New
19 Aug 02

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Select and print itineraries for handy reference during your ride.

 Edited
 11 May 03

Middletown Loop Itineraries

Loop itineraries provide convenient opportunities for a local ride, when available time or riding conditions are uncertain.  When riding a loop, you're never very far from home in case you have to cut your tour short.  You can start and finish at any access points.  Simply ride until you begin to get tired, weather threatens, or darkness approaches, and take the shortest route home.


The Outer Loop lies outside Middletown's city limits; it can be accessed at various points.  Traffic is light to moderate on most roads, but may be fast on intercity thoroughfares.

Outer Loop
A Tour of Communities in the Middletown Vicinity
Loop approximately 40 mi. / 64 km.; maximum return distance 10 mi. / 16 km.
ß CLOCKWISE ROUTE READ TOP-TO-BOTTOM ANTI-CLOCKWISE ROUTE READ BOTTOM-TO-TOP Ý 
Turn Head Miles ß Clockwise Loop
(continued from bottom)		 Anti-clockwise Loop Ý
(continued at bottom)		 Turn Head Miles
Access Excello - Middletown (Main St.) Access
Enter cw loop S from Middletown:
From Main, turn right onto SR-73.		 Exit acw loop N to Middletown:
From SR-73, turn left onto Main.
¤L W 0.3 SR-73 (4 lanes) C E 0.3
ß Lemon Twp. Excello Ý
C W 1.2 SR-73 (bridge) C E 1.2
ß Trenton Lemon Twp. Ý
C W 0.6 State St. (track) ¤L E 0.6
¤R N 1.0 Miami St. C S 1.0
ß Miltonville Trenton Ý
C N 0.4 Elk Creek Rd. L S 0.4
ß Madison Twp. Miltonville Ý
R E 1.6 Howe Rd. BR W 1.6
BL N 1.8 Trenton-Franklin Rd. HL S 1.8
HR E 0.1 SR-122 HR W 0.1
Exit cw loop E to Middletown:
At Trenton-Franklin, continue (E) on SR-122.		 Enter acw loop W from Middletown:
From SR-122, turn left (S) onto Trenton-Franklin Rd.
Access West Middletown - Middletown (SR-122) Access
Enter cw loop W from Middletown:
From SR-122, turn right (N) onto Trenton-Franklin.		 Exit acw loop E to Middletown:
From Trenton-Franklin, turn left (E) onto SR-122.
HL NE 1.7 Trenton-Franklin Rd. R SW 1.7
L N 0.6 Browns Run Rd. L S 0.6
R NE 0.1 Sloebig Rd. (bridge) L SW 0.1
R E 0.2 Litchfield La. R W 0.2
L N 0.2 Niderdale Wy. L S 0.2
R E 0.1 Sloebig Rd. BR W 0.1
BL N 0.5 Sloebig Rd. L S 0.5
R E 0.5 Thomas Rd. BR W 0.5
L NE 0.1 Middletown-Germantown Pk. BL S 0.1
BR E 0.1 Thomas Rd. C W 0.1
Exit cw loop S to Middletown:
Turn right onto SR-4.		 Enter acw loop N from Middletown:
Turn left onto Thomas Rd.
Access Poasttown - Middletown (SR-4) Access
Enter cw loop N from Middletown:
Turn right onto Thomas Rd.		 Exit acw loop S to Middletown:
Turn left onto SR-4.
C E 0.8 Thomas Rd. R W 0.8
ß Franklin Twp. (Warren Co.) Madison Twp. (Butler Co.) Ý
L N 0.5 Franklin-Madison Rd. L S 0.5
R NE 1.8 Morningstar Rd. L SW 1.8
R E 0.4 Chamberlain Rd. L W 0.4
ß Carlisle Franklin Twp. Ý
R S 1.3 Martz Paulin Rd. HR N 1.3
HL NE 0.1 Keays Rd. BL SW 0.1
BR E 1.0 Dubois Rd. BR W 1.0
BL N 0.1 Beachler Rd. L S 0.1
R E 0.5 Lower Carlisle Rd. (tracks) BL W 0.5
ß Franklin Carlisle Ý
BR SW 0.1 Walnut St. R NE 0.1
L SE 0.3 Lake Av. (track) L NW 0.3
R SW 0.1 Cedar St. BR NE 0.1
BL SE 0.4 Park Av. C NW 0.4
¤C SE 0.1 Second St. (bridge) L NW 0.2
¤R SW 0.4 River St. (1-way) Main St. (1-way) ¤R NE 0.4
¤L SE 0.1 Sixth St. (track in street)
Exit cw loop SW to Middletown:
At Sixth, continue (SW) on River.		 Enter acw loop NE from Middletown:
