Best Driving Roads in Virginia / states around.

[IntegraJWill]

IDK if this will gain traction, or if it's already on the forums (I searched with no results) but I wanted to get a list going of the best driving roads ("touge" and cruising) all over Virginia and the surrounding areas.

I wanted to share my top picks if anyone was in the area (living / passing thru). I live in McLean, Va (NoVa) and I've got a few nice hilly roads if you wanna try bringing out the inner-rally driver in you. 

1) Kirby Road, McLean. Kirby Road starts (my perspective) when Idylwood Rd turns into Kirby, and ends at the intersection of Kirby and 123. Going towards 123 is fun but not as challenging as the run towards Idylwood. My favorite part is going towards Idylwood when there are two blind right-handers in sequence. 
-MAJOR PRO: speed limit is 35 when it should be 25 so take advantage of it. 
-MINOR CON: There is one corner where it is a left hander (to 123) that is off cant (left hander with the inside of the corner raised) and then a protruding barrier you MUST avoid (can be seen in video when I pass the black car going around the corner).
Video of me and my Teggy running Kirby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLeJQ13DgNc&t=5s 

2) River Bend Road, Great Falls. This one is tricky... When you turn right onto River Bend from Georgetown Pike, you have probably a mile(?) before you hit your first stop sign. You can either go left or straight (right = dead-end). Left is cool but straight is cooler. I like this road cuz it's super hilly and some of the hills you could get air if you have the balls and money to repair what you break on impact. 
-MINOR CON: Gotta know the road before going fast. 
-MAJOR PRO: Super fun.

3) Georgetown Pike (westward), Fairfax County (multiple towns). For this I am talking about the stretch from the Beltway to Old Dominion Road. This section is around 4 miles of twist and straight roads all mixed together. 
-MAJOR CON: always filled with traffic (very nice people going the speed limit).
-MINOR CON: one or two deceiving corners where it tightens up much quicker than what it looks like from the start.

[Senor_Taylor]

I did some driving between southern Manassas and Vienna a few weeks ago and hit some really cool roads around the lake barcroft area.

[ScottyB]

we had an MM Road Map thread but it appears the main map link is dead.  we had half the east coast mapped out.

assholes going the speed limit

those maniacs.

how many roads have you run outside of DC?  if you'd be up for a day trip most people here can point you in the right direction, but ideally you don't want to go ham until its autocross and track time.

not sure how much time you've spent at JMU but its surrounded by some gems.  just don't post incriminating stuff here, we have a hard enough time staying on JMU's good side.

[*insertusernamehere*]

There is just about nowhere east of Leesburg that I'd be comfortable driving in any anger whatsoever. Everywhere I'd recommend sending it is Leesburg and west. Speaking as someone who just went to Harrisonburg this past week so I could open it up.

[IntegraJWill]

we had an MM Road Map thread but it appears the main map link is dead.  we had half the east coast mapped out.

assholes going the speed limit

those maniacs.

how many roads have you run outside of DC?  if you'd be up for a day trip most people here can point you in the right direction, but ideally you don't want to go ham until its autocross and track time.

not sure how much time you've spent at JMU but its surrounded by some gems.  just don't post incriminating stuff here, we have a hard enough time staying on JMU's good side.

Yeah I mean literally nothing outside of D.C. (cant drive car to school, but I would know how to @Taylor), but I would love to get out to Harrisonburg or the country side to explore new roads. Yeah I'll take that out.

---

There is just about nowhere east of Leesburg that I'd be comfortable driving in any anger whatsoever. Everywhere I'd recommend sending it is Leesburg and west. Speaking as someone who just went to Harrisonburg this past week so I could open it up.

Sick thanks, definitely will check that out sometime.

[ScottyB]

Yeah I mean literally nothing outside of D.C.

you gotta fix that ASAP.  kirby road will feel like a drivethrough once you get a proper shot of the mountains.

took this trip last year if you want to read through it.  been driving the twisty bits of N. GA, western NC and SW VA for the last 15 years.  i was just up there 2 days ago and did 348 north to blood mountain downhill.  that route's blown up over the last 10 years thanks to social media but hitting it early on a Sunday worked out pretty well.

biggest thing is to never ever cut over the double yellow.  not just because its super dangerous but its just amateur hour stuff anyway - if you're there for the turns, why try to straighten them out?  easiest way to tell if you're riding with people that don't belong up there is whether they start immediately doing that once the road gets twisty.

[BLINGMW]

I can appreciate the effort, but unless you're going to get a section closed down for an event, there are no "fun driving" roads. Take it easy and enjoy the scenery.

[IntegraJWill]

Yeah I mean literally nothing outside of D.C.

you gotta fix that ASAP.  kirby road will feel like a drivethrough once you get a proper shot of the mountains.

