My Trip Planning Thread: Washington D.C. to Chicago (need help Ohio & Indiana!)

[daveinva]

Sadly, I won't be able to make either Spyderfest or the Owner's Event this year (having ridden the incomparably awesome Million Dollar Highway in Colorado once before, I'm crushed that I won't get to do it on the Spyder this year ).

I am, however, planning on taking a week or so this spring to ride out from new home (D.C.) to old home (Chicago) and back.

In the car, I do the trip on the turnpikes in ~12 hours or less. On the Spyder, I plan on going all backroads, and taking a leisurely two days to ride there and back.

I'm good to go with the eastern part of the trip, I think: I'm going to ride through WV, expecting to spend most of my time on WV 33. Once I get to eastern Ohio, I think I've got a few good options there as well.

Where I'm stumped is *western* Ohio, and central Indiana. The times I've been to both, it's all flat and straight, so I know there's not much in the way of heart-pounding adventure riding there. However, I do love ambling through small-town America, I love roadside kitsch, and I'm in no hurry...

Anyone know of anything to see out that way/nice roads to ride? I don't expect to go too far out of my way on that part of the trip (for instance, the National Road arcs south by then while I'll be wanting to head northwest by the time I cross into Indiana).

 

[Trickie Dick]

You're right about central Indiana. For the most part, it's pretty flat. Corn and bean fields:yikes:. In the southern part of the state there are some good roads to ride with lots of twisties and hills. If you plan your route that far south, let me know and I can help. But if you are ending up in Chicago with just 2 days to make it from D.C., then you will probably want to stay to the northern part of the state. I really can't help you there. Maybe someone else can chime in.
If you come through Indy, let me know. I'll buy you lunch or something.

 

[8LEGS]

I agree with Dick, nothing special in Northern Indiana, just corn and beans. Let me know when you're passing through as well, maybe meet somewhere for lunch or dinner, my treat.

 

[daveinva]

Ya know, people say there's more than corn in Indiana..... I think they're liars. :joke:

I'm thinking I'll take the National Road (US 40) to Indy, then head NW from there (it'll be a judgment call on whether I'm tired enough/behind schedule enough just to slab it up I-65, or remain on the backroads).

As for the lunch offer, I'm game!

 

[8LEGS]

:2thumbs:

Just let us know when you'll be passing through. I'll ride south and meet you guys for lunch. If I know the date in advance, I can try to get the day off work.

 

[NancysToy]

If you want to detour a tiny bit, US 12 is a decent run from the Detroit area all the way to Chicago. The scenery is not quite as flat as as northern Indiana, and the small towns aren't as frequent. You could take US 50 from Dundee, MI, to intersect US 12 near Cement City (nice motorcycle road) or pick up US 223 north of Sylvania, OH, to catch US 12 at Cement City. From there it's US 12 all the way to Chicago. It is a real interesting ride over near Lake Michigan, too.

 

[daveinva]

How about this: take WV33 to OH7 and then OH52 which follows the river into Cincinnati. At that point you may have had enough twisties so you can fast track it to Indy but instead of taking I65 into Chicago come out of Indy on I74 and get off at Danville. You can then jump on IL1. It's not twistie but it's a nice scenic drive that even has a Spyder Dealer along the way.

http://g.co/maps/qb2rk

That's an option, too... IL1 is a nice road, I remember driving down it back in high school.

The good thing about the trip is that it's BOTH WAYS, i.e. no reason I have to come back the same way I go out! (Although, let's be honest: I sure as heck am heading through West Virginia twice... who needs all your teeth and edumacation when you have mountains and twisties!)

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

What part of Chicago will you be visiting? We have a group of riders that may be able to meet up with you for lunch. We have a good place for hamburgers on the south side and places up north.

 

[thehawk]

It might not fit into your plans, but Brown County, Indiana ... east of Bloomington and south of Indy, is a mighty pretty place! But plan on going slow.

thehawk

 

[daveinva]

What part of Chicago will you be visiting? We have a group of riders that may be able to meet up with you for lunch. We have a good place for hamburgers on the south side and places up north.

I'll be staying with friends up near Roscoe Village. I'm from Chicago, born & raised (Midway Airport South Sider), came to D.C. for college twenty years ago and never left. I still try to fly or drive "home" at least once a year to see friends and family (and eat some real hot dogs, Italian beef, pizza, tamales, etc., etc.), this will be the first year I can ride.

Right now I'm thinking early May, but might be early April instead (again, wish I could pair it with a trip to Spyderfest-- as long as I'm heading that way and all!-- but I've got to be in town then, grrr).

I'll definitely update the thread once I get closer to the trip, would love to take a nice ride down the lakefront with new friends!

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

I'll be staying with friends up near Roscoe Village. I'm from Chicago, born & raised (Midway Airport South Sider), came to D.C. for college twenty years ago and never left. I still try to fly or drive "home" at least once a year to see friends and family (and eat some real hot dogs, Italian beef, pizza, tamales, etc., etc.), this will be the first year I can ride.

Right now I'm thinking early May, but might be early April instead (again, wish I could pair it with a trip to Spyderfest-- as long as I'm heading that way and all!-- but I've got to be in town then, grrr).

I'll definitely update the thread once I get closer to the trip, would love to take a nice ride down the lakefront with new friends!

It would be great if our group had a chance to meet up with you. If you need a BRP dealer while here there is a good one, Jim Potts Motor Sports, in Woodstock just a little north. My daughter lives in Columbia, MD just north of D.C. I think I have my wife convenced to take a trip to her house this summer.