Trans-Pennsylvania sport bike route?

[sweetlou]

Anyone have a cross pennsy route they care to share? I'm beginning my research for our annual motorcycle trip. Did Elkins, WV last year and loved it but this year we are focusing on northeast Ohio, Southwest Pennsy, and Northern WV.

We are coming from NYC but are open to northern routes, southern routes, central routes...

Riding Ninja 1K, Triumph GT, and FJR.

Trying to stay off highways as much as possible but we will probably slab I-80 at least to the Water Gap... Last year we went out I-80 to Northumberland and then took 147 South. Great ride, but we need to focus on East/West roads.

Thanks!

Lou

[garry]

I hope you mean southeast Ohio.

I'm sure there is a nice north/south route through the mountains of central PA down to the Breezewood area. You can do worse than taking 31 (sweepers) west to Donegal then it's a short hop south via 381 to northern WV.

[Ulynut]

Take the Palisades Parkway north to route 6, then take 6 west to route 17 (future I-86) all the way to exit 104 in Monticello, where you pick up 17B.

You are now done with the slab.

Take 17B west through Bethel (site of the Woodstock Festival) all the way to the stop sign in Fosterdale. Fuel up at the gas station on the corner (word to the wise). Go straight. This is route 114. Now it starts getting fun.

Cross the bridge in Cochecton N.Y. into Damascus PA. and follow 371. There's a good diner (cute waitress) where 371 crosses 191 in Rileyville, there's gas there too.

When you get to 171 in Herrick Corner, go straight onto 374 all the way out to 92 towards Nicolson. Take 92 to route 6 west. Follow route 6 to 87 south all the way to Montoursville. You don't want to miss 87, great road. In Dushore, you might get lucky and the local firemen will be out on the corner cooking chicken. Awesome chicken. (notice the food theme to my rides?)

Sorry, I'll have to finish this up later....

[sodapop6620]

Take the Palisades Parkway north to route 6, then take 6 west to route 17 (future I-86) all the way to exit 104 in Monticello, where you pick up 17B.

You are now done with the slab.

Take 17B west through Bethel (site of the Woodstock Festival) all the way to the stop sign in Fosterdale. Fuel up at the gas station on the corner (word to the wise). Go straight. This is route 114. Now it starts getting fun.

Cross the bridge in Cochecton N.Y. into Damascus PA. and follow 371. There's a good diner (cute waitress) where 371 crosses 191 in Rileyville, there's gas there too.

When you get to 171 in Herrick Corner, go straight onto 374 all the way out to 92 towards Nicolson. Take 92 to route 6 east west. Follow route 6 to 87 south all the way to Montoursville. You don't want to miss 87, great road. In Dushore, you might get lucky and the local firemen will be out on the corner cooking chicken. Awesome chicken. (notice the food theme to my rides?)

Sorry, I'll have to finish this up later....

ftfy.  That looks like a nice route.  I would keep an eye out for the chip seal report.  The damn state likes the chip really nice roads for no apparent reason.

[iXXion]

Most of the roads in northeast PA are flood damaged.  There's still some good travel left, but without knowing local, its hit or miss.  There's decent gently winding roads with painted lines and there's snug little back roads that don't have lines...which do you prefer?  And how soon will you depart?

[Smoker]

87 is open from Dushore to Montoursville if you go around the road blocks.

[Cablebandit]

87 is open from Dushore to Montoursville if you go around the road blocks.

 

[arr2]

87 is open from Dushore to Montoursville if you go around the road blocks.

I just rode 87 this afternoon, it is open and in pretty good shape. Going north i had to deal with traffic and the ride wasn't as interesting as the ride back. Only had to pass two cars!  

Lots of flood damage along this road.
Especially, just north of Montoursville. Looks like homes and businesses were washed away.

[sweetlou]

Wow, now this looks like a great route! Please, keep it coming! I know a great route to get to 17 through north jersey (17a, 1, 1a to port jervis).

Everything looks awesome so far, please keep it coming!

I see this route aims towards Altoona. We were thinking of making that the half way point of our trip east/west. What do you think?

Lou

[sweetlou]

There's decent gently winding roads with painted lines and there's snug little back roads that don't have lines...which do you prefer?  And how soon will you depart?

We depart in May.

