Dupont - Gaithersburg Connector
This is a route I use to ride from Gaithersburg down to Dupont
Cirle to meet up with training rides. The start is at the Bikes
USA on Muddy Branch Rd. in Gaithersburg, but with a map, you can
easly find other ways to pick up the route.
I'm giving it as two cues: one down to Dupont, and another for
the ride back out. Note that the enterance/exit into Rock Creek
is slightly different on the two routes.
The milage is based on staying with Beach Drive/Rock Creek Parkway
between the Zoo and north to the exit point from Rock Creek. Traffic
can get pretty messy along some stretches and I sometimes use the
path. Milage may vary.
Dupont - Gaithersburg Connector, Southbound
START: Bikes USA is located in the Wies Festival Shopping Plaza on
Muddy Branch. For reference: I270 north to Exit 9, I370 and Sam Eig
Highway. Take the exit for Sam Eig Highway. Turn right at the 2nd light,
Diamondback Drive. Go until it T's into Muddy Branch. There should be a
Giant Foods in front of you. Turn right onto Muddy Branch. Continue for
one mile, until the light at West Side Dr. Go through the light and take
the next right turn into the parking lot. Take the next right and go past
the Blockbuster and turn right again at the French Resturant, Le Paradis.
Bikes USA is on your right.
0.0 L onto Muddy Branch from parking lot
1.4 X Great Seneca Highway
1.9 X Rt. 28, Darnstown Rd, onto Dufief Mill Rd
4.4 S Pass Travilah ES on left. Dufief Mill become Travilah Rd
4.7 BL Bear left to staty on Travilah
5.4 L onto Glen Rd
8.6 R onto South Glen, cross bridge
8.6 L immediatly onto Glen
10.1 L onto Falls Rd @ T and light
10.3 R onto Tuckerman @ light
15.6 X 355, Rockville Pike, loop behind Metro station
16.2 L onto Montrose Ave
16.2 L again immediatly onto Montrose Ave
16.5 R onto Weymouth
17.0 X use sidewalk to cross barrier
17.1 R onto Knowles Ave
17.3 R onto Beach Drive, enter Rock Creek Park
21.5 BR onto Jones Mill Rd
22.5 X Jones Bridge @ light Bear to the left
22.9 X East-West Highway, pick up Beach Dr again
24.0 X MD-DC line
32.2 R Exit up to P St. Watch for brick sidewalk under bridge
32.3 R from exit ramp to P St. Watch for traffic and potholes!
32.8 Arrive Dupont Circle
Dupont - Gaithersburg Connector, Northbound
Start: Dupont Circle is at the convergence of Conneticut Ave, Massachusetts
Ave, 19th St, and P St. From MD, take the Beltway to Conn Ave and go south
until you reach Dupont Circle. From VA, Take the Key Bridge over the
Potomac. Turn right on M St. at the end of the bridge. Go to New Hampshire
Ave and turn left. Follow New Hampshire to Dupont Circle.
The meeting place is the fountain at the center of Dupont Circle. Parking
can be found on many of the streets that lead into the circle.
0.0 R onto P St from Dupont Cirle
0.6 L onto exit ramp to Rock Creek. Watch for island!
0.7 L onto sidewalk. CAUTION: Must cross traffic going up the ramp!
9.4 X MD-DC line
10.5 X East-West Highway onto Jones Mill Rd, residential
10.9 X Jones Bridge Rd, bear right
11.9 BL rejoin Beach Dr
14.9 BL to exit Rock Creek Park at 355, Rockville Pike
14.9 X 355 at light onto Grovsner Ln
15.1 R onto Grovsner Pl
15.5 L onto Tuckerman Rd
20.6 L onto Falls Rd @ light
20.8 R onto Glen Rd @ light, watch for bumps!
22.3 R to stay on Glen, cross bridge
22.3 L immediatly onto Glen @ stop sign
25.5 R onto Trailah Rd
26.2 BL to stay on Travilah
26.5 S Pass Travilah ES on right. Travilah becomes Dufief Mill Rd
29.0 X Rt 28, Darnstown Rd onto Muddy Branch
29.5 X Great Seneca Highway
31.0 R into parking lot for Bikes USA