Virginia Bike Routes
This page is about on-road bike routes. For off-road bike trails, paths, greenways, and rail-trails, see our Virginia Bike Trails page.
Virginia is a key destination for bicycle touring. US Bike Route 76, or the Transamerica Route, traverses the state west to east, while US Bike Route 1 crosses the entire state north-south.
The Shenandoah National Park’s, Skyline Drive offers a challenging, 105 mile cycling experience as this, literally, breathtaking route follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Front Royal to Afton, Virginia. The Skyline Drive offers pheonominal views of Virginia’s georgeous mountain scenery as you ride along this historic parkway built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1931 and 1939.
(If you’d like to get some hiking in while in SNP, the Drive parallels the Appalachian Trail as it runs through the park. Bikes are not permitted on trails in the Park nor on the A.T.)
If you haven’t had your fill of the ups and downs cycling the Skyline Drive, continue along the Blue Ridge Parkway which rolls for 469 miles from Afton, Virginia, to Cherokee, North Carolina. Elevations range from 600 to over 6000 feet so be prepared for lots of climbing, fantastic decents and changing weather.
Both the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway limit cars to 35 - 45 mph and prohibit commercial traffic which makes for fantastic cycling. The BRP and SD have limited access for provisions, so be sure to bring plenty of food and water.
Click for a downloadable map of the Skyline Drive or map of the Blue Ridge Parkway
(Note: there is a entrance fee for Shenandoah National Park. There is no charge for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Riders must follow National Park regulations and ride single file on the Drive and Parkway.)
Tne Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides a free statewide bike map, and maintains a web guide to bicycling in Virginia.
Adventure Cycling has been the steward of the Transamerica Route (US Bike Route 76) for many years. They sell maps, and provide other information for touring cyclists. They’ve developed many other routes, including, in Virginia, the Atlantic Coast Route (their version of US Bike Route 1), the popular Allegheny Mountains Route , and the Tidewater Potomac Route.
In the past, VBF has maintained a listing of user-submitted bike routes. As we get these back up, you can find them as individual articles in the “Virginia Bike Routes” category.
Bikely is an excellent resource, based on Google Maps. Search for user-submitted routes, or create and enter your own to share with others.
Please feel free to send your corrections, comments, suggestions, and submissions for this page. Use the comments section below, or send email to webmaster@vabike.org
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I would like to give up my car and bike to work everyday.
I live near Westmoreland and Williamsburg Rd in Arlington, VA and would like to get to TYCO Rd in Vienna Virginia and avoid Route 7 altogether
Can you provide me with a bike route?
Thanks in advance.
I’m looking for more bike routes that are safe in Virginia Beach and Norfolk for commuting. I don’t know how these folks that ride the road are doing it. Cars are one thing but tractor trailers and dump trucks are too much on busy Hampton Roads streets. It’s time to get collective and make some noise about green alternatives for commuting.
I just finished the Trans-Am through VA. (76) July- 08, The route has been “jacked” from much of it’s original design because of the poor driving habits of VA drivers, and overcrowding.
What I don’t get is the absurd law that limits riders to the RH side, even with no shoulder.
By not being able to move a bit into the lane to be more visible and block a bit, you open the door for drivers to stuff their cars where they shouldn’t be, Bristol is in Tennessee folks and 3 wide doesn’t work there either.
After being clipped by a motorist’s mirror, I moved out a bit and was having much better luck until a trooper pulled me over and warned me about the law. I should add I ride with extremely bright tail lights on par with motorcycle luminosity. (daylight visible and focused beam)
In Oregon, where my ride began, if there’s no shoulder, you get the lane…period, It’ common sense &recommended you to ride to the right, but if you are in the lane, you are considered a vehicle and as such treated as one.
From what I’ve been told VA riders cannot behave as a vehicle.
You essentially have all the responsibility’s of a vehicle without the rights.
Oh…Forget about Hwy 1 in VA. I rode it from Richmond to DC.
