How to get through Quantico Military Base on Your Bike

This week I started out a bike trip from Richmond to Boston with my guitar and equipment all packed up. I had done minimal training so my first day was really slow going… I didn’t even make it to Fredericksburg. But my second day was much faster and I was hoping to make up for lost time – until I hit Quantico. It was a huge pain in the ass to get through, so I thought I’d pass the knowledge on. If this helps you out, give a holler in the comments section!

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Bike Highway One – Richmond to Washington, DC

I picked up the bicycle highway in Ashland, Virginia. Bike highway 1 is a series of backroad routes that have been charted out to be safe, more or less, for bikes to travel from Fredericksburg to DC (although I’ve heard rumors that it goes all the way up the East Coast. We’ll just have to see… I haven’t found much information online).

Bike Highway 1
Bike Highway 1

For the most part, I’m happy with bike highway one. But occasionally there will be an unmarked turn, and it is very important at those points to have your own maps. I also like to engage more deeply with my route, so when I saw the bicycle highway veer off to the west around what looked to be a park on google maps, I decided to make my own way. I estimate that bike highway one would have taken me 15 or more miles off track.

Quantico Military Base – not bike friendly

So for those of you wondering, googlemaps defines military bases by grey regions. Parks are defined by green. You can’t go through the grey areas. Or at least that’s what the guys with guns just north of Garrisonville told me.

As you can see, Quantico military base is a giant roadblock in the way of anyone who can’t safely travel on interstate 95 or car-highway 1.

Ever determined not to backtrack (an instinct that can be equally helpful and disastrous), I made a stab for Prince William Park in a gamble that ended up with positive results. But along the way, after two long days and three giant hills and all the unknowing, I almost broke down and gave up. I’d like to help you avoid the same kind of struggle, if you’re ever in a similar situation.

See my vlog entry from that day

How to get through Quantico Military Base on Your Bike

Step 1
Find your way to CO Rd 637, headed west. I had to go down Highway One for a couple of miles but you might be able to get through Telegraph Road to the East.

Step 2
Take a right on Russell Road at the military roadblock.

Step 3
Just before the entrance ramp to Interstate 95, there’s a tiny little entrance to a road called Breckenridge Road. Get ready for a climb!

Step 4
Breckenridge turns into Quantico Rd. It’s not two roads as it’s labeled on the map above. Go up and up and up. You’ll end up going through the Quantico Veterans affairs gate and Quantico cemetery.

Step 5
Now you’re through! Now I suggest going through Prince William Park, which is beautiful. Make your way out the other end of the cemetery (you have to turn right on Yorktown Blvd.)


Step 6
Take a left on Jopin road and then a right on Park Maintenance road. Keep to the right and you’ll end up at a T with Liming Lane/Scenic Drive. Take a left. Stay on Scenic Drive for a beautiful ride!

Step 7
Don’t miss the fire road to your right that will take you to Dumfries. Congratulations, you just shaved about 15 miles off your trip!

Read more about my Two Wheel Tour

4 Comments

  1. This needs to be added to some local biking books. Glad you made it, that hill climb must have plumb wore you out!
    I’m loving reading about your adventures. Keep the spirit!
    With alacrity,
    Titus

  2. I used this route through Prince William Forest and Quantico in May 2016 while headed south, and then again when returning and headed north. There is one complication, and that is the Quantico National Cemetery. I recall seeing a sign while headed south that said “No Through Traffic” which I ignored since I was a solo loaded tourist and figured this really applies to commuters in cars. However, on the return, headed north, the back entrance has signage that clearly states “No Bicycling.” I was even stopped and given a verbal warning while I was climbing the hill up Breckenridge. I was told I would be turned back if “caught.” I persisted and passed through without incident (maybe because it was lunch hour). The path through Prince William Forest worked without a hitch both ways. So you take a slight risk passing through the cemetery. The alternative is US 1, a diversion that adds about 3/4 mile to the route (and is an unpleasant experience!).

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