New York to Boston

Cod

Folks:
I have 7 to 10 days free next June, and was planning to fly to New York, cycle to Boston, and fly home (I live in Cork, Irleland)

Does anyone have suggestions for an interesting route form NYC to Boston? I like small towns, and a bit of climbing.

Thanks
Chris

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Cod
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Tom Stormcrowe

A. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Jfk International Airport, Jamaica, NY 11430, 718-244-4444

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1:Start out going EAST.go 0.1 miles
Map
2:Turn SLIGHT LEFT.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
3:Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the ramp toward AIRPORT EXIT/OTHER TERMINALS.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
4:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto JFK EXPY.go 1.3 milesAvoidMap
5:Take the ramp toward ROCKAWAY BLVD EAST/BELT PKWY WEST/I-678/VAN WYCK EXPWY.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
6:Take the ramp toward BELT PKWY WEST/I-678/VAN WYCK EXPWY.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
7:Merge onto NASSAU EXPY.go 0.3 milesAvoidMap
8:Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the RT-27 W/NO CONDUIT AVE ramp toward KENNEDY AIRPORT.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
9:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto NY-27 W/N CONDUIT AVE. Continue to follow NY-27 W.go 2.1 milesAvoidMap
10:Take the CROSS BAY BLVD ramp.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
11:Turn RIGHT onto CROSS BAY BLVD.go 0.7 milesAvoidMap
12:CROSS BAY BLVD becomes WOODHAVEN BLVD.go 4.0 milesAvoidMap
13:WOODHAVEN BLVD becomes 59TH AVE.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
14:Turn LEFT onto QUEENS BLVD.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
15:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto NY-25 W/QUEENS BLVD.go 3.3 milesAvoidMap
16:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto THOMSON AVE.go 0.3 milesAvoidMap
17:Take the QUEENSBORO BR UPPER RDWY ramp.go 0.5 milesAvoidMap
18:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto QUEENSBORO BRG-UPPER LEVEL/59TH ST BRIDGE.go 1.0 milesAvoidMap
19:Take the ramp toward 60 ST-WEST.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
20:Turn RIGHT onto E 62ND ST.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
21:Turn LEFT onto 1ST AVE.go 1.7 milesAvoidMap
22:Turn LEFT onto E 96TH ST.go 0.4 milesAvoidMap
23:Turn RIGHT onto PARK AVE.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
24:Turn LEFT onto E 97TH ST.go 1.1 milesAvoidMap
25:Turn RIGHT onto BROADWAY.go 2.9 milesAvoidMap
26:Turn RIGHT onto W 155TH ST.go 0.6 milesAvoidMap
27:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto MACOMBS DAM BRIDGE.go 0.3 milesAvoidMap
28:Turn RIGHT onto E 161ST ST.go 0.3 milesAvoidMap
29:Turn LEFT onto GRAND CONCOURSE/GRAND BOULEVARD AND CONCOURSE.go 2.8 milesAvoidMap
30:Turn RIGHT onto E FORDHAM RD.go 0.7 milesAvoidMap
31:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto US-1 N/E FORDHAM RD. Continue to follow US-1 N.go 0.8 milesAvoidMap
32:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto BRONX AND PELHAM PKWY E.go 2.2 milesAvoidMap
33:BRONX AND PELHAM PKWY E becomes SHORE RD.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
34:Make a U-TURN onto SHORE RD.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
35:SHORE RD becomes BRONX AND PELHAM PKWY W.go 2.2 milesAvoidMap
36:Turn RIGHT onto BOSTON RD/US-1. Continue to follow US-1 N.go 9.7 milesAvoid</a>Map
37:Turn LEFT onto MAMARONECK AVE.go 5.5 milesAvoidMap
38:Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto BLOOMINGDALE RD.go 0.7 milesAvoidMap
39:Turn LEFT onto WESTCHESTER AVE/NY-119/CR-71. Continue to follow NY-119 W.go 4.0 milesAvoidMap
40:Merge onto SAW MILL PKWY N/SAW MILL RIVER PKWY N.go 7.0 milesAvoidMap
41:Take the BEDFORD RD exit- EXIT 28- toward PLEASANTVILLE.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
