Planning on riding Southern NJ to Raleigh NC (June '26) - Any Recommendations/Suggestions Please?

[South Jersey Dave]

I'm thinking to taking my '23 RTL from my home in Southern NJ to visit my son in Raleigh NC sometime in June. I'm thinking of going about half way one day and the other half the next day. I've never done an overnight on the bike and I've never taken it more than maybe 100 miles or so.

I don't mind some time on the interstates, but I'd prefer not to spend too much time on them if I can help it. Any suggestions as to what might be a nice route, places to stop along the way (both for a rest, something fun to see or a place to spend the night), and lodging recommendations in the Raleigh vicinity would be appreciated.

Hell, any suggestions about ANYTHING having to do with the trip would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Woodaddict]

From Front Royal, VA, you can do Skyline Drive, 35 mph, that goes into Blue Ridge Parkway, 45 mph, maybe down to Roanoke, VA. Then angle over to Raleigh.

 

[racoon]

If you go to maps.google.com and ask it for directions from your location to your destination it defaults to freeways.

But if you click the Options link on the left side you can tell it to Avoid Highways, which shows more interesting routes.

And if you don't like a specific section of the route it plots you can drag and drop the route line to a new route.

And you can then send the route to your phone.

If you use a Garmin GPS you can do similar things Garmin Basecamp/Garmin Express, just not as easily.

 

[RayBJ]

So, Jersey to Raleigh is ~400 miles, 7.5 hrs of slab time, so easy enough to do in 1 day to get an extra day visiting.
However, slab sucks, so look at some of the State and US Highways. There's lots of open space between towns, but lights and cross traffic can be annoying. You could go East and take the Cape May ferry to US 13 thru Delmarva Peninsula to Norfolk then West. ~430 mi, 9 hrs.
Or if you're up for it, head West to I 81S, and hit the top of Skyline/BRP in 5 hrs. Jump off at Roanoke on 220E. Total saddle time is 13 hrs.
In either case, you avoid the i95 Black hole they call Delaware.
BTW, US11 runs parallel to i81 if you want to stay off slab.
Edited to add more.

 

[Little Blue]

I'm thinking to taking my '23 RTL from my home in Southern NJ to visit my son in Raleigh NC sometime in June. I'm thinking of going about half way one day and the other half the next day. I've never done an overnight on the bike and I've never taken it more than maybe 100 miles or so.

I don't mind some time on the interstates, but I'd prefer not to spend too much time on them if I can help it. Any suggestions as to what might be a nice route, places to stop along the way (both for a rest, something fun to see or a place to spend the night), and lodging recommendations in the Raleigh vicinity would be appreciated.

Hell, any suggestions about ANYTHING having to do with the trip would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Well this is June 2nd. When will you start your Road Trip?
Seems like a great opportunity for a wonderful time.
Keep us updated on your progress.

 

[South Jersey Dave]

Actually, I ended up selling my Spyder before ever making the trip. Thanks for asking, though. I've reached out to the SpyderLovers Powers That Be and have asked them to delete my account. Thanks again and stay safe out there!

 

[Little Blue]

Sorry to hear about. I am feeling the same problem as to when I will need
to sell. My wife just bought it up last
night.

Anyhow enjoy your new interests.
You can still post up on the Spyder Forum. But I understand if you don't want to be on the Spyder Forum.
Just wanted you to know that we will miss you.

 

[South Jersey Dave]

Thank you for that, very kind of you to say.

Tell your wide to CHILL OUT and point out that you've already made the jump from two wheels to three and that if you wanted to live in a cocoon of safety you'd never leave the friggin' house! Life is short, my friend. No one ever lies on their death bed wishing they'd sought less joy.

As for me, I've been riding on 2 wheels for about 35 years but decided to go with the Spyder in hopes of encouraging my wife to ride with me since she's terrified of the prospect of taking to the roads on 2 wheels.

When that didn't happen I decided to return to my first love -- 2 wheels -- and sell my 2023 Spyder RT Limited to someone who'd both use and appreciate it more than myself. The new owner couldn't be happier with it and I'm all grins every time I back my new-to-me 2021 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic out of the garage.





All the best to you and yours. Stay safe out there and enjoy every day as if it's your last because one day it will be.

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

Thank you for that, very kind of you to say.

Tell your wide to CHILL OUT and point out that you've already made the jump from two wheels to three and that if you wanted to live in a cocoon of safety you'd never leave the friggin' house! Life is short, my friend. No one ever lies on their death bed wishing they'd sought less joy.

As for me, I've been riding on 2 wheels for about 35 years but decided to go with the Spyder in hopes of encouraging my wife to ride with me since she's terrified of the prospect of taking to the roads on 2 wheels.

When that didn't happen I decided to return to my first love -- 2 wheels -- and sell my 2023 Spyder RT Limited to someone who'd both use and appreciate it more than myself. The new owner couldn't be happier with it and I'm all grins every time I back my new-to-me 2021 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic out of the garage.

All the best to you and yours. Stay safe out there and enjoy every day as if it's your last because one day it will be.

Sorry to hear this and I have gone through the same thing with my wife, I bought a nice seat to make things more comfortable and installed some high risers on the passenger floorboards.

I have offered to install armrests instead of the passenger handrails has she has short arms and only one arm can usually reach and she refuses to put her arms around my waist even though we have been married for over 20 years so she usually just flops around on the back like a huge sack of rice throwing the balance off in the turns as she doesn't lean into the turns properly.

I asked her if she wanted to take classes and get her a ryker so she could set the pace at what we ride at and she has no interest in it.

But I will not give up my spyder due to my back issues and I will probably get a canyon hopefully in the next year or two.

Even though I love my F3 every time I ride out to the parks and mountains around here in Pa., West Va., Western Md., and Va. there is always a point I have to stop at with the F3 and I wish I could go further.