Vacation planning with E-Bikes

[fexixav]

My Wife and I are trying to plan a trip, taking our e-bikes. We live in the Cleveland OH area with some of the most beautiful Metro Park Trails and were hoping to find some nice paved trails where we decide to go. We were originally thinking of traveling south to the Charleston SC area Baixar, (about 700 miles) - but I haven't checked into any trails that might be in the area yet. We would be okay traveling in about any direction for the same distance (about 8 or 10 hours) to find a nice location with things to see and do.

We would like to stay in one location, for 8 to 10 days while we explore, we were thinking of staying at an Air-B&B, which I am sure we can find in just about any location. If you know of any place or have been anywhere that would be worth exploring please let me know, thanks.

Consider the Virginia Creeper Trail in Damascus, VA, a scenic 34-mile rail trail with stunning mountain views. The Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, SC, offers a great mix of urban and natural scenery. Another excellent option is the Pinellas Trail in Florida, stretching 50 miles along the Gulf Coast with plenty of charming towns to explore. If you’d like to stay closer, Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio has beautiful paved trails with waterfalls and wildlife.

 

[Viking1]

Have you considered the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia? Beautiful through the mountains.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Have you considered the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia? Beautiful through the mountains.

Don't recall what the bike infrastructure's like from our car trip there several years ago, but I'd second that in every other respect.

You can often get a decent preview of bike infrastructure by zooming in with Google Maps in satellite view. The satellite imagery may be old, but current infrastructure will probably be at least as good as what Maps is showing.

 

[6bloodychunks]

murrels inlet area of south carolina is wonderful.
with huntington beach state park beside it.

its my favorite place that ive ridden my bike so far

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

murrels inlet area of south carolina is wonderful.
with huntington beach state park beside it.

its my favorite place that ive ridden my bike so far

I can certainly vouch for the physical setting, as I often visited my Dad there some 30 years ago. But nearby Myrtle Beach, the Orlando of the Southeast, is sprawling ever closer. Hoping Murrells Inlet hasn't been caught up in that yet.

 

[6bloodychunks]

I can certainly vouch for the physical setting, as I often visited my Dad there some 30 years ago. But nearby Myrtle Beach, the Orlando of the Southeast, is sprawling ever closer. Hoping Murrells Inlet hasn't been caught up in that yet.

nope,still good
we used to go to myrtle every year,
but it was just too too hectic,
i was more frazzled on vacation than at home hahaha
then we discovered garden city/murrells inlet/pawleys island,
and we wont ever go back to myrtle again lol

 

[6zfshdb]

Have you considered the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia? Beautiful through the mountains.

Many sections of the Skyline drive were heavily damaged by flooding from hurricane Helene. Repairs will likely take many months due to budget cuts. It would be best to call or check the website:

Shenandoah National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Shenandoah National Park Home Page

www.nps.gov

Also be advised that much of the ride is on road with twisting turns and narrow shoulders. Drivers are looking at the view and there are a lot of cycling accidents. It was indeed a beautiful ride when I was there 10 years ago, but very scary in some areas. Spent a lot of time watching traffic instead of the views.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Many sections of the Skyline drive were heavily damaged by flooding from hurricane Helene. Repairs will likely take many months due to budget cuts. It would be best to call or check the website:

Shenandoah National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Shenandoah National Park Home Page

www.nps.gov

Also be advised that much of the ride is on road with twisting turns and narrow shoulders. Drivers are looking at the view and there are a lot of cycling accidents. It was indeed a beautiful ride when I was there 10 years ago, but very scary in some areas. Spent a lot of time watching traffic instead of the views.

A look at some Helene trail damage below the Blue Ridge Parkway in western NC:

 

[opimax]

I used to live near DC and have many trips on the Blue Ridge , not sure I would feel safe there , most of the time OK but too many 1 time mistakes by drivers scare me. Skyline drive is worse and wouldn’t even considerate riding on that unless the road was closed for autos , happens occasionally I think.

 

[DDBB]

I don't like travelling far with the ebikes on the back of the car (hitch rack).. Bad weather, dirt/dust etc. are just some of the reasons. With our SUV all the road dirt seems to accumulate at or around the rear glass and hatch and that's right where the ebikes go. I will transport them short distances on the back of the SUV but would never want to do a long road trip with them

 

[harryS]

We took our Bikes last year to the Traverse City MI. area.

We went a little farther to Charlievoo. I had visions of riding along Lake Michigan shoreline, bit that's all resort, private or industrial, except for a few miles in a state park, Most of it is slogging along a paved path adjoinng a county highway, Some of the paths put you on the doggone highway, Nice path in Sleeping Dunes NP though,

Perhaps we will try some of the bikeways in the middle of the state.

I am used to travelling with bikes on a rack, I never worried about blocking the plates or the license. Thousands of miles over the years, If the cops don't like how you look, you get pulled over, It's not about the car, I do prefer taking our small folders when we can, and having them inside.

So far, our best trip was Colorado, Mountains at 12000 feet altitude. That's where the ebikes work nice. The slopes were mild, being rail trails, but I can barely walk at that height. Motor sure was nice.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

So far, our best trip was Colorado, Mountains at 12000 feet altitude. That's where the ebikes work nice. The slopes were mild, being rail trails, but I can barely walk at that height. Motor sure was nice

I can believe that — gorgeous state end to end! Really wish I'd been smart enough to buy an ebike when we lived in Denver.

My only complaint about the Colorado Rockies: Too much gravity, not enough oxygen.

 

[6zfshdb]

I don't like travelling far with the ebikes on the back of the car (hitch rack).. Bad weather, dirt/dust etc. are just some of the reasons. With our SUV all the road dirt seems to accumulate at or around the rear glass and hatch and that's right where the ebikes go. I will transport them short distances on the back of the SUV but would never want to do a long road trip with them

I do a lot of travelling with my bikes and feel the same way. When it came time to replace my SUV, I bought a crew cab pickup instead. That way, I can carry the bikes in the truck bed, protected from road debris and would be thieves.

Yes, I sacrificed some interior cargo space, but I compensated by adding lockable, weatherproof bed side boxes.

Plenty of room for my wife & I, but it might be different for a family though.

 

[DDBB]

Yes, the trail from Petosky to Charlevoix in MI. is not longer much fun to ride. A big section of the trail fell into the lake and they decided it was too expensive to repair so bike traffic is now directed up onto the highway.Sleeping bear dunes is by far the better ride. There's some new trails being put in around Boyne city so that should be good.

 

[6zfshdb]

I see this same issue in many states where I ride. Lots of money being spent on new construction but little or none on maintenance.