Motorcycle Weekend Road Trip (Orlando, Ocala: home, move, traffic)

[JillH]

My husband and I have recently moved to Lake County from S. Florida. What a beautiful area!!!! We both have motorcycles and love to go riding on the weekends. We have been up through the Ocala Forest....awesome...and would like to plan a weekend roadtrip in Florida.

Looking for ideas... I am not fond of riding on the Expressway or dealing with a lot of traffic.... I have found that most car drivers are clueless as to how they should drive around motorcycles.

We are looking for a "nice" ride.

Thanks ~

Jill

[Magnulus]

Try the far eastern part of the metro, out towards Chuluota road and HWY 50 towards Christmas, that area. There are some somewhat scenic roads for a bike ride, and the traffic isn't as heavy. I'd suggest a Sunday morning as the best time to go, the roads are sometimes almost deserted.

The toll roads are not too bad, actually- since a certain segment of the Orlando population, that happens to be horrible drivers, cannot afford to use them regularly. Avoid I-4 on bikes if you can, it is like NASCAR out there. Also avoid the West Colonial area near downtown, etc. And any area where you hear Spanish or some other language widely spoken. I test rode a Honda Helix one time on West Colonial and it was just scary, drivers were too aggresive and had no problem cutting you off.

[marypoppins]

Did you know there's a bikefest in Leesburg this weekend? Thought you might be interested.

[JillH]

Thanks Magnulus & marypoppins.....

We did know there is a bikefest in Leesburgh this weekend... Hopefully we can go next year. There are bikers everywhere. We have a home improvement project going on and I am so jealous of everyone that gets to be out riding in this fabulous weather.

What is not to love about Orlando???

[Gyzmolady]

Hello Jill...My name is Marie. My husband & I belong to a Meetup riding group that you may be interested in called Weekday Riders. Please check out the website: ww.motorcycle.meetup.com/230/
We live up the road from you in Sanford & do quite a bit of riding.

[Kali's Grandma]

I see you've discovered the forest very pretty...here's one we like.

You didn't say what part of Lake Co so let me take you from Clermont....
Cr 455 to Cr 561(Stop at Little Lake Harris Inn in Astatula and say Hi to Dan the owner) to North 19 to West 48. West 48 to 44west. Take 44W to Lencato were you find 470 south, this come up out at Homasassa at SR 19. Take that north. Just south of Crystal River you'll pass a Harley Dealership. Once you pass the Harley Dealership, start looking for SR 494 Also known as Ozella Trail. Don't try to take it fast...you'll be fishing the bike out of the water.
Peck's Old Port Cove is a popular stop for the bikers. If you can, I'd go on a week day, we encountered lots of bikes on the weekend.
Have fun and ride safe!

[Kali's Grandma]

Originally Posted by captnemo62

I see you've discovered the forest very pretty...here's one we like.

You didn't say what part of Lake Co so let me take you from Clermont....
Cr 455 to Cr 561(Stop at Little Lake Harris Inn in Astatula and say Hi to Dan the owner) to North 19 to West 48. West 48 to 44west. Take 44W to Lencato were you find 470 south, this come up out at Homasassa at SR 19. Take that north. Just south of Crystal River you'll pass a Harley Dealership. Once you pass the Harley Dealership, start looking for SR 494 Also known as Ozella Trail. Don't try to take it fast...you'll be fishing the bike out of the water.
Peck's Old Port Cove is a popular stop for the bikers. If you can, I'd go on a week day, we encountered lots of bikes on the weekend.
Have fun and ride safe!

I would be dangerous I've I actually looked at your location...lol
You're in Sorrento so to get to the route I laid out, take Round Lake Rd South to Sadler..Hang a right on Sadler till you get to Lake Jem. If you take a left on 448a that takes you straight into Astatula where you can pick up 561 and take a right.
Or you can just go straight and that takes you to 19 north.

We love to ride and should be back on the road by July 4th weekend.

[JillH]

Thanks all for your ideas....

[Suzanne1945]

Also, check with the Harley dealer in Clermont and also in Leesburg on 441. Both dealers sponsor clubs which sponsor rides. If you are in the Sorrento area, you might also check with Seminole Harley off 46 and I4 in Sanford. They sponsor the Seminole Hog Club, which has a web site.

[Huckley]

Jill,

If you have a Garmin GPS I can send you about 50+ rides in the Lake County area. My wife and I both ride bikes and do so almost every weekend.