Hello,
I have read this and the previous post where you interacted with John/Jamawani. A couple of thoughts you may or may not have considered.
1) The climate in mid-April to mid-May in the northern USA is on the cool/cold side. Highs AVERAGE low 60s or less on May 1st. The average low temps are typically at or near freezing. If you are camping, implied, cold weather camping takes longer to setup/break camp, especially if you are cooking. Plus if it is raining, it sucks to get be wet and cold.
2) A lot of services will not be open yet, after all, not many people camp in campgrounds in freezing weather. This includes restaurants in resort/touristy areas. This means more "stealth" camping (no showers or bathrooms) and possibly more cooking. Takes time.
3) You have a max 60 days to cross the country, doable but not much time for sightseeing and/or rest/weather days. I don't know if the 60 days include days off for the Grandparents, "Hi Grandma, I've got 3 hours to see you but gotta go after that."
4) Are you taking the bike to Sweden? If so, you will need a day to box the bike (find & collect the box, then pack it). Also, be sure to factor in the bike shipping charge when choosing the airline.
5) Previously, you implied you are a "coast to coast" guy, yet here you indicate you are willing to hitch hike if needed, thus defeating the C>C.
6) This seems to be your first major bike tour, maybe first ever. While doing your own route is definitely possible, it takes up more time doing research while riding thus shortening your riding time.
7) You do not have that much daylight to ride in the spring.
All that said, I would suggest you stick with ACA maps for your first major tour. Reason is most of the research is already done. Need a campground, its listed. Does the town have a grocery store, it is listed. Etc. Due to all the above things mentioned, I would suggest you take BR66 to Chicago then the Chicago to NYC route. About 3700 miles total. Over 60 days, it is an AVERAGE of 62 miles a day, an average on the higher side. If you take a rest/weather day every 10 days, the average jumps to 68 miles. Doesn't sound like much but it is an extra 30+ minutes of riding during shortened daylight hours. To do more than 65 miles a day average, at that time of year, while camping basically means very few breaks.
A big benefits to the BR66/Chicago>NYC routing are that 1) it much warmer (averages are 10-20 degrees warmer); 2) It will be much greener/spring-like compared to the brown winter look; 3) A little flatter; 4) Amtrak is in the area for much of the route so easy to bail if need be.
The big cons are 1) extra travel expense (may be offset by less hotel expenses in the cold temps); 2) Less variety in scenery; 3) Springtime (mid-April to early June) can have some major storms in the central plains. While you realistically do not have to worry about tornados, hail is a concern. However, the weather forecasters are actually pretty good in our part of the country and are really accurate during events actually taking place, i.e. a tornado on the ground, i.e. can spot it within a half-mile (more than a 1/4 mile from the edge and you are fine except for possibly your shorts). Of these, the storms is the biggest con. However, if you are observant and ask the locals about the weather, you will be fine. Maybe wet (and warmer than ND in May), but fine.
If you are stuck with the northern part of the country, I would suggest Lewis & Clark (parts of route in ID may be closed in April/May as shown on the Forums under Temporary Route Closures) to North Dakota and connect to the Northern Tier to around Cleveland where you wing it over to the Chicago to NYC.
As John has indicated, the snow pack this year is high so you very well may be forced to hitch hike. Additionally, I personally would MUCH rather deal with a Oklahoma spring rain storm compared to a western Montana spring snow storm. An unexpected heavy, wet snow can collapse a tent when you need it most.
That said, which ever route you choose, it can, and has been, done. It just boils down to how much crap you want to put up with on each route.
Whatever you choose, hope you have an enjoyable tour. John
