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Cars - Driving Around PA

Lots of Curves

I didn't live in the more rural sections of New Jersey when I lived with my parents there, but I did take the occasional curvy road around every once in a while. For the most part, though, Jersey life consisted of the New Jersey turnpike, I-95, I-80, and routes 1, 3, 4, 9, 20, 21, and 46 - highways I frequented to get around. Not too many sharp curves there, since they move so much traffic on a regular basis.

Then I got married and moved to Pennsylvania. The situation changed almost immediately.

Even before I got married, I had been driving the roads casually when I visited Holly there. But the daily driving of back roads has made me appreciate the aspect of flinging cars through curves and getting comfortable with them when swapping energy between the car, the road, and myself.

The Minor Roads

Some of the smaller roads I drive on:

• Spinnerstown road: peel off of route 663 southbound onto this two-lane just past the Northeast Extension Pennsylvania turnpike (Quakertown area) and head north. Gentle curves for the most part up until Trinity Great Swamp UCC, then it veers back north and ducks through forest before rejoining Limeport Pike some 3 miles up the road.
• King's Highway / Gerryville Pike: starts at routes 29 / 100 up near Emmaus. Lots of elevation changes, occasional houses and churches, and some blind curves that are challenging at any speed (in other words, speeding here is not just illegal, it's also quite hazardous to your health). One particular rise will take you between peaks and valleys as you approach Zionsville. Becomes Gerryville Pike after crossing route 663 down to Red Hill.
• Limeport Pike: one of the longest two-lane highways I have been on in eastern PA. Heading north, start near Zionsville by turning onto the Pike from King's Highway, then head north. A curvy road, just not very curvy. Leads out to near Allentown and Bethlehem. I-78 can be easily reached by way of Upper Saucon Valley road, bearing right after going north past a golf course to route 309 and the interchange.

The Major Roads

And now for the heavier contenders:

• Route 309: from Philadelphia north to Allentown. Portions of this highway are divided, with two and three lanes each way. Almost all forms of traffic flow through here. It can get quite congested around the Hatfield / Montgomeryville areas.
• Route 22: from the PA border through to Allentown. Two lanes each way, divided highway, somewhat limited access. Can get jammed up during the weekends.
• Interstate 78: all the way from New Jersey out to Allentown area. Two and three lanes each way, with a toll booth at the Delaware River. General straight-ahead cruising, no sharp curves (read: nothing requiring a sharp turn yellow diamond).