Central PA to Lewes, DE

[Randy FJR]

Gotta head out there Saturday.  Any good route options or should I just make sure I get a good nights sleep so I don't bore myself to death?
Only good road I know between here and there is rt100 that runs along the creek outside of Wilmington.

[fjrSKI]

I don't know if there is a good way between here and there.
Rt 100 is too congested on the upper stretches to be much fun anymore.
Route 9 in Delaware is a backroad alternative to DE 1, but I have not traveled it lately.
No idea of surface or how congested it has become.

[Stromgewehr]

Route 9 in Delaware has lots of tar snakes at the northern end.  

[JReazor]

Depends on exactly where you're comming from and how far out of the way you want to go. I would probably come in to DE on either 896 or 273 (parts of 896 are more fun), cut over to 72 around Newark and take that to 9. None of those roads are great but they're better then Rt. 1.

[Randy FJR]

Great...thanks for the tips

[RBEmerson]

Rt 100 AKA Creek Road, later Montchanin Rd (all between PA 926 and DE 141, with a dogleg crossing at US1) is a gamble.  On a good day it's a hoot to ride, on a bad day it's enough to make you want to tease a fat kid with a piece of cake.  And you won't know what you'll get until you're there.  Saturday...?  The weekend wanderers (four wheeled and two wheeled [gas and pedal powered]) are probably out, rubbernecking.  

One possibility is to work over to PA 82 to 841 and follow whatever the MD route is (27-something) to 213 before angling off, after Elkton, towards sLower Delaware on some good Delmarva back roads.  'Course, doing this on a weekend will mean coping with clueless weekend traffic.  

[MK96xj]

If you have the time go through NJ's Pine Barrens down to Cape May and Ferry it over.

[kendenton]

If you have the time go through NJ's Pine Barrens down to Cape May and Ferry it over.

No offense, but that's *way* out of the way.  As a resident of southern New Jersey, I can firmly state he won't be missing much by skipping the ride from Philly area to Cape May.  The ferry experience is nice, but cruising down 47 (or any other backroad in the area) to get there is no great shakes.

[Doug Just Doug]

DE 9 is a fun enough ride -- watch for high winds on the Reedy Point Bridge over the D&C Canal, and deep water across the road in low-lying areas after heavy rains (usually posted).  

Keep in mind DE 9 is not the same as US 9, which runs to Lewes, and DE 9 and US 9 don't connect.  DE 9 runs from New Castle (near the Del. Mem. Bridge) to US 113 just south of Dover AFB.  US 113 then combines with DE 1 until just north of Milford, where it splits. You'd want to stay on DE 1, which you can ride to the intersection of US 9 outside of Lewes.  It's clear from reading the maps, but I've known several riders to get corn-fused by the 9s, including the authors of a certain published book of m/c routes.

[Mastros2]

If you have the time go through NJ's Pine Barrens down to Cape May and Ferry it over.

I agree...even if kendenton doesn't!  Haha.  Recently, I rode through Delaware and Southern NJ is better, imo.  Also, sorry Delaware residents, that state sucks traffic wise.  Although it's only 20 square miles, there is too much traffic.  

[rodon]

Gotta head out there Saturday.  Any good route options or should I just make sure I get a good nights sleep so I don't bore myself to death?
Only good road I know between here and there is rt100 that runs along the creek outside of Wilmington.

I live in that part of Delaware. There are some decent roads north of there into PA.
But if I were you, if you're coming from M'burg, I would stay on the west side of the Susquehanna for a bit. Make your way through York, then do 74 down to Peach Bottom (bonus side trip - the nuclear power station; there's a little park with a very convenient portajohn) Some nice twisties through the farmland too...
623 S then takes you to Route 1 near Darlington, where you go east across the Conowingo dam. Hang a right as soon as you get across the dam, and follow that road through Port Deposit. A really decent ride (watch the speed limit through town), some nice curves and elevation change up to the intersection with I-95. Take a fast blast (cleared for 90+) on I-95 E to the first exit @ North East, MD, where you go a short distance on 272 S to 40 East. Little traffic along there, but some occasionally heavy LEO presence; when you get to Elkton, hang a right on 213 S. Go across the bridge over the D&C canal at Chesapeake City, then head east on 286 to pick up 896/71/301 S. At that point, you want to make your way over to DE 1S, which is a fast blast through Dover and further south; or you can get on 9 S which someone already mentioned. There are tolls on DE 1, probably cost you $1.50 at the most.
Looks like a nice day for it, have fun! Lewes is a nice little town, my wife and I did our summer vacation there.

[Doug Just Doug]

Also, sorry Delaware residents, that state sucks traffic wise.  Although it's only 20 square miles, there is too much traffic.  

Don't worry, you ain't tellin' us something we don't already know.  The place was deserted when we moved here in '62.  Since I-95 went in, it's been a steady geometric progression with traffic.  Thankfully, I live about 4 minutes from both PA and MD, where I do 98% of my (non-commuting) riding.  

[Doug Just Doug]

I live in that part of Delaware. There are some decent roads north of there into PA.
But if I were you, if you're coming from M'burg, I would stay on the west side of the Susquehanna for a bit. Make your way through York, then do 74 down to Peach Bottom (bonus side trip - the nuclear power station; there's a little park with a very convenient portajohn) Some nice twisties through the farmland too...
623 S then takes you to Route 1 near Darlington, where you go east across the Conowingo dam. Hang a right as soon as you get across the dam, and follow that road through Port Deposit. A really decent ride (watch the speed limit through town), some nice curves and elevation change up to the intersection with I-95. Take a fast blast (cleared for 90+) on I-95 E to the first exit @ North East, MD, where you go a short distance on 272 S to 40 East. Little traffic along there, but some occasionally heavy LEO presence; when you get to Elkton, hang a right on 213 S. Go across the bridge over the D&C canal at Chesapeake City, then head east on 286 to pick up 896/71/301 S. At that point, you want to make your way over to DE 1S, which is a fast blast through Dover and further south; or you can get on 9 S which someone already mentioned. There are tolls on DE 1, probably cost you $1.50 at the most.
Looks like a nice day for it, have fun! Lewes is a nice little town, my wife and I did our summer vacation there.

Yeah, PA 623 is a nice little road, as is that road to Port Deposit (MD 222).  I have a favorite loop from Newark that runs across the Susq. R. and north along the west bank that's pretty much what Rodon said, but in reverse. Hey Rodon (or anyone else) I have a backroads route to get you from Port Deposit to Elkton/MD 213 without having to use I-95 or US 40.  PM or email me and I can email my route chart in Word format.

[RBEmerson]

It's the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, folks, C & D.

Pedantically yours,
RBEmerson  

[Doug Just Doug]

It's the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, folks, C & D.

Pedantically yours,
RBEmerson  

DOH!

[doylejj]

OT but I notice Doug lives in Newark,  Rodon in Hockessin, and I'm in Landenberg.  Meet up sometime?

[Randy FJR]

I appreciate all of the feedback, fellaz.  I was loaded up and ready to go when I showed up at my buddy's house and his $30K Screamin' Eagle Softail had an electrical meltdown.  surprise surprise surprise.  So, loaded up the car and slabbed it to DE.  

[Doug Just Doug]

OT but I notice Doug lives in Newark,  Rodon in Hockessin, and I'm in Landenberg.  Meet up sometime?

Sure, we could do that.  And it looks like you've got enough bikes for all of us!  

[doylejj]

Sure, we could do that.  And it looks like you've got enough bikes for all of us!  

Just a partial listing, actually.  It's a sickness.