It’s a death trap.
Inconsistent shoulders (if any) and heavy traffic at any hour.
My hat’s off to ya Steven J. I’ve found 90% of the drivers in Virginia Beach and Norfolk will move over if they can and they’ll slow down until clear. HOWEVER – those other drivers are gonna kill ya. Especially the commercial drivers. Dump Trucks, Tractor Trailers, delivery drivers. Perhaps organized rides with at least 10 cycles would either raise awareness or raze a stink.
Regarding Steven J’s comments, his understanding of the Code of Va is not accurate (and unfortunately police don’t often know it either). The Code of Va allows a rider to take the lane or ride further from the right edge if conditions merit (i.e. the conditions he mentions). Police education on the laws is an uphill battle.
Very nice information. Thanks for this.
I would like to Bike to DC (18th Street) from Vienna. I live near GMU. Can someone provide me the Bike route.
Thanks
I am looking for family friendly, paved biking paths for my children who are beginning bikers (ages 12 & 8). We live in Richmond, but are willing to do day trips to good spots during the summer months. I would appreciate any help that I get.
I am looking for a bicycle route between North Springfield VA and Charlottesville VA. Any suggestions?
I am trying to find a route from Charlottesville, VA to Smith Mountain Lake (Huddleston, VA) that does not include Route 29 south or Route 460 east.
Thanks,
TEB
I’m looking for a route that several routes that will start in the Charlottesville, VA area. I want to do one ride that has me doing a wide loop around the town so I can take in some of the historical sites as and let me get a good 5-6 hour ride in. I would also like to do a long hop down to Appomattax and back for my long day. I was looking at Rt 20 and 24. Are these roads fairly safe for a cyclist? I’m used to the battle zone roads in Western PA but anytime you go into another area, I find it best to check things out with people who ride in the area.
Jay D
Bike Route 76 should be extended east to Virginia Beach and become part of a true coast-to-coast bike route. To do this bicycles should be allowed on the James River Bridge, which would be a safe route since it has paved shoulders. The right shoulder width could be easily widened from the current 3 feet to 4 or 5 feet by narrowing the unused median shoulder width, while retaining 12-ft lanes for cars.
Allowing bicycling across the James River Bridge would connect Newport News and Hampton to Southside Hampton Roads for users of non-motorized transport. Continuity is an important feature of any bicycle route network, and opening the James River Bridge would markedly improve bicycle connectivity throughout Hampton Roads.
David:
Thanks for the suggestion. I agree with your point that we really need a true ocean to ocean route for the TransAm and USBR 76.
Would crossing on Route 17 be superior to crossing the James River on the Scotland Ferry at Jamestown? The ferry is free, scenic and bike friendly. The TransAm already goes this way (as does the VA Capital Trail).
Champe:
The James River Bridge is a desirable option for several reasons. First, it makes local bicycling in Hampton Roads much more direct.
For the long distance or transcontinental bicyclist, the James River Bridge allows purists to bicycle coast to coast without taking a ferry part of the way. It also allows someone to head east from the current end of the TransAmerica Trail (Yorktown) and reach the Atlantic without backtracking.
Using the James River Bridge and staying on US 17 and parallel roads would allow bicyclists from Virginia Beach a direct route to Northern Virginia. From there bicyclists can take the C&O trail/Allegheny passage west, which allows traveling throught the Appalachians with much gentler grades than other routes.
I’ve taken the ferries to bicycle from Newport News to Surrey and Smithfield, but I’d like the option of using the James River Bridge.
I am looking for a route to travel by bike from Charlottesville to Moneta, VA on SML that bypasses 29 South and 460West. Anyone have knowledge of such a route?
I am interested in road bike routes on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I could find only one in Biking Virginia. Does anyone know of any more?
Hello, I wonder if ther are road maps for cycling in Virginia you know those cards that can be integrateed into a Garmin GPS. Thank you.
I am in the New Kent County, James City County area of Virginia and am looking for bike trails in this area.