At Sixth, continue (NE) on Main.
Access Franklin - Middletown (Main St.) Access
Enter cw loop NE from Middletown:
From Main, turn right (SE) onto Sixth.		 Exit acw loop SW to Middletown:
At Main, continue (NW) on Sixth.
Then turn left (SW) onto River.
¤C SE 0.1 Sixth St. ¤L NW 0.1
¤R SW 0.1 Anderson St. BR NE 0.1
BL S 1.7 Shaker-Union Rd. L N 1.7
ß Franklin Twp. Franklin Ý
R S 0.3 Union Rd. C N 0.3
Exit cw loop W to Middletown:
From Union, turn right (W) onto Manchester.		 Enter acw loop E from Middletown:
From Manchester, turn left (N) onto Union.
Access Manchester - Middletown (Manchester Rd.) Access
Enter cw loop E from Middletown:
From Manchester, turn right (S) onto Union.		 Exit acw loop W to Middletown:
From Union, turn left (W) onto Manchester.
C S 2.4 Union Rd. C N 2.4
      Hunter
(Cross SR-122. Caution: Heavy cross-traffic.)		      
C S 0.5 Union Rd. C N 0.5
ß Turtle Creek Twp. Franklin Twp. Ý
C S 0.5 Union Rd. L N 0.5
Exit cw loop W to Middletown:
From Union, turn right (W) onto Hendrickson.		 Enter acw loop E from Middletown:
From Hendrickson, turn left (N) onto Union.
Access Blue Ball - Middletown (Hendrickson Rd.) Access
Enter cw loop E from Middletown:
From Hendrickson, turn right (S) onto Union.		 Exit acw loop W to Middletown:
From Union, turn left (W) onto Hendrickson.
C S 1.0 Union Rd. L N 1.0
Exit cw loop W to Middletown:
From Union, turn right (W) onto Greentree.		 Enter acw loop E from Middletown:
From Greentree, turn left (N) onto Union.
Access Turtle Creek - Middletown (Greentree Rd.) Access
Enter cw loop E from Middletown:
From Greentree, turn right (S) onto Union.		 Exit acw loop W to Middletown:
From Union, turn left (W) onto Greentree.
C S 3.2 Union Rd. L N 3.2
R E 0.0 SR-63
Turn right, cross track, and immediately turn left.
CAUTION: Heavy traffic, no turn lanes on SR-63.		 R E 0.0
L S 1.6 Union Rd. L N 1.6
R W 1.1 Nickel Rd. L E 1.1
ß Lemon Twp. (Butler Co.) Turtle Creek Twp. (Warren Co.) Ý
R N 0.5 Butler-Warren Rd. BR S 0.5
BL W 0.5 Mason Av. L E 0.5
R N 0.3 Gallagher Rd. R S 0.3
ß Monroe Lemon Twp. Ý
L W 0.8 Lebanon St. R E 0.8
L S 0.5 Main St. L N 0.5
R W 1.3 Carson Rd. BL E 1.3
ß Lemon Twp. Monroe Ý
BR N 1.8 Yankee Rd. R S 1.8
L W 0.5 Todhunter Rd. (tracks) C E 0.5
Exit cw loop N to Middletown:
From Todhunter, turn right (N) onto Yankee.		 Enter acw loop S from Middletown:
From Yankee, turn left (E) onto Todhunter.
Access Lemon - Middletown (Yankee Rd.) Access
Enter cw loop S from Middletown:
From Yankee, turn right (W) onto Todhunter.		 Exit acw loop N to Middletown:
From Todhunter, turn left (N) onto Yankee.
C W 0.9 Todhunter Rd. L E 0.9
R N 0.4 Carol Ann Ln. R S 0.4
L W 0.3 Niederlander Rd. L E 0.3
R NE 0.3 SR-4 (4 lanes divided)
Traffic often heavy. Use caution moving to left-turn lane.		 R SW 0.3
L N 0.7 Hamilton-Middletown Rd. (track) R S 0.7
Exit cw loop N to Middletown:
From Hamilton-Middletown, continue (N) onto Main.		 Enter acw loop S from Middletown:
From Main, continue (S) onto Hamilton-Middletown.
Access Excello - Middletown (Main St.) Access
Turn Head Miles ß Clockwise Loop
(continued at top)		 Anti-clockwise Loop Ý
(continued from top)		 Turn Head Miles
ß CLOCKWISE ROUTE READ TOP-TO-BOTTOM ANTI-CLOCKWISE ROUTE READ BOTTOM-TO-TOP Ý 
Outer Loop
A Tour of Communities in the Middletown Vicinity
L = Left, R = Right, C = Continue
H = Hard turn, B = Bear, M = Merge
¤ = Traffic Signal