42:Turn LEFT onto BEDFORD RD.go 0.9 milesAvoidMap
43:Merge onto NY-100 N/NY-9A N.go 1.9 milesAvoidMap
44:Keep LEFT at the fork to go on NY-9A N.go 5.0 milesAvoidMap
45:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto US-9 N.go 8.4 milesAvoidMap
46:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto BEAR MOUNTAIN STATE PKWY.go 2.9 milesAvoidMap
47:Turn LEFT to take the US-6 E ramp.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
48:Turn RIGHT onto US-6/E MAIN ST. Continue to follow US-6 E.go 4.4 milesAvoidMap
49:Merge onto TACONIC STATE PKWY N.go 68.1 milesAvoidMap
50:Take the RT-23 ramp toward CLAVERACK/HILLSDALE.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
51:Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto NY-23 (Crossing into MASSACHUSETTS).go 16.9 milesAvoidMap
52:Turn LEFT onto MAIN ST/US-7/MA-23/MA-41.go 0.9 milesAvoidMap
53:Turn RIGHT onto STATE RD/US-7/MA-23. Continue to follow US-7.go 6.6 milesAvoidMap
54:Turn RIGHT onto US-7/MAIN ST/MA-102. Continue to follow MA-102 E.go 4.6 milesAvoidMap
55:MA-102 E becomes US-20 E.go 34.8 milesAvoid</a>Map
56:Turn LEFT onto ELM ST/US-202/MA-10. Continue to follow US-202/MA-10.go 4.4 milesAvoidMap
57:Turn RIGHT onto NORTH RD/US-202. Continue to follow US-202.go 4.2 milesAvoidMap
58:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto HOMESTEAD AVE/US-202.go 1.0 milesAvoidMap
59:Turn RIGHT onto CHERRY ST/US-202.go 0.6 milesAvoidMap
60:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto BEECH ST/US-202 N. Continue to follow US-202 N. Pass through 1 roundabout.go 13.9 milesAvoidMap
61:Turn SHARP RIGHT onto S MAIN ST/MA-181. Continue to follow MA-181.go 5.4 milesAvoidMap
62:Turn LEFT onto DEPOT ST/MA-181.go 0.3 milesAvoidMap
63:Turn RIGHT onto MA-181/MAIN ST. Continue to follow MA-181.go 3.6 milesAvoidMap
64:MA-181 becomes N MAIN ST/US-20.go 0.7 milesAvoidMap
65:Turn LEFT onto THORNDIKE ST/US-20.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
66:Turn RIGHT onto PARK ST/US-20/MA-32. Continue to follow US-20 E.go 40.6 milesAvoid</a>Map
67:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto ramp.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
68:Merge onto MA-9 E.go 29.0 milesAvoid</a>Map
69:Turn LEFT onto BROOKLINE AVE.go 1.0 milesAvoidMap
70:Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto BOYLSTON ST.go 0.5 milesAvoidMap
71:Take the STORROW DR. ramp toward COMM. AVE./KENMORE SQ..go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
72:Take the STORROW DR. ramp toward NEWTON/DOWNTOWN.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
73:Take the ramp toward US-1 N/DOWNTOWN BOSTON.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
74:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto STORROW DR/JAMES J STORROW MEMORIAL DR.go 1.0 milesAvoidMap
75:Turn SLIGHT LEFT to stay on STORROW DR/JAMES J STORROW MEMORIAL DR.go 0.4 milesAvoidMap
76:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto MA-28 N/MA-3 S/CHARLES ST/STORROW DR/JAMES J STORROW MEMORIAL DR.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
77:Turn RIGHT onto MARTHA RD.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
78:MARTHA RD becomes LOMASNEY WAY.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
79:LOMASNEY WAY becomes MERRIMAC ST.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
80:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto NEW CHARDON ST.go 0.1 milesAvoidMap
81:Take the RT-1A N ramp toward LOGAN AIRPORT.go 0.2 milesAvoidMap
82:Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto MA-1A N/WILLIAM F MCCLELLAN HWY/EAST BOSTON EXPY.go 1.4 milesAvoidMap
83:Take the LOGAN AIRPORT ramp.go 1.1 milesAvoidMap
84:Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto TERMINAL C/TERMINAL D.go <0.1 milesAvoidMap
85:End At Logan International Airport (BOS), 1 Fish Pier, Boston, MA 02210, 617-428-2800

Map
Total Est. Time: 9 hours, 3 minutes Total Est. Distance: 328.37 miles

source: www.mapquest.com

This should help a bit. I avoided major Hwy's and tolls.

