San Diego to Tuscon

[djguy007]

Hi Guys - Has anyone made their way from SD to TC? I have a wedding in SD and a mate in TC I'd like to visit - thought that I would make my way over on my trusty steed (bike).  It doesn't look like there is a non-highway route tho.  Any thoughts?  Oh, thinking April.  I'm from Aust - whilst I've traveled a lot in the US this is an area that I area I have not been to.  Assume it's similar to the hike from LA to Palm Springs but longer.  Experienced Bike packer here.

Thanks in advance.  DJ

[Bruce Squire]

DJ -  The ACA Southern Tier route  (ST)  will probably be your best bet, with one modification.  The route now goes through Yuma instead of Blythe, which is better for getting to Tucson.  The one modification would be from Gila Bend to Tucson.  That is  2 days for most people with a stop in a Casa Grande.  April can get quite warm in the desert, which is almost the entire route.  You may just need to start early each day.  I live in Arizona and travel to San Diego often.  I'm also a Warmshowers host and meet a lot of ST cyclists.  Most people take 7  - 8 days to travel between Tucson and San Diego. There was a coast to coast group called Bubbas Pampered Peddlers that followed the modified ST route between San Diego for many years.  You may want to look at the CGOAB website for trip journals of those folks to see their impression of the route.  Feel free to contact me if you have other route questions.