hi...for years I've gone to snowshoe from DC via the consensus best route (66w, 81s, 55w, 28s, 66 local w to back side), but now I'm moving to Fredericksburg. Any consensus on what the quickest route is? Thanks!

Toby

I have no idea if this is the consensus, but when we go, (from Stafford) we go out Route 3 to 20 to 15 to 64 to 81 to 250 to 28/92 to 66 to 219.

The alternative is when you get down to 81 is to take 262 to 42 and then loop back on 39 to 219 and come in from the south. This route is less mountainous and you have less chance of running into snow on the road. Given that I drive a full sized pickup (4x4) I tend to enjoy playing in the snow - but I have come over 250 when there was 4-6 unplowed on the road, so part of your decision should take into account what you drive and what kind of weather you like to drive in. I believe KWilig6 has some stories about that from his teaching days at Snowshoe...

Hope this helps,
Clay

how long does that take you?

toby

About five hours. Maybe four and a half if the weather and traffic are decent.

Clay

I'm not sure what 66 local is but so many of the roads there have three separate numbers its hard to tell. I usually leave F'burg take 17 to 66 go 81S and hit 55W. the new highway really helps now. I then cut over to Petersburg and depending how I feel go up to Maysville and mt. Storm to Davis or I go to Seneca up to Harmon. I've gone the northern route a few times but get frustrated with slow speed zones. They are all within a half hour if each other. I know a couple ridge road shortcuts that I take occasionally as well, but o make time you really have to drive them aggressively and usually just not worth the risk. Usually, I go up in the AM via the mt storm rt and home via the Harmon route. That way I get to see all the old places I use to fish and hunt when I grew up in the area. Also I think I make better time in AM going via mt storm, but feel safer at night coming down via Harmon.

Bumps,
If I am reading your directions correctly, I think I end up in CV. That's pretty much the way I go. Toby is trying to get to Snowshoe. Did I misread your directions?

Clay

used to do it in 3 1/2 hours from Culpeper. 33 throug Harrisonburg and keep on until you get to Mouth of Senica. Turn left on Rt 28 and stay through Greenbank. Turn Rt on 66 and go through Cass, up Mtn, and once at the top look for the shoe's back entrance. The roads are not straight, but you won't get a more direct route.

You can say that again...66 from Cass to Snowshoe is a fun trip. I have never driven it while it is snowing but I am sure that a little snow and a little ice would make that drive a fantastic one!!

Does anybody know what 220 is like from rt 33 to 84 to 92? Winding / less winding than 33 to 28? I am coming from Harrisonburg.

I have got to stop working so late..Its been way too long since I've gone to the Shoe that I just think Canaan. Let me think a minute on this one.

UHhumm for Snowshoe Clay's routes are generally the directions I have taken. I sometimes go on over to culpepper and cut down 29 versus going down 2o through orange and once we took 33 all the way from 29 to 28 in WV. one word, Don't. I recently took rt 208 from fredericksburg and cut across 33 to get to 29 for a local trip. Took me about the same amount of time as going via rt 3 and was less traffic, different scenery. Of course I am near spotsy courthouse rd so saves me driving rt 3 west. Once you get to WV line really just a couple main routes as pointed out by Clay.