3-4 month USA 2024

[dkoloko]

Having done a cross-country tour across the United States, my first consideration planning a route would be crossing the Rockies when the passes are open and cleared of snow.

[RealRedHair]

Thanks for all replies! A lot to read and digest
Correct I had red hairs long time ago.

* Visa: B2 visa is complicated and quite expensive I found out so I stick to ESTA 90 days for the moment
* Period: still May, June, July seems good slot for the moment
* Do not want to spend much time in cities; I like nature and landscapes. Stay some days in Yellowstone is a good idea!
* Coast to coast is not needed; I start and end in a city with good flight connections to Europe/Holland (Seattle, Portland, Calgary, Vancouver)
* C&O / GAP Trails from Washington, DC to Pittsburgh -> https://gaptrail.org seems nice start of the ride.
* Great American Rail-Trail - why use this trail? Quit roads, I guess.  -> https://www.railstotrails.org/greatamericanrailtrail/route/ -> where to download the gpx tracks then I add them to my possible tracks
* I will camp, use Warmshowers or budget B&B
* I thought since TransAm and Great Divide are quite close I could decide once I’m there depending on conditions on the ground; my bike is not a mountain bike but still able to drive off-road partly with fat tires
* Do I need a water filter or is good water more or less available?
* Where can I download the GPX tracks of all the different sections I want to use. Maybe contact me with direct message.

Thanks. Raoul

[John Nelson]

May through July sounds perfect. In three months, you'll see every possible weather. There is no such thing as avoiding weather. But in May through July, you'll probably avoid snow.

The Great American Rail-Trail is still more of a vision than a thing.

TransAm runs east-west. Great Divide runs north-south. I don't see them as alternatives.

A water filter is not needed, unless you plan to take a route that will have you not passing through any towns for days in a row.

If you want GPX tracks, I suggest you create your own. It's pretty easy.

My suggestion would be to just follow the TransAmerica Trail all the way. It's a great route and you can purchase GPX files for it. It is very suitable for an east-to-west crossing in May through July. It does not spend much time in cities. It passes through Yellowstone. It has lots of camping available, and other cyclotouring support. I think it ticks all your boxes, and the planning would be trivial.

[BikeliciousBabe]

My suggestion would be to just follow the TransAmerica Trail all the way. It's a great route and you can purchase GPX files for it. It is very suitable for an east-to-west crossing in May through July. It does not spend much time in cities. It passes through Yellowstone. It has lots of camping available, and other cyclotouring support. I think it ticks all your boxes, and the planning would be trivial.

+1. And with 4 months, you could probably take some deviations, like the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, which is one of my favorites.  Leave the TransAm after Badger Pass out of Dillon, Montana, ride the Byway, and hook back up with the Trans Am in Wisdom, Montana. Another possible detour would be to head north from Missoula up to Glacier National Park, ride up and pack down the west slope of Going to the Sun and then follow the Northern Tier route to Mount Vernon, Washington then south to end in Seattle for easy transportation home.