Overall Route Rating
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4.33 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.33
4 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Jul 31, 2007

Rider Reviews

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Guest
March 30, 2013
this ride is awesome, i added a little more to it…
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Guest
April 25, 2010
I live in the area so I get to ride this route…
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Written Directions

There are many different ways to get from Leesburg to the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland. The best way to understand my directions is to refer to the Google map above or load the GPS coordinates (GDB file) into your GPS device.

Scenery

You are heading to the Antietam National Battlefield, where it is easy to imagine one of the bloodiest Civil War battles taking place as the Blue and the Grey advanced and retreat among the hills, valleys, dales, and rivers. The back country roads of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland make this a magnificent ride because of changing scenery alternating between farm and ranch land, the horse country, and the scenic riverside along the Shenandoah River. This is a special ride enjoyed by all. Start early in the morning.

Drive Enjoyment

The road starts from Leesburg, VA and heads away from the city dwelling deeper and deeper into the back country roads of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, snaking along with the Shenandoah River and traversing the ranches and farms. The road narrow more and more on this route, twisting and turning, up and down hills, revealing the countryside and vista at every point.

Tourism Opportunities

Leesburg is a fine starting city. Soon tho', you are in the boonies, so tank up with gas before staring out on this short distance ride. The ride is about 1 1/2 hours because it is slow going, and spectacular. Once at the Antietam National Battlefield, you'll have a visitors' center with bathrooms, a theater, small museum, and small gift shop. You'll want to see the movie to give you the thrust of the battle before you cruise the grounds. Plan on spending about 1 hour in the visitors' center. You'll want to tour the battlefield by bike, which takes about one hour. Be sure to climb the tower and to visit the bridge. Leaving the battlefield, head east to the Red Byrd Restaurant in Keedysville MD for lunch. Any small paved road south is a good bet returning to Leesburg.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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Guest
March 30, 2013
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
this ride is awesome, i added a little more to it. at antietam go north on rt.65 through hagerstown.
continue to liettersburg, turn right to smithsburg, at traffic light turn right, next light turn left. go all nthe way to boonesboro then take alt. 40 east. to frederick.this took 3 hrs., i did not make any stops.
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2 riders found this road review useful
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Guest
April 25, 2010
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
I live in the area so I get to ride this route quite a lot and is one great ride. Just as a note of historical interest, from the time you cross highway 340 at Harpers Ferry until you pass Pack Horse Ford on the Potomac River, you are driving on the exact route A. P. Hill used to march from Harpers Ferry to Antietam on September 17, 1862 . A distance of seventeen miles had to be covered in just seven hours. As you ride over this route you might ask yourself if you think you could make this march and then go right into a full on attack on General Burnside's left flank without rest.
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Guest
September 21, 2009
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
I took a ride on this route this morning. I started out from my place in Vienna, Va. It was a glorious ride in perfect fall weather. I stopped over at Antietam briefly. Part of the route, Bakerton Rd, by Shenadoah River was good scenic route, but road quality isn't great with some mud and debris. So, one needs to use caution. Other than that, it was an excellent ride!
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