The Inner Loop lies completely within the Middletown city limits.  It is a mostly residential ride, but passes through some moderately busy areas.  Areas with industrial congestion or high crime incidence are avoided.

Inner Loop
A Tour of Middletown Neighborhoods
Loop approximately 15 mi. / 25 km.; maximum return distance 3 mi. / 5 km.
Clockwise and anticlockwise routes differ slightly in urban areas.
ß CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ TOP-TO-BOTTOM ANTI-CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ BOTTOM-TO-TOP Ý 
Turn Head Miles ß Clockwise Loop
(continued from bottom)		 Anti-clockwise Loop Ý
(continued at bottom)		 Turn Head Miles
Access Alameda Circle Access
ENTER CW LOOP

While the loop can be entered or exited at any point, Alameda Circle is the street nearest Sunset Park.  From the park, go south on Bellemonte 0.3 mile; turn right onto Central, then immediatedly left onto Alameda Cr., follow 1 block to Stanley.  Reverse this course to return.

 EXIT ACW LOOP
L W 0.1 Alameda Cr. R E 0.1
L S 0.2 Stanley St. L N 0.2
R W 0.1 Superior Av. L E 0.1
R N 0.2 Edgewood St. R S 0.2
L W 0.2 Linden Av. L E 0.2
R N 0.1 Sutphin St. R S 0.1
¤L W 0.1 Central Av.
Keep right.		 C E 0.1
BR W 0.6 Central Av. (tracks)
Use thru lane at University.		 First Av. (1-way, tracks)
Use right thru lane.		 ¤R E 0.4
L S 0.3 Curtis St. Garfield St. L N 0.2
¤R W 0.2 Girard Av. (track) L E 0.4
R N 0.1 Park St. R S 0.1
L W 0.2 Second Av. ¤L E 0.2
¤R N 0.5 Main St. ¤L S 0.5
¤R E 0.3 Reinartz Bl. (divided)
Enter left lane after crossing Verity.		 ¤R W 0.3
¤L N 0.3 Clark St. (track) L S 0.3
R NE 0.3 Jefferson Av. R SW 0.3
L W 0.1 Charles St. ¤L SW 0.1
¤R NE 0.0 Tytus Av. R SW 0.0
L NW 0.3 Elwood St. L SE 0.3
R NE 0.6 Wilbraham Rd. R SW 0.6
L NE 0.5 Winona Dr. BR SW 0.5
L NE 0.2 Wilbraham Rd. L SW 0.2
R E 0.1 Carmody Bl. ¤R W 0.1
¤L NE 0.2 SR-73 (divided)
Ride on broad, paved shoulder.		 L SW 0.2
R SE 0.0 Access 1 R NW 0.0
L NE 0.2 Tytus Av. L SW 0.2
R SE 0.2 Whittier St. L NW 0.2
R SW 0.5 Jewell Av. BL NE 0.5
BR W 0.0 Ohio Av. R E 0.0
L S 0.1 Texas Av. L N 0.1
R W 0.2 Illinois Av. BR E 0.2