Yeah I'm going to get out there sometime soon. pretty bored around here cuz of the whole no mountains thingy. I might try to go down to Harrisonburg for a weekend to drive your route and maybe link with a MM cruise if there is one. Would also love to get some photos out there. In response to your double yellow comment I probably wouldn't want to go all that fast my first time.  Thanks for the info, and I might have to post on that thread you sent me to for your ride.

[Senor_Taylor]

Once you get on track, no amount of "spirited" driving will seem exciting anymore unless you're being dangerous.

That said, take your car to JMU. Go on Cruises. My life got 100% better when I bought my first Miata and did route 33 runs with the club.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[Sijray21]

I can appreciate the effort, but unless you're going to get a section closed down for an event, there are no "fun driving" roads. Take it easy and enjoy the scenery.

yeah, this.

if you want to push the car at all that's what auto-x and hpde is for.

nice scenic roads can be found west of Fairfax County and on the Potomac side of Maryland, too. take the 4-6 hours and explore roads in other parts of VA and MD. north of Leesburg are some nice roads, too.

i'm mostly listing areas that i enjoy on the bicycle and have enjoyed on the motorcycle. Watch out for cyclists and deer please (especially cyclists - it could be me...)

[Jake]

There's some nice roads in Clifton. Not fast, but twisty and pretty scenery. Route 211 is also super scenic with a bit of windy pavement as you cross the mountain.

[SlimKlim]

There are a lot of tiny little roads in western loudoun county heading out towards Harpers Ferry that are tiny and tight with relatively high speed limits (40-55). Good place to go have a little fun without being risky.

[Apoc]

Lost River Battle Stage.

RJ, Ginger, and I found this road on accident like 15 years ago. Doing 30 mph is somehow still exhilarating. Highly recommended.

[.RJ]

lulz @ good driving roads in nova, does not exist. I ride bicycles on all those roads.

going up over the mountains - most of the roads up/over skyline or BRP are generally pretty good, 2 lane on the way up and a blast at speed limit or +5 or so without being full ding dong.

[IntegraJWill]

Once you get on track, no amount of "spirited" driving will seem exciting anymore unless you're being dangerous.

That said, take your car to JMU. Go on Cruises. My life got 100% better when I bought my first Miata and did route 33 runs with the club.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Like we talked about @ ur house I gotta get myself into a Miata.

---

I can appreciate the effort, but unless you're going to get a section closed down for an event, there are no "fun driving" roads. Take it easy and enjoy the scenery.

yeah, this.

if you want to push the car at all that's what auto-x and hpde is for.

nice scenic roads can be found west of Fairfax County and on the Potomac side of Maryland, too. take the 4-6 hours and explore roads in other parts of VA and MD. north of Leesburg are some nice roads, too.

i'm mostly listing areas that i enjoy on the bicycle and have enjoyed on the motorcycle. Watch out for cyclists and deer please (especially cyclists - it could be me...)

Noted. I have never been on track so I guess I'm letting loose on public roads where I know I should be slower. Deer around here are a real problem, saw two just last night that I might have hit if I were sending it (I take it easy after dark cuz my eyes suck with glare / night time headlights, plus it was a new route). Cyclists are definitely something to watch out for... I'm always super cautious around you guys. I know what it's like to be close to cars, not the most reassuring feeling in the world.

---

There are a lot of tiny little roads in western loudoun county heading out towards Harpers Ferry that are tiny and tight with relatively high speed limits (40-55). Good place to go have a little fun without being risky.

This weekend I will definitely check that out. Won't go bizerk on them first time through, just want to explore the area.

---

twisty and pretty scenery. Route 211 is also super scenic with a bit of windy pavement as you cross the mountain.

Enough said, I'm gonna get a route together around NoVa to wrap these roads together. I would take scenery over speed any day.

---

lulz @ good driving roads in nova, does not exist.  I ride bicycles on all those roads.

going up over the mountains - most of the roads up/over skyline or BRP are generally pretty good, 2 lane on the way up and a blast at speed limit or +5 or so without being full ding dong.

I'd love to get out there for the scenery. Rather take it slow to enjoy it than going 'full ding dong' .

---

Lost River Battle Stage.

RJ, Ginger, and I found this road on accident like 15 years ago. Doing 30 mph is somehow still exhilarating. Highly recommended.

Definitely checking this one out as well. Looks sick.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Go down Fort Valley Road from I66 to 211

At the end of the 33 cruise go past the lake to Route 614 south down to Sugar grove and East on 250 back into Staunton then up back up 11

[IntegraJWill]

Go down Fort Valley Road from I66 to 211

Bet thanks, will add that one to my list.