Opinions Sought: US50 Cincinnati to D.C.

[emptysea]

Today is Memorial Day. I have an uncle who was killed in WWII and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The thought occurred to me as I was thinking of this man who I know so well, yet never met, that I should pay him a visit and perhaps lay a flower at his grave. His sister (my mother) would like that. She's 92 so I had better get on this, right?

The plan as it stands would be to allow two days each way for travel, stay in or around D.C. for a day or two, and head home. Would try to make this a ride for either May (V.E. Day) or September (Uncle Harry's birthday) of 2016. Since this notion just hit me this morning, it's all subject to change.

I did a quick check of the map and, considering my general aversion to interstates, it looks like US 50 could be a road that I could pick up, probably east of Cincinnati, and just follow it east. Looks easy, but is it a good road? Can I make decent time on it? Are there any points of interest along the way?

I'm going to to some internet research on this trip, but I thought I should check here first. After all, when it comes to information, most of the members of this forum are full of it.

Thanks in advance for your comments.
MTC

[the Ferret]

50 from Cinti to West Virginia is a good motorcycle road. 2 lane sweepery out in the country, only a few bigger towns to go thru Chillicothe, Hillsboro come to mind, and you skirt Athens, don't really go thru it. Very scenic and yes you can make good time on it.

There is one Indian mound before you get to Chiilicothe, just past Bainbridge I think, Rocky Fork state park outside of Hillsboro, not a lot of big stuff. Serpent Mound is a short detour from Hillsboro, and the road from Hillsboro to it and then back up to 50 in Bainbridge is killer.

http://ohiowins.com/great-serpent-mound/

Depending on the dates I know a good guide that lives just east of Cinti could get you as far as Athens or so.

[emptysea]

Thanks, Mickey. This just the kind of feedback I'm looking for. We are definitely interested in riding a spell with a guide.

Still a lot of planning to do. Seems to me that if the trip is going to be 5-6 days, we may as well make it 7-10 days and incorporate both weekends and perhaps the Friday before/Monday after. That could give us enough time to dip into West Virginia for a bit or some other detour.

Thanks again, and any one else that is familiar with areas to or through which we are traveling should feel free to suggest roads and or points of interest.

[DJS_imp]

keeping an eye on this thread for my trip to dayton OH.
traveled on route 80 - 76 - 71 -70 and 78 - 81 - 76 -70 many times. both are interstate the entire way.
did 78 - 81 - 30 (lincoln highway) - 70 the last few times.
this looks like a definite possible alternative 78 -81 - 50 - 35.

[CIP57_imp]

ES,

Arlington Cemetery is huge, do some footwork in advance as to the location of the grave and a map to locate. I have been out to Long Island National cemetery a few times with my Dad, we still needed a map and Arlington is much larger.

[INTP_imp]

Rt50 east of Dulles Airport into DC is a night mare. You might want to get on Rt 66 and take that into Arlington once you get to Rt 28 (sully road).

[emptysea]

CIP...Arlington has an app, which will be helpful, but yes the place is huge. I've been there twice and it is awesome with emphasis on the "awe"

Thanks for the travel tip, Kevin.

MTC

[pw363_imp]

I live on us50 near hillsboro and have traveled it to Arlington where my late aunt lived. From Chillicothe to Athens is nice from there to Bridgeport WV is 4 lane and ho hum. East of that its awesome but like mentioned earlier Arlington can be a bi@ch. The cemetery is great! Did a cool train ride in Romney WV 10-15 years ago (Potomac eagle I thunk) it's right on us50. It's a trip worth doing in my opinion.

[emptysea]

Thanks!

[EarsOnWheels_imp]

Rt50 east of Dulles Airport into DC is a night mare. You might want to get on Rt 66 and take that into Arlington once you get to Rt 28 (sully road).

Going to second this. Rt 50 will intersect with I-66 outside of the DC Beltway. Assuming there isn't a major jam on I-66, hop on I-66 and go almost all the way to the cemetery. Couple different ways to go the last mile or so. Just follow your GPS.

After I-66, Rt. 50 has tons of lights, strip malls, etc. Stop and go.