L SW 0.4 Tytus Av. R NE 0.4
L S 0.1 Enoch Dr. R N 0.1
L E 0.5 Wildwood Rd. (tracks) R W 0.5
L N 0.1 Short St. C S 0.1
C N 0.2 Ellen Dr. L S 0.2
R E 0.1 Manchester Rd. R W 0.1
L N 0.2 Sunset St. BL S 0.2
BR NE 0.8 Vannest Av. HL SW 0.8
HR S 0.1 Spencer La. R N 0.1
L E 0.2 Pennswood Dr. L W 0.2
R S 0.3 Tullis Dr. R N 0.3
L E 0.5 Riverview Av. L W 0.5
R S 2.1 Marshall Rd. L N 2.1
R E 0.3 K-Mart / Dillman parking lot
Parallel Roosevelt Bl.		 R E 0.3
L S 0.1 Elliott Dr. / Roosevelt Av.
Cross Roosevelt Bl.		 HL N 0.1
HR SW 0.4 Johns Rd. L NE 0.4
R W 0.6 Bonita Dr. R E 0.6
L W 0.3 Burbank Av. L E 0.3
R N 0.2 Lamberton St. R S 0.2
L W 0.3 Goldman Av. L E 0.3
R N 0.5 Orchard St. R S 0.5
L W 0.2 Sherman Av. L E 0.2
R N 0.2 Florence St. BR S 0.2
BL NW 0.1 McGee Av. R SE 0.1
L W 0.1 Alameda Cr. R E 0.1
ENTER CW LOOP

While the loop can be entered or exited at any point, Alameda Circle is the street nearest Sunset Park.  About halfway around the loop and a mile from the park, Wildwood Road is the next-closest.

 EXIT ACW LOOP
Access Alameda Circle Access
Turn Head Miles ß Clockwise Loop
(continued at top)		 Anti-clockwise Loop Ý
(continued from top)		 Turn Head Miles
ß CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ TOP-TO-BOTTOM ANTI-CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ BOTTOM-TO-TOP Ý 
Inner Loop
A Tour of Middletown Neighborhoods
L = Left, R = Right, C = Continue
H = Hard turn, B = Bear, M = Merge
¤ = Traffic Signal

The Inner Loop is a work in progress; finding pleasant scenery on quiet streets in town continues to be a challenge.  For 2003, the following changes have been made:

  • The route now crosses the NS tracks at Central (westbound) or First (eastbound) instead of at Woodlawn; though there is more traffic on Central, Woodlawn is often hazardously wet and muddy.  This change also eliminates the confusing intersection at Stanley, Sutphin, and Grand.
  • The former Spencer Lane climb has been shifted to a less demanding grade on Tullis Drive.
  • The route is now directed through the K-Mart / Dillman parking lot instead of along Roosevelt Boulevard.

