Cycling from the Jacksonville Airport As I mentioned earlier, it is possible to cycle from the Jax airport using mostly back roads, to get to the beach. Here is the route:

From the airport, take the airport exit road, Duval Rd. past I-95 to US 17 (N. Main St.). Take a right on US 17 and proceed about 50 meters. Turn left on Duval Station Rd. Go a short distance and take a right onto Gillespie Ave. There are several residential roads that parallel US 17. It shouldn't be too difficult to find the one that doesn't dead end, whether there is a sign for Gillespie Ave. or not, and I'm not entirely sure this road is Gillespie, although that's how it is labelled in Mapquest.

Proceed to New Berlin Rd. Turn left at the light and proceed about 100 meters to Pulaski Rd. Turn right onto Pulaski Rd. The speed limit on Pulaski is 35 mph and traffic was light during evening rush hour. Proceed on Pulsaski past 9A to Eastport Rd. Turn left on Easport Rd., then veer right to keep on Eastport after about 100 meters.

Easport passes several industrial areas and has very little traffic. The speed limit is also 35 mph. After several miles, Easport ends at Heckscher Dr. Turn left onto Heckscher and proceed about 10 miles to the St. Johns River ferry. Bikes cost 50 cents to cross. Heckscher is undergoing widening, and there is one stretch where there is no shoulder. When I passed that section, the newly paved area was passable, and the construction crew had left for the day, so I used it. Eventually Heckscher will have a bike lane. Most of the older part of the road has an OK shoulder. The speed limit is high in sections, up to 50 or 55 mph, so be very careful in those sections.

After crossing the ferry to Mayport, take A1A to Mayport Rd., a terrible, 2 or 3 lane road with heavy, speeding traffic. turn right on Mayport Rd. Most of the local bike traffic was on the sidewalk. It's about 2 or 3 miles to Plaza St. where you would take a left to Seminole Rd. Seminole will take you to Atlantic, Juniper, and Jacksonville Beaches.
posted by Bruce Wright at 9:09 PM #