I'm looking for an interesting route to take from West Chester, (Southeast) PA to Warrenton, VA. I'd rather not do the interstates. I'd rather more of a relaxed country type drive. I could catch Rt 15 south from the Harrisburg area. What kind of drive would it be? Other suggestions? From Warrenton, we'll be heading a bit further west and north, eventually to the area of Falling Water in Western PA. I know that there are a couple of particularly scenic drives in WV, but does anyone have any specific suggestions there? Thanks.

 

I'm not sure about the northern part of your route, but I suggest taking Rt. 17 south into Warrenton......it's a beautifully scenic ride

 

You could take 52 south out of WC down to Route 1 south. Follow RTE 1 south into MD over the Conowingo Dam Make a left at the first WaWa you come to that is rte 136 S(?). Follow that for several miles and make a left at 543 (Your second WaWa) This will take you out to 95. After that its highway until route 15 in VA.
You can take 95 south to 695 W(baltimore Beltway to Towson) Take that to route 70 west to Fredrik MD you will pick up 15 there.

I used to live in West Chester, this is the route I take when I come back and forth.

 

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I'll see what I can find as far as a northern route to get me to Rt 17. dsvtec, I'm not in any hurry to get there, so I would do just about anything to avoid making any significant part of the trip on the interstate. I've done it a million times over the years, as I guess you have, too, and it wasn't that much fun the first time. However, I'm usually in a hurry, but this time I'm not. Just out of curiosity, how long ago did you move from WC?

 

I live in West Chester and just finished a 4,000 mile,
12 day round trip using only scenic back roads to Missouri. The trip started a lot as you describe then cut across the Allegheny mountains and down the blue ridge parkway to Asheville, then on through the Smokey Mountians and west through the Ozarks across the Mississippi delta, etc.
Stookie is definitely king of the mountains.
I used the computer program on CD that comes with last year's Rand McNally road atlas. I have the route plotted on maps and would be happy to lend them to you.
Let me know and I'll hand them off....cheers

 

I agree that you can take Rt.1 South past the Susquehanna and Conowingo dam, BUT then head west around Belair on one of the MD state routes. This is beautiful horse country...part of the route of Rick's stook Maryland meet in early April...get a good detail map. Work your way to Route 15 south and find 17. As you said, there are many nice drives in WV. The area around Fallingwater is great, too; there is great whitewater rafting around Ohiopyle.

 

Actually I moved from West Chester exactly a year ago. I do miss some of my old stomping grounds...McDermotts Gym in town, 15 North, Margaritas...etc etc...

I was also thinking that you could take 52 South out of town, (Or also route 100) then take 896 west until it ends..I think at 10. Then take a left onto route 10 down to Route 1 South, this will cut out most of the 4 lane of route 1.
I do agree with taking something west instead of heading down to 95. If you find something cool, let me know. I currently live right off of Route 15, and If I could completely cut off 95, 695 and 70, it would be a much more enjoyable drive. I did try taking 30 west to 15, but that trip is nasty especially through Lancaster.

[Edited by dsvtec on 05-30-2001 at 07:53 AM]

 

Hey Windowpane - good to hear from you! I figured that you must be from WC, having bumped into you twice in th Bradford Plaza Shopping Center. I'm the guy with the other red. You had told me some time ago that you were planning the trip for May. Sounds like you have a great time. 4000 miles is quite a drive. My wife is not convinced that see wants to deal with the limitations of the S2000 on a long trip. Her car is a Chrysler Town and Country Limited. Only slightly different than the S2000. Like sitting in a Lazyboy, lookin' out your picture window, drivin' your living room down the highway. Anyhow, we're going to try a short trip, looping down to Warrenton to visit my daughter and see some of the local points of interest, and then out to Western PA to see Fallingwater, visit family and do a few other things. I was planning to return using Rt 30 part of the way, perhaps spending another evening a some point of interest along the way. Since you trip was much more extended, at best only the very first part of your plan would be within my scope. Exactly what was the first part of your route? And by the way, welcome to the board!

dsvtec, I agree. If I end up taking Rt 1 at all, I think I will cut off the more boring, northern section of the drive and take Rt 10 to get to it further south. Rt 10 is a nice drive, and there are several good routes west to get to Rt 10. I'll let ya' know what I end up doing.

pas2k, that also sounds like a good idea. I'll have to see if I can get a copy of Rick's route. Am I mistaken, or does Rt 17 north end in the area of Winchester (not all that far from Warrenton)?