Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route

The Adventure Cycling Association Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route is a loop rather than a point-to-point route. The route introduces the cyclist to an area rich in scenic beauty, ecological diversity, and early American colonial history. Museums and points of interest give ample opportunities for sightseeing. Several historic sites are connected to George Washington, the "father of the nation." They include Mt. Vernon, George Washington's Ferry Farm, where he lived from age six until early adulthood, and the George Washington Birthplace National Monument. The route is a total of 397 miles (640 km) .

This loop route lies within a portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail corridor. The route begins in Washington, D.C., and traverses both sides of the Potomac River in Maryland and Virginia until it reaches the Chesapeake Bay. To complete the loop, riders must take a cruise ship across the Bay to Smith Island, where connections can be made to reach Point Lookout in Maryland or Smith Point in Virginia.

The lower Potomac River region has very warm weather and high humidity during the summer months, which is when this route needs to be ridden to complete the loop. Only privately owned cruise ship companies cross the Chesapeake Bay, so working within their schedule is a must. Occasionally, delays can occur due to inclement weather - thunderstorms and Atlantic storms lasting a few days.

Character of the Route's Regions

This loop route begins and ends at Union Station in Washington, D.C. A spur route connects to the eastern terminus of the C & O Canal Towpath for those cyclists who may want to continue up the Potomac River. The route crosses the Potomac and heads into Virginia along the Mt. Vernon Trail. It is approximately forty miles of riding before the route leaves the suburbs behind and gets into the rural countryside. The route skirts the Quantico Marine Corps Reservation on its way to Fredericksburg, Virginia. This town has its share of museums and historic sites, so riders might want to plan to spend a day sightseeing.

Leaving Fredericksburg, the route heads eastward into the peninsula known as the Northern Neck. Traffic decreases as the route heads farther east, and then it's pleasant riding on smaller back roads. Stratford Hall Plantation, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, is located on the Potomac River, and there are several museums to visit in the small towns along the route. For further exploration, there's a 25-mile spur to the Rappahannock River bridge.

The route in Maryland meanders along smaller roads through fields and woods. There are many points of interest, museums, and state parks to visit along the way, so days should be planned accordingly. Nearby towns offer full services for riders. Automobile traffic increases closer to the Washington, DC area. Riders will need city-riding skills as they share the road with traffic entering the District of Columbia.

Terrain

The District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland are flat to rolling on this route. A few short hills will be encountered. Rivers and bays create fingers of land called "necks," and the route dips down into the necks, allowing easy access to points along the Potomac River.

Logistics

The two cruise ships on Chesapeake Bay are an important link for this route. One ship travels to Ewell on Smith Island, and the other connects to the continuation of the route in Maryland. Both of these cruise ships make one trip a day between Smith Island and their respective states, so riders must plan carefully when approaching this area. Ewell does not have overnight accommodations. If a rider does miss the ship, there are multiple opportunities to catch a boat to Crisfield, Maryland, which has full services.

Travelers need to make one-way reservations for the two different cruise ships to get between Virginia and Maryland. The cruise ship from Smith Point, Virginia, to Smith Island operates from May 15 through October 15 (though if business is slow they may be closed early and/or late in the season). The other cruise ship from Smith Island to Point Lookout State Park, Maryland, sails from June through August, and on weekends in September. It operates five days a week on Wednesday through Sunday. One-way reservations are required for passengers and their bicycle, which is considered freight.

ervices

All services and bike shops can be found in Washington and in the cities and suburbs nearby. Fredericksburg also has bike shops. When leaving the suburbs and riding into more rural areas, services are less plentiful, though small towns with the basic convenience stores appear frequently.

tates on the Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route

#Maryland
#Virginia
#District of Columbia

ee also

*bicycle touring
*Adventure Cycling Association