Need an entertaining route from Deal's Gap to Birmingham

[Dangerous Dave]

The wife and I are taking the feej on vacation soon. We'll be spending the first half of the week in the Deal's Gap area, and the end of the week at Barber Motorsports Park. We'll have plenty of time that day to get from point A to point B, so I'd rather not superslab it (booorrrring!). We'll be staying in Robbinsville, NC so that's where we'll be departing from. My initial thought is to take US-19 all the way down to the north side of Atlanta, but not sure what's a good route from there to Birmingham. I'll have my Garmin on-board, so not really worried about getting lost, just like to find a nice curvy piece of 2-lane without too many little towns (read; stoplights) along the way. The US-19 thing isn't carved in stone either, if someone knows a more entertaining route, but I know US-19 is really nice down through Suches and Dahlonega. But since I've never really been west of I-75 in the southern half of the country, my knowledge ends there. Scenic and twisty are the orders of the day. So, can someone help a brutha out???

 

[Fencer]

If coming from ATL side I can get you on the bama side from Cheaha to Bham. Not to sure on the other side though.

Willy?

 

[Jagermeister]

If you venture over into SE TN, this is a cool ride: Map

I rode this a couple months ago, and had a blast. Going up Mountain from the TN side, there's a National Forest (no houses, very little traffic) with several miles of big, high speed sweepers and great views. Then, down the mountain to gorgeous lakes on the Alabama side.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

If you venture over into SE TN, this is a cool ride: Map.

Unless I'm missing something, I get nothing when I click your link except a map of the USA. No route or anything. Am I missing something??

 

[Jagermeister]

If you venture over into SE TN, this is a cool ride: Map.

Unless I'm missing something, I get nothing when I click your link except a map of the USA. No route or anything. Am I missing something??

Sorry about that; here it is: Map

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Sorry about that; here it is: Map

Now I see it...thanks Jager. Unfortunately, it seems a little off the beaten path for where I'm coming from/going to, and doesn't really cover enough of the trip. Do you know anything about US-78? Looks like it goes all the way from Atlanta to Birmingham, kinda loosely following I-20, mostly to the north. Looks fairly "meandering", but definately goes in the right direction all the way...both being good things. Possible downsides are that it looks like a reeeally small road on the map (maybe not well maintained) and appears to criss-cross railroad tracks frequently, or at least follow them. Of course the map doesn't always tell the tale, so it could go either way...good or bad. Anybody familiar with this road???

 

[leo]

Don't know the Ga side, but the Ala side is OK.

2 lanes, local traffic, small towns. Yes, there are lots of trains in Ala but the crossings on 78 are maintained.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Don't know the Ga side, but the Ala side is OK. 2 lanes, local traffic, small towns. Yes, there are lots of trains in Ala but the crossings on 78 are maintained.

Thanks Leo. So would you consider it a good road to ride (decent pavement?)...at least what you've ridden of it?? I just don't want it to be one of those roads where you get 30 or 40 miles in and go "holy ****...this was a mistake"! I promise I won't 'come lookin' for ya' if it's not all I hoped for.

Thanks,

 

[2wheelingdawg]

78 is good road all the way. We road it from Villa Rica Ga to close to Birmingham last year to go to Barber Motorsports. Close in to Atlanta is alot of traffic. Double check with Rand Mcnally, but hwy 61 or hwy 113 from Cartersville down to Villa Rica, Ga,then grap US 78 and head west. Anything east of Douglasville puts you in Metro Atlanta traffic for the most part. mostly small towns, not really curvy, but it is direct to birmingham. Used to live in Temple, Ga. drove 78 daily. If you're in Bremen around lunch time, Hometown Cafe is a must. Home cookin and price is right.

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Well, sorry to hear that it's not curvy, but as you said, it's the most direct route without taking the superslab. Barber is our ultimate destination. Gonna take in the museum on Friday, and do a Keith Code Superbike school there on Saturday, then back to Ohio on Sunday. (then heading for Niagara Falls the following Friday, then a lap around Lake Erie on Saturday!) US-19 south out of the Deal's Gap area will take us right to the Atlanta bypass. I figure we'll just take the bypass around the west side of the city and then pick up 78 and head west to Barber. I know anything around Atlanta is treacherous, but I want to believe I can get us through a quarter of the loop alive and well. :huh: I think I'm more concerned about being in the Deal's Gap area around Memorial day, but I think we'll just avoid the immediate area the first couple days. All in all, it should be an action packed couple of weeks.

