Reducing the slab ride from the Southeast

In looking at the both length of the ride to West Bend, Wisconsin from throughout the southeast and the sheer breadth of the southeast US, a couple things become clear... the ride will be at least 1,000 miles and there are a lot of good non-slab riding options along the way. Thinking that, due to the distance and schedule, most people will take the slab at least part of the way, this article outlines some good options to get off the 4-lane without straying too far off the direct path to your destination.

These roads are a combination of personal experience and that of a few riders who also frequent the BMW MOA Forum. There is a thread on this topic in the Rally section, so if you know of some good roads I missed, please log-in and post the info.

Last, all of these rides are intended to help you avoid the tolls and traffic in the Chicagoland area, which isn't a lot of fun on a motorcycle. These rides assume you'll loop west of the area on I-39 or take a ferry across the lake from Michigan.

Route map (enlarge image)

The fast way takes you near Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Chicago... ugh! You could ride one of the best US highways in the country:

• US33 north/west to US 119
  33 across Virginia is quite nice, cutting across the Appalachians at the Shenandoah National Park, but the road becomes world-class in West Virginia. West of Harrisonburg, VA to Buckhannon, WV... full of excellent twisties and open country road. Seneca Rocks is just one of many places to stop and look.
   
• WV47 to WV18 north
  20 miles west of I-79, US33 heads south, so look for WV47 and take that a short distance to WV18 and head north. There are a number of good country road shortcuts in this area. This is why they make BMW motorcycles.
   
• OH800
  Take WV18 north to Sistersville, WV and ride the Sistersville Ferry across the Ohio River, where you pick up OH800. This road meanders north through the Wayne National Forest and across farmland to I-70 east of Columbus, where you can head west or continue north and find your way up to Michigan while avoiding Cleveland and Toledo.

Coming west on I-40 from the Carolinas, alternative to I-75

While the slab in this part of the country isn't bad, the back roads are much better!

• From Asheville, NC - US 25E
  US25 departs I-26 just north of town and goes through Hot Springs, NC to Newport, TN. In Hot Springs, the Smoky Mountain Diner is a great place for lunch. Steve Forst, #97031 rides these roads often and says to stop and look around in the Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests. If you're looking for a place to camp in the Hot Springs area, there is an excellent National Forest spot called Rocky Bluff about 3 miles south of town on NC209.
   
• From Newport, TN - US25E to KY 11 north
  You can stay on I-40 a bit longer west of Asheville, and exit in Newport, TN. Open farmland, two scenic lakes and a high ridge view take you into Kentucky through the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park area. Just as 25E starts to feel crowded, you can head for the sticks on KY11 and enjoy great twisties through coal country. This whole section of the ride is a great bypass around Knoxville.
   
• US 421 to I-75 or continue KY11 north to Natural Bridge
  US421 provides a great ride and a faster return to I-75 and a run through the Daniel Boone State Forest. Or you can stay on KY11 and enjoy super twisty coal-country roads. The Natural Bridge State Resort is an excellent place to camp.
   
• US421 North from Lexington, KY to Indiana
  From I-75 north and I-64 west past Lexington to US127 north, 421 heads northwest across the Ohio River to Madison, IN. Steve calls the stretch from Frankfort, KY to Madison, IN is truly excellent - limestone bluffs with some sweet twisties followed by wide open rolling hills with sweepers, and then finally the drop down to the Ohio River valley and a steel span bridge crossing into Madison, which is a tourist destination in its own right. IN56 takes you west to I-65.

  Or you can stay on backroads by crossing I-65 and picking up either IN135 or IN37, which are described in the next option below.
   

Route map (enlarge image)

Enjoy open farmlands and forests instead of the northward drone.

• Exit 28 off I-65, west to KY 185, north from Bowling Green
  A quick jog helps you miss most of downtown. KY185 joins KY79 and rolls north through beautiful Bluegrass Country. Just past Rough River Dam State Resort Park, take a left on KY259. If it's time to stop for the night and you haven't experienced a Kentucky State Resort, the food and lodging is definitely not roughing it. There is no camping, but room rates are reasonable and there is a cool little Par-3 course and cheap rental clubs.
   
• KY259 north to US 60... then, a decision
  West takes you to IN37 north through several national forests, east goes to IN135, which "conventional wisdom says is the best motorcycle road through Indiana," according to John Brase, #12345.

  IN37 option: If you go west on US60, look for KY69 across the Ohio River in Hawesville, and then follow IN66 through Tell City to IN37 North. Go through the Hoosier National Forest to IN46 just north of Bloomington, and head west to US231 and then north for I-74.

  IN135 option: If you go east on US60, look for KY79 going north from Irvington and crosses the Ohio River and becomes IN135. It goes north, features more than a few turns, and ends just south of Indianapolis on IN46. Go west to I-70.

Route map (enlarge image)

The road to West Bend gives you a great opportunity to tour a large part the 444-mile Natchez Trace, and chooses from a few alternatives to ol' I-55.

• From Tupelo, MS, midway on the Natchez Trace
  Exit the Trace in Tupelo, MS, (birthplace of Elvis Presley) and follow US45 north into Tennessee. Take the US45E option and then US51 to I-57 in Cairo, MO. From there, watch for some good back road riding information for Illinois coming in a future issue of BMW ON.

  Or... if you have more time, stay on US45 north to I-24 into Illinois, follow US 45 to IL1 in Carmi and go north to US150 in Paris. Then north to I-74 and west to I-39. Enjoy lots of farm country, with all the great smells that come with it.
   

• From further up the Trace, alternative to I-65 & I-24
  Near Collinwood, TN, find TN13 north to KY49 and go northwest through Erin to Dover, a short distance west on US79 to KY453 north (aka The Trace) through scenic The Land Between the Lakes. The camping is great here. This runs into I-24 and you can take the second half of the ride above or hit the slab for a spell.

Route map (enlarge image)

The rides above are give you a number of options to ultimately head toward I-39, which provides a great alternative to Chicago traffic and tolls. Thanks to forum buddy Chris Rasmussen #117546 for this one:

• Exit #172 from I-74 in Mahomet, IL, IL47 goes north, paralleling I-39 to the west. This road takes you west of Chicago, and into Wisconsin.
   
• Highway B, turn left and go to WI67 in Fontana, north
   
• Highway O, turn right in Ashippun, the road changes names
   
• Holy Hill Rd. and goes right by Holy Hill to...
   
• Hwy 45 north to the Rally site, which is slab for the last 10 miles

Please be sure to visit the MOA Forum, and in the Rally section, and find a thread called "To WI from the Southeast." There you will find links to GPS waypoints and Mapsource routes for all these rides. I look forward to seeing you this summer!