(Eastern) Kentucky Road Advice Needed for ESTN07 route planning

[garry]

I'm trying to plot a two-day route from Deals Gap to Pittsburgh via Kentucky. Laid out some stuff in Streets and Trips last night. Here's what looked interesting, but I'm hoping for some advice from locals for the best twisties. It appears that spending the night in/near Morehead is my current plan. There are a bunch of motels (Days Inn, Knights Inn, HI Express, etc) on 32 near I-64.

So, I've read about "Deals Gap of Kentucky". I think that's route 32 heading to the eastern border with WV. Correct? If so, that's on the dance card for the first thing in the morning on my final leg to Pittsburgh. That day continues  by heading towards Charleston via more twisties (suggestions?). Last good leg will be north out of Charleston via 119 and 14 to 47 east to Weston. Then slab it home via I-79 past Morgantown.

Just gotta get to Morehead from the Gap. Current plan for KY is 421, Daniel Boone Pky (east), 15, 30, 460, 519. Thoughts? Suggestions? This will be done on a Monday (no tourists? coal trucks?).

[Yankee Dog]

I am not a local but I have been through there.  30 is a great road.  The DB Pkwy (now HR Pkwy) is a freeway.  I dont know the section of 421 just prior to the Pkwy, but consider cutting NE on 23 vic Duffield.  Take 160 to 119.  The section of 119 around Oven Ford/Eolia is fantastic.  Pick up 15 from there and continue on your way.  

Yankee Dog

[garry]

Thanks for the tips. I was only going to use the DB Pky for a short hop to connect two north/south roads. I think I read it's a toll road too. I read somewhere that 421 was supposed to be great: a good mix of sweepers, scenery and some twisty  bits.

Now to scurry off to Streets and Trips to check out 160 and 119 on the map...

[number9]

Here's some I threw together from the top of my head. I have been on them and they are all really good roads. The tunnels are cool to see.

http://users.adelphia.net/~yamaha20/Images/East-KY.est

[garry]

Thanks for that map. Looks like it's hard to go wrong. All manner of options for routes from southern KY to I-64/Morehead.

[number9]

Keep in mind on some of the roads down in the southern part you WILL encounter coal trucks during the week days - they know the road and drive it hard so stay alert to the fact that you may very well meet one around the next turn. From Saylersville up to Morehead it is not so bad and you may see a couple.

[kyzrex]

parkway is NOT a toll road any longer.  Also...32 out of Morehead to WV is not as tight and twisty as deal's gap.  Deal's gap is more hairpin after hairpin.  32 is more open, with many very tight turns, but not hairpins.  IMO it is a much better road than Deal's Gap, and is much longer.  Make sure you ride it, you will enjoy it.  Your route looks pretty good.  I've riden all those roads at one time or another, and they are all good.  you can avoid the parkway from 421 to 15 by using old 80.  expect some traffic on 519 just before you get to morehead, even on a monday.  also, when going north on 460 you catch 7n at west liberty, then 519 cuts off to the left to go to morehead.  if you have a liitle extra time then....go west on 460 to rt 36, turn rt on 36 to 1274.  turn rt on 1274 back over to 519...if I remember correctly 1274 is a pretty good road with some real nice sweeper and a great view of the lake.

[Corbeau]

Garry, your return route from ESTN is similar to my route to the Nat'l, last year.

I had camped at Ohiopyle State Park (I'm at the gate, going in right after half a dozen co-eds in a van with kayaks on top. "Have you got a campsite in mind, sir?" asks the warden. "Right next to them!", I replied...) I made my way down to I-79, then US-50 W to where it meets Va 16, which I took all the way south to Gauley Bridge, then US-60 W to 199 S which I took all the way south to Pineville KY, then through Cumberland Gap and Knoxville to Tellico Plains. 700 miles or so. You know about 16 and 50. What was said above about 119 is right, there's one, nice technical section (flashbacks of 33 and 250, last year...), there rest are nice sweepers on a four-lane road with a 55 mph speed limit.

[photomd]

pssst...an ole hillybilly once told me about VA 16 north of Hungry Mother State Park.  

[garry]

pssst...an ole hillybilly once told me about VA 16 north of Hungry Mother State Park.  

Did that on the way home from the STN National last year and plan on hitting that on the way to ESTN (War to Welch and Tazewell to  Marion). The only part of 16 that sucks is from Charleston north past Beckley to New River Gorge. 16 gets decent again north of 60 (the run up the mountain near Hawks Nest park/Ansted is nice).

Thanks again for the feedback and tips. Keep them coming!

[Guy]

Hey Garry, I've got a deal for you. You collect all the roads, and sometime this Mar or Apr, I'll vet 'em for you.   ?

In all honesty, I am planning on heading down there this spring and summer. For some reason I haven't hit up any of this area since a day ride there last March.

[garry]

Hey Garry, I've got a deal for you. You collect all the roads, and sometime this Mar or Apr, I'll vet 'em for you.   ?

DEAL! I'll map out a nice loop of the prime candidates and you can spend a fun day riding the loop and report back...