Thanks for the info guys!

 

[2wheelingdawg]

If you are taking 19/Ga400 south into 285 around the west side, once you get on I-20 West, i would recommend getting off at exit 44(I think). It is Thornton Road. Turn to the right go a couple of miles and hang a left on 78. That is the easiest place to pick it up. If you grab it off of 285, you better be packing, and i don't mean lunch. But if you take it off of 285 it might look familiar. That area has made it on COPS several times, between the drug dealers, crack whores and housing projects never a dull moment. I've worked in and driven the area for 11 years now. I'll help with any questions i can.

Once you get near Heflin, Al. i think it is the Talladega National Forest that 78 cuts through.. nice, relaxing ride, not much traffic away from the big towns. I've heard Cheaha State Park near Heflin is a good ride, never done it though. I'm sure somebody on here could shed some light on it.

 

[Fencer]

Dave,

Do you have a gps?

If so send me your email (pm me) and I'll give you my rout from the state line over.

Also, 78 is good road, not a curvy road, but the former connector between Bham and ATL before I 20.

 

[RayW]

hmmm....looking at Google and trying to remember the route I took up to Helen a couple years ago....

19 into Dahlonega...cute place...lots of antique shops and stuff like that....wife might like it....

then 52 west ...

jog left onto 183 for just a little bit to get you to 136 west....

take 136 to 53 at Hinton....

then take that to 411 south at Fairmount.....

411 will take you into Cartersville (more antique shops) but the traffic that way thru Cartersville can be a b**** with all the lights and the train crossing every 30 min or so....watch the signs for 61/113 south...411 pretty much dumps you right onto it....

there is some construction as you leave Cartersville on 61.....watch for the left turn where 61 leaves 113...stay on 61...

then it's 55 mph down to Dallas (still MORE antique shops!) ...thru Dallas and it's 55 mph again down to Villa Rica.....catch 78 there and you're on your way to AL.

Not a bad ride and it avoids the Atlanta interstates and rough neighborhoods.

Might want to jump on I-75 at 411 for just a couple exits to the Main Street Cartersville exit and skip a lot of traffic lights. That has the added advantage of taking you by the new Yamaha dealership there if you need anything for the bike. Take it into Cartersville and it will dump you right onto 61 headed out of town.

This is the route we tried to take from where I live south of Dallas when I went to the gap a couple years ago. May have ended up with a wrong turn or two. But we made it just the same....even without GPS!!

As for 78...anything east of Douglasville is lots of traffic and strip malls, even in the good neighborhoods.

PM me with any questions or if you want to meet up. I grew up In Chardon Ohio. Love the warmer weather down south! 61 south of Dallas passes within about 2-3 miles of my house.

Ray

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Wow...that's alot to absorb. I'm probably going to have to print that out and look at the map with it in hand. I'm still thinking to take US-19 south out of Robbinsville, NC which will run me into hwy 400 and down to the Atl bypass. Take the NW quarter of the bypass around to I-20/US-78 (Bankhead Hwy) area.

As for 78...anything east of Douglasville is lots of traffic and strip malls, even in the good neighborhoods.

If this is true, maybe I'll take the bypass all the way to I-20, to Douglasville area, then shoot up to US-78/Bankhead hwy.

Additional thoughts?? I'm still not hearing any of those magic words like "big sweepers" or "tight switchbacks". Is it just all open country down in those parts?? Dammit...I want to show up at Barber with the FJR tires shagged to the edges!

 

[RayW]

Wow...that's alot to absorb. I'm probably going to have to print that out and look at the map with it in hand. I'm still thinking to take US-19 south out of Robbinsville, NC which will run me into hwy 400 and down to the Atl bypass. Take the NW quarter of the bypass around to I-20/US-78 (Bankhead Hwy) area.

If you look at it on a map it isn't really that bad. Just keep the map in the tank bag if you don't have a GPS. I forget what the roads were like as far as twisties but a few of the lines on the map look promising up until you would hit 411.

Plus coming that way you could wave at Calimus in Cartersville and at me over by Hiram.

As for 78...anything east of Douglasville is lots of traffic and strip malls, even in the good neighborhoods.

If this is true, maybe I'll take the bypass all the way to I-20, to Douglasville area, then shoot up to US-78/Bankhead hwy.

