trip advice
Cruiser
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 247
Likes: 101
From: Texas Panhandle
Head west to Davenport then do the River Run south to New Orleans. Back north on the Natchez Trace to Nashville. Spend a day or two in music city then head up to Louisville and do some of the bourbon trail and back to Chicago. Good eats and lots of history on the River Run.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 592
From: Philly PA
Some great ideas. I've been through many of those areas and it would be hard to go wrong.
I will say if you go to Kentucky/Tennessee area traffic will be heavier than going out west. Going west tends to be warmer especially if going southwest but there is less population than eastern states so traffic will be less. Another thing to consider is road construction. Are there major construction projects that could get in the way? I know I-90 headed west had lots of construction a few years ago and was one lane each direction for 20-30 miles or more. Just an example as I have no idea if that is still an issue in that area
One thought would be to plan for either and make the call a week or so out when you see what the weather looks like. As long as you are not near any tourist areas you should not have difficulty in making room reservations.
I will say if you go to Kentucky/Tennessee area traffic will be heavier than going out west. Going west tends to be warmer especially if going southwest but there is less population than eastern states so traffic will be less. Another thing to consider is road construction. Are there major construction projects that could get in the way? I know I-90 headed west had lots of construction a few years ago and was one lane each direction for 20-30 miles or more. Just an example as I have no idea if that is still an issue in that area
One thought would be to plan for either and make the call a week or so out when you see what the weather looks like. As long as you are not near any tourist areas you should not have difficulty in making room reservations.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
Check out the Claw of the Dragon near Wytheville, Va. Within a couple days ride from Chicago. Good selection of lodging, restaurants, etc. Great riding in all directions from home base in Wytheville.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 152
Likes: 33
From: Mich.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Lots to go over and try and figure out. Sounds like 1 trip may not be enough to see it all. Which I love areas like that. Have dome 3 trips across the UP of Michigan and still not seen everything there is to see. Thanks again for all the suggestions.
Ozzy
Ozzy
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 131
From: Central Texas area
Chicago To Nashville, then down to Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, over to Telico Plains and ride Cheraholla Skyway, over to and up the Dragon, back down Dragon and Moonshiner 28, over to Cherokee and Over the Smokey Mountain Park into Pigeon Forge, then Maggie Valley and over to the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC and then continue on...
https://*******/maps/hsiEPr5D6YS2
https://*******/maps/hsiEPr5D6YS2
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 604
From: Michigan
Blue Ridge Parkway either north to south or vise versa. Lots of great riding in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Another suggestion is to Maine, great riding in upstate NY, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 270
From: Wellsboro, PA
Another idea for a loop. Great riding in northwestern PA, and lots of cool things to stop & see. I discovered WV a few years ago, and ride down there at least once a summer. I love WV. Beautiful scenery, things to do, and not a straight road in the whole state. Spend a day or 2 in northwestern PA, ride to WV for a few days, explore eastern KY a little, and head back up to Chicago from there. I've been from Louisville KY to WV in the car, and eastern KY looks like it could be nice country for a ride. If interested, I can give you northwestern PA things to stop & see, as well as restaurants & places to stay. A few in WV too, but there are some WV guys on here that probably know more about rides down there than I do.
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