Atlantic Coast Route Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

Atlantic Coast Digital Route Set

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:24 +0000

From Bar Harbor, Maine, to Key West, Florida, the Atlantic Coast Route takes you through a region rich in history. It passes directly through Washington, D.C. and Richmond, and is linked with spurs to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston and Savannah.

*Note: These tracks include distances on ferries. Total mileage will differ from paper map mileage.

More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Section 1 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:24 +0000

Bar Harbor is located on Mount Desert Island near Acadia National Park. On Mount Desert Island, you’ll find some rugged hills and a considerable amount of recreational traffic in the summer months and during the fall color season. West of Freeport, the route heads inland on somewhat hilly, less-trafficked roads to avoid Portland, Maine, before looping back to the coast at Kennebunk. The route follows very quiet rural county roads from Exeter to the outskirts of Nashua, though traffic increases in and near towns. The 29-mile Boston Spur begins in Littleton, and provides access to the city center on a combination of busy thoroughfares and a the Minuteman Bikeway. The terrain of southern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and northern Connecticut is hillier. The majority of the route in Connecticut is quiet rural county roads except of the section into Windsor Locks, which has typical urban congestion. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Section 2 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:23 +0000

Western Connecticut is rural and quite hilly. As you enter New York, the roads are generally good and signing is adequate. Expect a moderate amount of traffic which increases as you approach towns. You’ll continue to encounter hills until reaching Hyde Park, in the Hudson River Valley. You’ll follow this rolling valley south to busy Poughkeepsie, and cross the Hudson River on the walkway over the Hudson pedestrian bridge. The route follows river valleys and crosses the Shawnagunk Mountains to Port Jervis at New York/New Jersey border. Here, you’ll begin to parallel the course of the Delaware River. Roads south of Delaware Water Gap through the remote Delaware Valley are narrow and poorly paved. You’ll cross the Delaware River for the final time in Lambertville, New Jersey, which is near Trenton. The route continues west from Lambertville into Conshohocken. The New York Spur traverses rural countryside until it reaches the suburbs of eastern New Jersey where you’ll encounter urban riding conditions. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Section 3 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:23 +0000

In Conshohocken, you’ll use the Schuylkill Trail, cross the Schuylkill River, and continue on a bike path through Valley Forge National Historic Park. You might see Amish horse drawn carriages on the quiet roads near Bowmansville. Hills in this area are not severe, but the country certainly isn’t flat. You’ll cross the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightville. In northern Maryland, there are a few short, steep descents; caution is advised because of the short sight distances. Nearing Baltimore, two route options are available. The main route skirts the city to the west, using county roads that are often hilly. The Chesapeake Bay Alternate through Baltimore avoids most of the heavy traffic north of the city. Entering Washington, D.C. the route uses the Rock Creek and the Capital Crescent trails. In Virginia, for the most part you’ll be riding on occasionally busy well-signed and well-surfaced network of county roads. The terrain is rolling, with a few steep hills. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Section 4 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:22 +0000

You can expect heavy traffic leaving Richmond, though for the remainder of the route in Virginia you will be on predominantly rural roads. These roads wander through tobacco and peanut fields over slightly rolling country. The route becomes more level in North Carolina. The beach access roads north of Wilmington will be busier during tourist season and on weekends. The Outer Banks Alternate is 78 miles longer than the main route. Wind is an important riding factor on the exposed Outer Banks. The inland route is more sheltered, and should be used during stormy weather. Click on enlargement for detail.

*Note: These tracks include distances on ferries. Total mileage will differ from paper map mileage.

More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Section 5 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:22 +0000

Wilmington has heavy recreational traffic along the beach south to Fort Fisher and the ferry crossing the mouth of Cape Fear River. From Shalotte the terrain is essentially flat and follows two-lane roads through farm country and small towns. These conditions continue into South Carolina. The spur into Charleston gets busy as you near the city. A narrow country bridge crosses the Savannah River into Georgia, where the route heads inland to skirt around Fort Stewart and Savannah. The terrain becomes slightly rolling. Statesboro access is easy and the section ends in downtown.Click on enlargement for detail.

*Note: These tracks include distances on ferries. Total mileage will differ from paper map mileage.

More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Section 6 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:21 +0000

The 59.5 mile Savannah spur begins in Register, Georgia, and parallels I-16, so expect local traffic on it. Traffic increases as you near downtown. The last half-mile of the route winds through three small squares in the historic district. The route south from Statesboro is rural and occasionally traverses pine plantations. A highlight of this section is the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Okefenokee Alternate. Expect urban riding conditions while skirting Jacksonville, Florida, and the string of beach comunities to the south. Roads in northern Florida have somewhat higher traffic levels than found in Georgia. The route ends in historic St. Augustine, FL. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Section 7 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:54:21 +0000

Starting in St. Augustine, the route is urban/suburban most of the way down the coast through Miami. SR A1A along the ocean is adjacent to multiple aquatic preserves and wildlife refuges. Opportunities to enjoy the beach are plentiful and the county parks often include such amenities as picnic tables, cold water, showers and toilets. South of Jupiter, campgrounds for tenting are almost nonexistent until south of Miami. On the road to Key West the roadways have generous shoulders, though we recommend using the bike paths. Bahia Honda State Park, north of Key West, offers multiple opportunities to enjoy and learn about the reef environment of the Keys. Choose from activities such as snorkeling, windsurfing and visiting the museum exhibits. To create a loop route from Key West, a ferry is available to Fort Myers where it is possible to join the Florida Connector map route and return to Fort Lauderdale. Space is limited on the ferries, so when you make your reservations, be sure to let them know in advance that you have a bike. Click on enlargement for detail.The 59.5 mile Savannah spur begins in Register, Georgia, and parallels I-16, so expect local traffic on it. Traffic increases as you near downtown. The last half-mile of the route winds through three small squares in the historic district. The route south from Statesboro is rural and occasionally traverses pine plantations. A highlight of this section is the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Okefenokee Alternate. Expect urban riding conditions while skirting Jacksonville, Florida, and the string of beach comunities to the south. Roads in northern Florida have somewhat higher traffic levels than found in Georgia. The route ends in historic St. Augustine, FL. Click on enlargement for detail. More information about this route is available here.

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Atlantic Coast Map Set

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:26 +0000

Adventure Cycling’s Atlantic Coast route, from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Key West, Florida, takes you through a region rich in history. The route passes directly through Washington, D.C. and Richmond, and is linked with spurs to Boston. New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston and Savannah. For more information on this route or to print out the most up to date addenda for these maps please click here.

*Note: These tracks include distances on ferries. Total mileage will differ from paper map mileage.

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Atlantic Coast Section 4

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:43:26 +0000

The route uses the Virginia Capital Trail from Richmond to Jamestown, where you'll cross the James River on a ferry. The remainder of the route in Virginia follows predominantly rural roads. These roads wander through tobacco and peanut fields over rolling countryside. The route becomes more level in North Carolina. The beach access roads north of Wilmington will be busier during tourist season and on weekends. The Outer Banks Alternate is 73.5 miles longer than the main route. Wind is an important riding factor on the exposed Outer Banks. The inland route is more sheltered, and should be used during stormy weather. Click on enlargement for detail.

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