Additional thoughts?? I'm still not hearing any of those magic words like "big sweepers" or "tight switchbacks". Is it just all open country down in those parts?? Dammit...I want to show up at Barber with the FJR tires shagged to the edges!

Hwy 5 exit just west of Douglasville is probably the soonest you would want to get off the freeway if you decide to take I-20. But 400 and 285 are some of the busiest freeways around here depending on the day of the week and time of day. Rush hours are crazy! Everyone thinks they are Dale Jr when they get behind the wheel. <_< Speed limit on 285 is 55 but everyone does about 70-80 when traffic is not at a standstill.

I avoid the freeways around here. But I am kind of a wus when it comes to riding bikes in heavy traffic at those kinds of speeds.

I forget exactly what the roads were like but looking at the route I laid out there are some promising looking squiggles at least up until you hit 411.

Or you could always skip hwy 19 and take Cherohola parkway out of Robinsville which is also a nice ride and do a route that will take you west from there towards Chattanooga and then drop down into AL from there. I'm not familiar with that area, yet, but I've heard there are some good twisty roads up there. The route might be even more complicated than mine though.

Ray

 

[Fencer]

Here is a 34 mile loop around Barber.

As you come in ride in on Camp Winnataska road. It pretty much dumps you on Barber's doorstep. The SR 25 dumps you 29 Dreams as well.

The ride departs from Leeds Memorial Park east on US 119.

It follows US 78 for seven miles out of town and turns onto Camp Winnataska Road. (Chevron Station at freeway exit.)

Follow Camp Winnataska road for 7.8 miles where it ends at CR 27.

Turn Right onto CR 27 in Pleasant Grove.

CR 27 turns into CR 55 at the St. Clair County line in 2 miles.

Continue on CR 55 1.3 miles to the split with CR 43. (CR 43 is a shortcut to Vandiver.)

Bear left on CR 55.

Follow CR 55 3.5 miles into Sterrett.

Cross SR 25 onto CR 45. (Sterrett One-Stop gas station is about 800 feet south on SR 25 on the Left.)

Follow CR 45 3.2 miles into Vandiver.

Right onto CR 43. Watson’s station on the left at corner of CR 43 and SR 25.

Left onto SR 25.

Follow SR 25 for 7 miles over two big climbs.

Sharp left at the bottom of the second descent onto Elliot Lane. (Look for old Lance Armstrong Foundation century markings)

Follow Elliot Lane 1.6 miles until it ends on US 119.

Right on US 119. 1.5 miles back to Leeds Memorial Park.

 

[2wheelingdawg]

look at the map on NW GA. Just below Chattanooga is Cloudland state park. From there run SW toward Little River Canyon State Park In AL. We rode it last Sunday. Nice views, no traffic. There were some good twisties in the park in AL. Think we woke up the park rangers when we ran through there. I don't know the road numbers, i was following the pack. but it was a nice ride. about the only twisties i know of on the west side of the state.

 

[RayW]

Hey Dave,

Did all that stuff I emailed you come through?

I actually have a few other pages I could scan for you too. Keep meaning to do that...... :dribble:

Ray

 

[NoCage]

I'm still thinking to take US-19 south out of Robbinsville, NC which will run me into hwy 400 and down to the Atl bypass. Take the NW quarter of the bypass around to I-20/US-78 (Bankhead Hwy) area.I'm still not hearing any of those magic words like "big sweepers" or "tight switchbacks". Is it just all open country down in those parts?? Dammit...I want to show up at Barber with the FJR tires shagged to the edges!

Have you done this ride yet DD? The wife and I (in the cage :glare: ) went to visit with my daughter, SIL and new grandson in North Carolina this past weekend. Georgia DOT is working on I-20 between Villa Rica and the Alabama state line. You do NOT want to go through there until they're done... which is May 22nd, I think. On the return trip we took exit #24 in Villa Rica, turned right at the end of the ramp, and then left on Hwy. 78 West. We stayed on that for about 40 miles and hopped back on I-20 in Heflin (Hey Scab). The first 3rd of the 40 miles on 78 was slow, through very small towns with low speed limits and poor roads. As soon as we hit the AL state line the road condition was great, the towns disappeared, the limit went to 55mph, and there were some nice sweepers. I suspect that you'd find more of the same beyond Heflin... but can't confirm that. Before or after your Barber tour, you definitely want to ride Hwy. 25 at least, and Fencer's loop if you have the time.