstown, NYarea first.
Rte. 220 through the state to West Virginia is not a bad route. Most north/south roads above I-80 are two lane, country. I-81 and I-15, exceptions. I-15 from Rte.6 south is nice; fast through some pretty country. Williamsport gets some traffic.I-80 to 220 is nice. I-220 through the rest of state, especially south of Altoona, is fast , plenty food and gas, light to medium traffic. North Pa. has some beautiful country. Have a good ride.
How's Rte 220 Thru Pennsylvania???
