I will be going to my brother in laws next month up in Newport News Virginia. Basically it is near Virginia Beach and Norfolk. I would like to stay away from highways as much as possible, so that I can just enjoy the ride. Never really enjoyed the super slabs much because I ride it every day to work and it is just plain boring.
Does anyone know of a site I can plan a route, other than doing it the old fashioned way and getting a map? I could get a GPS but I hear that they still will put you on the highways a lot. I just wanna take it easy getting there and not go 80mph or better. It is close to 400 miles there on the highway, and best I can figure about a six hour ride. I would like to stretch it out to an all day affair.

 

Google maps is usually pretty good. I've used that one before. Like others it's not day to day up to date though. Whereabouts are you leaving from? Western or southern? I've been traveling all over NC and Virginia most of my life. I can probably tell you a decent route to take right off the top of my head.

 

I am in Cleveland County 1 hour south of Charlotte.

 

Head up Hwy 226 to the Parkway. Take the BRP north to VA. Take VA Hwy 58 east.

P.S.- I believe that Cleveland County (Shelby) is west of Charlotte. 1 hour south of CLT and you would be well into SC.

 

You can go to maps.google.com...put in Newport News, VA and click "Search Maps" or hit enter. Click on the little red push pin on the resulting map, and click "Directions" on the popup. To the left of the screen, enter your starting point, and click "Get Directions". By default, it will put you on the interstates in an attempt to get you the quickest route. Back over on the left side, click on the "Show Options" link...then check the "Avoid Highways" option, and click "Get Directions" again. This will result in a new route off the major highways.

However, for a trip no longer than you're looking at, I'd just get myself a good map and head out.

 

You can do what mcrider1 said (58 is a huge speed trap btw especially around Emporia) or the senic route

take 29 out towards Concord up to 29/601 towards Kannapolis. Stay on 601 up thru Rowan county. Pick up 158 in Mocksville towards Winston Salem. You'll want 421/158 east thru Winston Salem but that's the only traffic you'll hit. Stay on 158 all the way to Eure (damn near the other side of the state) then take 13 North to Suffolk Virginia where it will turn into 13/32 then 10/13/32. Pick up 258 east for just a couple miles and then 17 north takes you right across the James River Bridge into Newport News. Your bro should have no problem telling you how to get to his place from there.

If you miss 13 north don't worry about it, you'll hit 32 in a little place called Sunbury. If you miss that, don't worry, you'll hit 17 next.

Nice thing about this way is it's not too far off I-40/85/95/64 if you get sick of the nothing around you and want to make time. You'll be crossing over I-95 I-85 and US 1 long before you make the turn at 13 North. Plenty of alternate routes into Virginia all the way that will hook you up with a major route also.

I can make Charlotte from my place in about 5 1/2 hours on the major highways. I've gone this way to Greensboro quite a few times. Newport News should take about 7 and a half maybe 8 hours this way.