These combined changes have shortened the route by about 2 miles.  Although compromises are inevitable, I continue to look for ways to minimize stop signs and bypass congested areas.  Riders may want to be aware of the following conditions:

  • HILLS: Currently, Tullis Drive is the most challenging climb on the clockwise route.  There are no gear-crunching grades in the anti-clockwise direction.
  • HAZARDS: There are four railroad grade crossings on the loop: mainline crossings at Central (westbound) or First (eastbound) and at Wildwood Road, and industrial spurs on Clark Street and Girard Avenue.  There are no bridges on the route.
  • CONFUSION: Do not confuse Alameda Circle with The Alameda, Manchester Avenue with Manchester Road, or Roosevelt Avenue with Roosevelt Boulevard (SR-122).
  • UNFRIENDLY TRAFFIC LIGHTS: Some lights have long red and short green intervals (Orchard at Roosevelt), or traffic sensors that may fail to respond to bicycles (Marshall at Manchester, Elwood at Verity).  However, these latter two have pedestrian crossing buttons.


The Madison Rollercoaster is one of the few rides on which I have intentionally included as many hills as possible; for the truly masochistic rider, the anti-clockwise direction offers a bit more challenge.  The first mile or so out of West Middletown in either direction is nearly flat, so as to afford a gentle warm-up before and a cool-down after.

Madison Rollercoaster Loop
Mostly Rolling to Moderately Hilly Terrain
Loop approximately 18 mi. / 29 km.; farthest point 8 mi. / 13 km.
ß CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ TOP-TO-BOTTOM ANTI-CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ BOTTOM-TO-TOP Ý 
Turn Head Miles ß Clockwise Loop
(continued from bottom)		 Anti-clockwise Loop Ý
(continued at bottom)		 Turn Head Miles
Access West Middletown - Middletown (SR-122) Access
Enter cw loop W from Middletown:
From SR-122, turn left (S) onto Trenton-Franklin.		 Exit acw loop E to Middletown:
From Trenton-Franklin, turn left (E) onto SR-122.
HR W 0.1 SR-122 R E 0.1
ß Madison Twp. W. Middletown Ý
HL S 1.8 Trenton-Franklin Rd. BL N 1.8
BR W 0.1 Howe Rd. BL E 0.1
BR NW 1.3 Eck Rd. BR SE 1.3
BL W 0.2 Mosiman Rd. R E 0.2
L S 1.7 Mosiman Rd. ¤L N 1.7
¤R W 0.6 Howe Rd. L E 0.6
ß Miltonville Madison Twp. Ý
R N 0.5 Elk Creek Rd. C S 0.5
ß Madison Twp. Miltonville Ý
C N 3.7 Elk Creek Rd. C S 3.7
ß Astoria Madison Twp. Ý
C N 0.3 Elk Creek Rd. C S 0.3
ß Madison Twp. Astoria Ý
C N 1.5 Elk Creek Rd. L S 1.5
R E 0.3 No Mans Rd. L W 0.3
R S 1.1 Dickey Rd. L N 1.1
R W 0.1 Kalbfleisch Rd. R E 0.1
L S 1.6 Dickey Rd. R N 1.6
L SE 0.6 Alexandria Rd. R NW 0.6
L E 2.3 Michael Rd. L N 2.3
R SW 1.3 Trenton-Franklin Rd. HL NE 1.3
ß W. Middletown Madison Twp. Ý
HR W 0.1 SR-122 HR E 0.1
Exit cw loop E to Middletown:
At Trenton-Franklin, continue (E) on SR-122.		 Enter acw loop W from Middletown:
From SR-122, turn right (N) onto Trenton-Franklin Rd.
Access West Middletown - Middletown (SR-122) Access
Turn Head Miles ß Clockwise Loop
(continued at top)		 Anti-clockwise Loop Ý
(continued from top)		 Turn Head Miles
ß CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ TOP-TO-BOTTOM ANTI-CLOCKWISE ROUTE: READ BOTTOM-TO-TOP Ý 
Madison Rollercoaster Loop
Mostly Rolling to Moderately Hilly Terrain
L = Left, R = Right, C = Continue
H = Hard turn, B = Bear, M = Merge
¤ = Traffic Signal