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Cod

thanks Tom ,very helpful. I need to decide if I want to go inland or along the coast, but I also want to avoid interstates and tolls and very heavy traffic so the coast might not be the best option. I have plenty of time to plan anyway!

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Tom Stormcrowe

Not a problem, Cod. All I did was check Mapquest and select for avoid highways and tolls. www.mapquest.com is that URL, btw. Another source I'd look at is http://www.adv-cycling.org/ for further info on cycling specific routes. I've found them to be extremely helpful. Enjoy the tour when you do it and ride safe.

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Tom Stormcrowe

Almost forgot! Any suggestions for touring Ireland? My family comes from County Cork and County Mayo and My wife's family comes from County Fermanagh. We'd like to visit the Auld Sod and cycle tour.

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Cod

I'm based in Cork City, and I do most of my riding around Munster, the South West part of Ireland. The most interesting parts of Ireland are probably Dublin City for historical and cultural reasons and the south and west coasts for scenery and tourist atractions. The inland (midlands) parts are nice enough too but could be a bit dull compared to the west.

West Cork, south and west Kerry, west Clare, county Galway and Galway city, Mayo and Sligo are well worth visiting. Donegal is lovely too but is a good distance from Shannon or Dublin Airports, where you'd be arriving into Ireland from the States. It is also one of the worst areas for road accidents, particularly the northernmost area, the Inishowen peninsula. I cycled the length of Ireland 2 years ago for charity and despite the great scenery Donegal was by far the least enjoyable area to cycle through.

I reckon a nice tour would be:
Arrive Shannon
Head north to County Clare: Ennis, Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Then into County Galway: Galway city, Connemara, then Westport in County Mayo
Back to Clare, into County Kerry: Tralee, Dingle, Killarney, Kenmare, then into County Cork: Bantry, Beara Peninsula, Skibbereen, then work back to Shannon across north county cork. I'll take a look at a few maps and see if I can get mileages.

Bear in mind the weather here is never very warm or cold but it does change a lot, we get a good deal of misty rain. Bikes shops are plentiful and well-stocked, accomodation is also plentiful and there are a range of prices, from basic hostels to Bed and Breakfasts and hotels. There are often very good value mid-week specials. There are loads of options for food, most towns have well stocked delis where you can get subs and sandwiches made to order. Restaurants can be pricey but are generally good quality.

Public transport is expensive, dirty and generally crappy, trains won't take bikes and buses will take them at the drivers discretion which is a bit hit and miss.

From a safety point-of-view, the main roads have hard shoulders but these can be dangerous as they are sometimes used as a slow lane by trucks, tractors etc. They also have a tendency to disappear without warning. Most roads have good surfaces but do not have well-defined edges, or markings to denote the edge of the roadway, so the strip that cyclists use is generally in poor repair.

There is a serious problem with speeding and unregulated young/learner drivers at the moment and this getting worse, so be prepared for agressive driving particularly in the outskirts of towns and cities and at night and weekends. I felt a lot safer pedalling north along Route 1 into Boston than on any Irish road.
Let me know when you firm up on plans, dates, routes etc and I'll be glad to give you more details.

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limerickman

Concur with Cod as regards most of his information.

I live in Limerick City and there are literally thousands of cycling tourist in our region each year.
The Ennis, Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Galway city, Connemara, Westport (Mayo) route is beautiful.
But so to is the Shannon-Limerick-Tralee-Killarney-Kenmare and in to West Cork route also very picturesque.
(West Cork is lovely).

I am originally from Dublin and I can recommend County Wicklow as a beautiful area in which to cycle and there are plenty of historice sites (Glendalough,
Rtahdrum, Ashford, Avoca, Woodenbridge) to see and visit.

Fermanagh? I don't have any detailed knowledge of that part of the country unfortunately.
But I would expect that it is equally as picturesque.

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morelike hypocrisy.