Multi Day WV Trip - Need help with overnight stays

[NH YZF]

I'm planning an early October WV run from Concord, NH.  Right now, I'm looking at:
Day 1 - NH to Harrisonburg VA
Day 2 - Harrisonburg to Marlinton
Day 3 - Day trip from Marlinton (staying two nights)
Day 4 - Marlinton to Elkins
Day 5 - Elkins to Strasburg, VA
Day 6 - Strasburg VA back to Concord NH

My original plan was to do a big loop of the state. Does the above get me close to most of the "must ride" roads?  Should I spend one night in Marlinton and get out towards the OH border?  Once I get my overnights planned I will fill in the roads that link them.  Any comments?  
Thanks,

Jay

[garry]

There is some fine riding west of route 219 that you want to include. You might be able to hit that all on your day ride from Marlinton. The sections to not miss are:

20 between Webster Springs and French Creek
16 between 33/199 and 50
15 west of 20 (east of 20 isn't half bad either, but bumpier and a little dirtier)
60 just west of Rainelle is very good and west of Hawks Nest too.
74 is very good too if you're in the Harrisville, Pennsville, Pullman area.

Southeast Ohio is pretty close and worth a day for sure.

Don't forget about routes 39 and 250 in Virginia. Both are excellent.

[maddjack]

I'm planning an early October WV run from Concord, NH.  Right now, I'm looking at:
Day 1 - NH to Harrisonburg VA
Day 2 - Harrisonburg to Marlinton
Day 3 - Day trip from Marlinton (staying two nights)
Day 4 - Marlinton to Elkins
Day 5 - Elkins to Strasburg, VA
Day 6 - Strasburg VA back to Concord NH

My original plan was to do a big loop of the state. Does the above get me close to most of the "must ride" roads?  Should I spend one night in Marlinton and get out towards the OH border?  Once I get my overnights planned I will fill in the roads that link them.  Any comments?  
Thanks,

Jay

would ride out of Marlinton and head west, to the parkersburg area , some of the tastyest roads are around there (hint north bend SP Cairo WV)Rt16, 47, 74 are some of the best, google earth those baby's .We had a Euro rider fest there and MSTA had an event just over the river in Marietta Ohio and rode a lot of the same stuff.heck 31 going past the SP to Harrisville is a good ride

[NH YZF]

 would ride out of Marlinton and head west, to the parkersburg area , some of the tastyest roads are around there (hint north bend SP Cairo WV)Rt16, 47, 74 are some of the best, google earth those baby's .We had a Euro rider fest there and MSTA had an event just over the river in Marietta Ohio and rode a lot of the same stuff.heck 31 going past the SP to Harrisville is a good ride

You think I am too far east to hit the good roads?  I want to remove my peg feelers on my weestrom on this trip!

[garry]

There are great roads all over the state. The trick is to highlight where the awesome sections of each road are and then figure out how to link them all together. No road in WV is awesome for more than 10 miles or so at a shot. You have big fun going over a mountain, then mellow in the valley, go over another mountain, etc.

Be sure to include southeast Ohio if you want consistently tight, blind riding. The best stuff in WV tends to be faster and more flowing. If you like roads where 45 MPH feels fast, then include at least a half day in southeast Ohio.

[maddjack]

You think I am too far east to hit the good roads?  I want to remove my peg feelers on my weestrom on this trip!

Not really but you could include much more if you kept moving and did a "tour de State"

[garry]

Personally, I think you could ride almost all of the classic WV (and western VA) roads in a big 3 day loop.

[oldclarkinn]

Can't go wrong on most any road in the Marlinton area. People often spend multiple days in the area going out in a different direction every day. You are welcome to contact me for maps, tips, directions or restaurant options. I live, work, and ride here. If just passing thru Stop by one of us is usually here.
Nelson at the Old Clark Inn

[maddjack]

Personally, I think you could ride almost all of the classic WV (and western VA) roads in a big 3 day loop.

thats my thinking too

[ST-DocLizard1]

Can't go wrong on most any road in the Marlinton area. People often spend multiple days in the area going out in a different direction every day. You are welcome to contact me for maps, tips, directions or restaurant options. I live, work, and ride here. If just passing thru Stop by one of us is usually here.
Nelson at the Old Clark Inn

+1 on the Old Clark Inn. Nelson & Andrea are superb hosts.

I would make Marlinton a central hub and day trip from there.

We just stayed over at the Quality Inn in New Market, Va. on the way to Parkersburg, WV. Try Jalisco(Mexican Restaurant within walking distance of the hotel).

Once you visit West Virginia, you will return. Try to savor the area and return when you can to ride in another with a different center for operations. You can't do it all in one trip. This is probably my 15th tour in the Mountain State.


Doc

[Skee]

Can't go wrong on most any road in the Marlinton area.

Take a left on the first road north of the Marlington Inn & ride that up to the Skyway; then loop back.  Go north on 219 a little further and take a right towards the railroad station.  Going south on 219. I don't remember how far, not more than 20 miles total, there are 2 separate sets of short awesome twisties guaranteed to make the peg feelers on your Wee shorter than they already are.  "course, you can also branch off onto 39, etc.  Heck, try any direction.

[NH YZF]

I think I am going to stay east of 79 and plan a second trip.  I could hit the Cairo area this trip, but I would be missing SE OH, which looks to be fantastic.  So a night in Harrisonburg, two in Marlinton, one in Elkins, and the last in either Cumberland or Hagerstown (the last night gets me ~500 miles from home).

Thanks!

Jay

[maddjack]

I think I am going to stay east of 79 and plan a second trip.  I could hit the Cairo area this trip, but I would be missing SE OH, which looks to be fantastic.  So a night in Harrisonburg, two in Marlinton, one in Elkins, and the last in either Cumberland or Hagerstown (the last night gets me ~500 miles from home).

Thanks!

Jay

thats the way second trip + more fun, when you do SE Ohio give a holler, we will tip you to the sweet roads  

[thatguy]

Post up when you head down. If I've the time and money I could show you some great roads to ride.

[OSJ]

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If you can make it work, check out this place...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2UyJn_Qukc

[OSJ]

Did a few days in WV earlier this year, what a amazing place to ride!  I got some info from riders from ADV.  

Here is the link to that thread, there are a few google maps posted on there that you should check out.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=573340

[NH YZF]

Well, looks like 4 nights for me.  First night in Winchester VA, second & third in Marlinton, and 4th in Cumberland. My riding will keep me primarily east of 79, with the exception of a day 3 loop that should get me on 16 up to Tyler, then looping back to Marlinton.

Can anyone suggest cheap & safe lodging in Winchester VA and Cumberland MD?

Thanks!

Jay

[ZZR Rob]

+1 on Nelson at the Old Clark Inn sorry can't help you with Winchester or Cumberland, both to close for me to ever have a reason to overnight.

[Mastros2]

Once you visit West Virginia, you will return.
Doc

+1.    There is a reason why they call it "God's Country" and I am not at all that religious.

[NH YZF]

I ended up at the Cool Harbor Inn in Front Royal the first night, Old Clark Inn the second, Elkins Motor Lodge the third (at the recommendation of Nelson) and a Holiday Inn Express off 37 in Winchester for the last night.  In hindsight, I should have stayed in Marlinton two nights.  There is sooooo much to see and explore.  I could run up & over 39 on the VA/WV border back and forth for an entire day!