We prefer tighter, curvier roads... no center lines, no problem! However, in my routing experience, roads without painted lines are usually beat up, bumpy, patched and best saved for the GS crowd. Without local knowledge, I'd prefer the painted line variety!

Thanks

Lou

[nevinfs327]

Some good suggestions - that northern route is a good one.  Some thoughts on central and southern route options I've used, typically taking 78 until I got to the other side of Allentown.

Central route:

- 78W
-143N
- Hawk Mtn Rd.
- 895 - Pine Grove
- 125 - Shamokin
- 61 - Sunbury
- 147N - Lewisberg
- 45W - Boalsburg
- 322N - Clearfield
- 879 - Grampian
- 219S
- 36W
- 119S
- 210W
- 85W
- 28S - final destination was my parents' house...you probably don't need the directions there  

Southern route (with Map - http://tinyurl.com/3dudzw9):

- 78W
- 183N
- 895W
- 443W
- Gold Mine Rd.
- 209W - Millersburg
- Millersburg Ferry
- 34W - Bloomfield
- 274W - Loysville
- 850W
- 75S - Fannettsburg
- Right on Grist Mill Rd.
- 522S
- 475W
- 655S
- 30W - Everett
- 26S
- Orleans Rd.
- 51W - Old Town
- Cross low water bridge
- CR1 - Springfield
- 28N - Fort Ashby - Romney
- 50W
- 93W - Mt. Storm
- 42N (includes 50E stint) - Elk Garden
- at MD border/Kitzmiller becomes 38
- 135W - Oakland

I don't think of Altoona as much more than a refueling town.  It definitely has lots of motels though, if that's what you're looking for.  I've found Bellefonte to be one of central PA's nicer towns.  

[ConPilot1]

So would this be like Transylvania??  

[nevinfs327]

So would this be like Transylvania??  

If you get off at the correct exit from 28 on my first route it will take you to the Transylvania Bible School, locally known as the "Transylvania Ghoul School."  

[MrsCablebandit]

I don't think of Altoona as much more than a refueling town.  It definitely has lots of motels though, if that's what you're looking for.  I've found Bellefonte to be one of central PA's nicer towns.  

This.  You'll find more/better hotel options in the State College/Bellefonte area.  I would recommend the Fairfield Inn in State College with Otto's (the local brew pub) across the parking lot.  It's on the north side of town (away from downtown and campus).  I'm local to State College, so just PM me if you want additional suggestions for State College, Bellefonte, or Altoona.

[sweetlou]

Well, I saw Altoona because we are big train buffs, so anything with trains rolling through town (more the merrier) is a perfect stop for us. Plus, we've stayed in Altoona multiple times and are somewhat familiar... doesnt mean we are not open to new suggestions though.

All we require (besides trains) is a cheap motel.

We are also open to places to stay on the Ohio river valley... Anywhere south of Wheeling. We were thinking Proctor or Paden City, but its tough to find motels aside from bed and breakfast. We go for the riding, not the accommodations. Last year we stayed in a Holiday Inn Express for $60 a night and it had a pool... Perfection.

Lou

[ConPilot1]

If you like trains come up to Scranton to see Steamtown. They run a coal chugger up into the mountains and stop in the middle of the Nicholson viaduct. Pretty cool if you're into trains.  

[sweetlou]

Great ideas, great routes! Any more routing options? Looks like I can head south and take route 7 west. I hear good things about it.

Any ideas?

Lou

[garry]

Great ideas, great routes! Any more routing options? Looks like I can head south and take route 7 west. I hear good things about it.

Any ideas?

Lou

WV 7 is nice from Hundred west to New Martinsville. Not bad between Hundred and (almost) to Morgantown, but traffic steadily builds. East of Morgantown has some nice bits and some traffic-filled bits. The part west of Hundred is the good stuff. 35 miles of sweepers with little civilization.

[sweetlou]

How is New Martinsville? It is looking like our destination for a few days. I think there is a big Inn there...?

Lou

[garry]

How is New Martinsville? It is looking like our destination for a few days. I think there is a big Inn there...?

Lou

Not much there. You're better off crossing the river into southeast Ohio, heading south a bit, and staying in Marietta. Marietta is a good town in the middle of awesome riding. Southeast OH rocks hard.