Modern Vespa

Any one here familiar with roads in Eastern PA? In a couple weeks we are going to be headed to Shartlesville,PA about half way between Allentown and Harrisburg. Will be coming from the north down US11 to Scranton/Wilkes Barre area. We are trying to avoid running on Interstates but don't want to get lost on some dirt road with banjos playing in the distance!

If anyone knows the area and can suggest an easy to follow route it would be very welcome. We will be on four wheels, two on the GTV300 and two on a Sportster. Have a GPS but NOT a motorcycle friendly one that will pair with the Sena so following it while riding can be a challenge. Open to any and all ideas!

Us 11 and 15 are both bigroads, no tiny dirt paths there.

Was not saying that US 11 was a dirt road, but at least up in NY it's not an Interstate type road. Similar to Us Rt 20. As I was trying to say just want to stay off Interstates but not have to ride in ruts with grass growing between them.

I'm from the area and there are awesome roads in the area. I think one of the questions that I need to ask is whether you're just passing through the area (point A to point B) or whether you're looking for some routes in and around the area.

There is a place called Hermey's BMW/Triumph down near there in Port Clinton and a cabelas in Hamburg. You could start there and head north up 61 thru Pottsville. If you got time Yuengling Brewery is there (oldest continuous brewery) and they do tours. ...you then jump to 209 to catch 309 N
...or just north of Hermeys is 443 and you can take that up toward Tamqua and catch 309N there. Depends on how direct you want to go...

You could also opt to head head a bit NorthWest to catch 11 in Bloomsburg. Here's a hint- great place to eat there called Marley's in Bloomsburg and totally worth a pit stop. They have peanut butter beer! Issue is 11 is a 4 lane road with 55 mph speed limits. It's pretty as you're going along the river but it's fairly straight and moves at a good clip. I'd recommend the path toward 309N which are still good size roads but you go through the towns, more mountains, and nice trip. (smaller than 11)

I will tell you there is an amazing road off of 11 that's a bit out of your way but worth it. YOu go up 11 until you hit West Nanticoke, and catch 29. It goes through a state park that follows a river with mountains on both sides of you. Pretty amazing for about 6-10 miles. You can follow 29 all the way to 118 and then follow that up to Back Mountain (Dallas PA). Bit west if you're just passing through but really pretty ride. You can even catch 309N there and follow that all the way north toward Tunkhannock if you're continuing up to New York or can swing it back around toward Scranton there. Longer swing around but it's really nice country and good roads. Up towards Tunkhannock there is the largest Concrete Railraod bridge in the world (or at least it was when built in 1915 - called the Tunkhannock Viaduct (google it). Worth seeing - it's big and still in service. There is also a turn off to take pictures. That is also where Route 6 kicks off (going west) which is written about as one of the best scenic trails. ...gives an idea of the road and countryside. ...from there it's all about where you want to end up which way you head from northern Scranton area.

There's lots of great roads other than the interstates you'll just have to look at some maps to find a way that suites you.
At first thought I thought, follow Rt 11 most of the way to Harrisburg and pick up Rt 443 towards Fort Indiantown Gap, Rt 895 to Rt 183 to old Rt 22. That'll take you quite a bit west to then go east however.
Or Rt 309 out of Wilks Barre to Rt 443 to 183.
Rt 925 out of Hazelton can take you to Schuykill Haven where you can then pick up 443 then as well.
I spent nearly 30 years working as a Land Surveyor in the state of Pennsylvania, traveled about the state quite a bit, preferred to not take interstates as well, one just has to be imaginative with routing. GPS units should be programable for non-interstate routing.
Ahhh.... My 'stupid' iPhone just showed me one of the routes I stated.
If you make it to the Harrisburg area, give me a 'shout'

Keith

Misread - you are coming SOUTH from north to the Hamburg, PA vicinity.

Reverse everything I said but still worth it. Can still see the viaduct and kick of in Tunkhannock. Head south from Tunkhannock which is a gorgeous trip and/or go through CLarks Summit (also an amazing trip). To do the clark summit, you follow 307 down to Falls and catch 292 through the back roads where you can link up to back roads Village Road and then Edinger Rd. Its a lot of small roads so recommend phone or GPS but it's worth it once you get headed the right way and really pretty with good curves, light traffic. You want to get to Dallas PA in order to catch 415 WEST for a short jog to get you heading down 118 to 29 going south which will put you right into that state park I mentioned with the amazing mountains on both side and river along the road. Pretty spectacular. You'll come out on 11S going toward Bloomsburg. Can hit Marley's.

The other option is you keep East and head toward 309 following it south. Depending on where you catch it coming south, you can follow 11S to catch 315 which will put you right past the Poconos DOwns Casino. Nice ride. You can keep following 315 until you get to the Arena where you'll cut around the mall area and catch 309 going south right on up a 4 mile uphill with some great curves into Mountain Top PA. follow 309 down to Hazleton and keep heading south to McAdoo and from there you can either take those same roads I mentioned south to either Pottstown (going down 209 to 61) or you can stay on 309 and hit the 443 I mentioned and finish near Hermey's, port Clinton and then just head a bit more to the west to finish at your destination.

I'd offer to meet and show you a route, but I'm headed out of town for the next few weeks (3-5) so depends on when you're coming through but odds are I'll be in Reno, NV for work.

Thanks to all for the replies! Will be checking them against a map and see which ones or parts of ones look good. We are just planing a few days ride right now. Just to get a taste of the area for future trips.

Problems we have had with the GPS are two. First glare on screen can make it hard to see if it is a bright day and like I said the one we have will not pair with the headsets we use to be able to hear the directions. We will be bringing it and at least have it handy in case we get lost!

If you don't mind, make sure you loop back to this thread and update on the final route and verdict you do take (pics of anything awesome). I'm always looking for new roads or places to recommend to people.

Yes I will try to make sure to return to this once the trip is done. There is a chance it will be moved to a trip by car if the weather looks bad. But if Penn. is anything like NY this year lack of rain is more of a problem.

We/I am thinking of doing a little Interstate time just to get through the Scranton Wilks-Barre area but still looking at staying on 11 then taking 93 back toward Hazleton. It is still a work in progress!