Atlanta to St. Louis route ideas?

[hickster]

Hello, I'm looking to do my first longer distance tour.  My plan is to go from Atlanta (where I live) to St. Louis.  Does anyone have any experience with a route?  Google maps shows two routes but its hard to tell what condition the roads are in and all that. 
Thanks!

[John Nettles]

While I can't help you entirely, if you can get to Tennessee or Mississippi, I can get you some routes from there.  Since this is your first long trip, I would suggest you consider getting over to Mississippi and using the various ACA routes to get you to STL.  My routes are for slightly more experienced tourists, i.e. have to ask occasionally for camping, etc. but they are shorter overall.

Best, John

[CMajernik]

Here is a blog written about planning your own routing. Contacting the state bike/ped coordinator for the states you'll go through is a good idea.

https://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/how-to-create-your-own-route/

[BikePacker]

US Bicycle Route 21 ( www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zquuA07Y3AtQ.kBRZPtBg3iro&hl=en_US ) will get your from downtown Atlanta to Chattanooga.
GA DOT announced their approval of this as a bicycle route per their October 2015 press release:  www.dot.ga.gov/PartnerSmart/Public/PressReleases/USBR21-10-14-15.pdf