Harrisburg PA

[Bobonli]

I'll be making a weekend trip to Hershey with the family and will be staying in Harrisburg (Eisenhower Blvd, if it matters). The area looks pretty congested on the map. Is there any riding worth doing in the area; for example, for an hour or so before the kids wake up?

I'm familiar with the Lancaster area, but Harrisburg….not so much. If it's a hot mess of traffic I'll just leave the bike at home.

Thanks

[ZenNMotion]

I'm not familiar with the city, other than I definitely don't want to live there as the Detroit of PA. But I've done some nice rides N. of I-81 on the W. side of the river. And of course Michaux State Forest is an hour away if you can get away (Google Pine Grove Furnace for a start point) and has gobs of great roads, paved and gravel- the Iron Cross race course for one. And of course Thurmont MD has some great rural hilly roads around Camp David, 45min South of Harrisburg if you have the time. Compared to Long Island, I'd say Harrisburg environs are riding heaven. The city itself, probably not so much. That's all I got.

[vertical_doug]

I had to attend a horse show in Harrisburg every year for many years. Outside of the city the riding is very nice. West is the Apps, east you can hit the rolling hills. However, with only an hour, you will not have time to get out to anything enjoyable. I'd just go for a run along the river.

Now if you can drop the family off at hershey then go riding, you have options!

[Bobonli]

Thanks everyone. I don't think it would be polite to disappear in the car to ride when the purpose is really a quick trip for the amusement park with the kiddies; not "let's wait around for dad to come back from his ride."

[EricKeller]

if you are staying in Hershey, that is a whole different thing than Harrisburg. Just go any direction other than towards Harrisburg and you are fine. I haven't ridden from there, but looking at people's rides on ride with gps, the roads are very familiar, particularly to the north and east. If I was riding without anyone's input, I would go east. But what I usually do is look at rwgps and get some ideas there. You can always double check the roads with google street view to make sure you aren't being led onto some sort of deathtrap

[EricKeller]

now that I finally read your OP, and after the time out on editing, you are just to the west of some really nice riding. The trick would be to get out of that area towards the east for the first few miles

[mstyer]

You could search out routes that others are riding on Strava, Garmin Connect, MapMyRide, etc.

[Bobonli]

Thanks. Too late. The place I'm at is basically I a highway service road. Not suitable for cycling. I left the bike home....just as well.