Route Overview

Patuxent Velo Cycling

Road cycling in St Mary's and Calvert Counties MD

53 mi.

2,077 ft.

The ~50 mile course in Calvert County that OUJB, JDH, and others led. Beautiful farmland and rolling hills, mostly on lightly traveled roads.

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Route Details

This is the route that OUJB, JDH, and others led every other week on Saturday mornings.  For the purists who remember doing this route, I've made two changes for safety:  
1) I made the @slice[turn from Broome's Island Road onto Ross Road](d,58936.79,59585.57) rather than Mackall Road, because new developments along that section of Mackall Road have added more traffic.
2) At the end, I cross Route 4 by @slice[going under the Thomas Johnson Bridge](d,84411.31,84636.17) rather than crossing Rt 4 earlier.  Again, for safety concerns.

The route is entirely paved, and mostly on lightly traveled roads.  The way north is gentle rolling hills, the way back is not-so-gentle rolling hills.  An excellent ride any time of year.

Park at the @poi[Calvert Library Southern Branch](1643842) (13920 HG Trueman Rd, Solomons, MD 20688).

I recommend a mid-ride rest stop at the @poi[Wawa convenience store in Prince Frederick](88568).  Bathrooms and lots of drinks and snacks.

This route requires at least an intermediate level of fitness.  The difficulty of this route sneaks up on you.  You can finish the first 20 miles and think this ride is no big deal, but the last 30 miles will catch up with you.  There are notably taxing hills on @slice[Barstow Road](d,39169.22,40838.87), @slice[Sixes Road](d,45785.85,46993.79), @slice[Grays Road](d,50903.49,52136.22), and @slice[Mill Bridge Road](d,78362.61,79170.1).

Safety:  Near the start, the @poi[intersection with Dowell Road](1643843) has traffic coming off Route 4 that doesn't stop.  Be careful.  I've included a picture of what the intersection looks like.

This route will take you into the past, through bucolic Calvert County farmland on lightly traveled roads.  Enjoy the fields and ranches!

At the end, after you go under the Thomas Johnson bridge, feel free to make a right and do a victory lap around Solomon's Island.  This will add 2.5 miles to your route.  Be aware that during tourist season, you'll likely be the fastest vehicle on the road on this lap, as there are plenty of upscale tourists looking for parking and/or sightseeing.

# More resources

@poi[Patuxent Adventure Center](1643844)- one of America's best 100 bike shops, with a very friendly and helpful staff.   Near the start/finish.  [www.paxadventure.com](http://www.paxadventure.com)

Nearby restaurants- loads of them.  Here are my personal favorites:

In cycling clothing:

Lotus Kitchen- good place for a post-ride breakfast burrito, sandwich or key lime pie. [http://www.lotuskitchensolomons.com/](http://) On the Solomon's Island victory lap

After you've cleaned up:

Ruddy Duck - they brew their own beer on premises, and serve excellent food. You'll pass it on the route. 
[http://ruddyduckbrewery.com/](http://)

Stoney's Kingfisher's - excellent seafood [http://stoneysseafoodhouse.com/kingfishers/](http://) On the Solomon's Island victory lap

The Lighthouse - excellent seafood [http://www.lighthouserestaurantanddockbar.com/](http://) On the Solomon's Island victory lap

# Important Reminders

Park in front of the library.  It used to be a supermarket, so there's plenty of parking.  *Please don't park in front of Patuxent Adventure Center* and go off for hours on a bike ride.

Most of the roads on the ride north are lightly traveled or have shoulders.  On the way back, light traffic and no shoulders for most of the roads.

Calvert County 50 miler

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Other routes by Patuxent Velo Cycling

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Calvert County 50 miler

Route Overview

Route Details

Other routes by Patuxent Velo Cycling

St Mary's City loop

Chaptico Loop

7th District Loop

Hills and buggies

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