Does anybody have any suggestions on how to map out and navigate these routes? Or any other suggestions? Thanks!
You'll find most people use some combination of a mapping app (Ridewithgps is one example) on their phone and a dedicated GPS unit to navigate on route. There are merciless tradeoffs in both battery life and ease of use and basic ergonomics between all of those choices and answering them would put us very far into the weeds. But I'd recommend that having a dedicated GPS and a mapping app is probably the way to go.
One benefit of using Ridewithgps is that you can store maps and routes offline, so you'll have them even in areas with little or no cell service. I believe you can get the ACA route maps in a format that Ridewithgps can understand. Most mapping apps have a way to push routes and POIs to your GPS. How exactly that works depends on the GPS.
I strongly recommend you get familiar with the mapping app and the GPS you are going to use before your trip. Some of them aren't particularly easy to use and some of the important things you'll want to do with them might not be obvious.
Aside from all that, some suggestions to make your trip a success:
1. Plan your trip. But plan to ditch your plan.
2. Especially if you are new to this activity, be deliberately unambitious on your itinerary for about the first week and most definitely the first couple of days. Like 20-30 miles for your first day is a good goal.
3. You will almost certainly take far too much stuff. But you'll also have a big pile of stuff that you think you might need but cannot possibly carry. A good way around that is to have a trusted friend who can next day or second day things you end up needing. And preprint a few sheets of shipping labels so you can easily mail stuff you decide you no longer need back home.
4. If you don't have one already, it is a good idea to have some kind of hotel booking app like Expedia or Hotels.com on your phone. Even if you don't plan to stay in any lodging on the way.
5. When making routes, add POIs for important locations, especially critical resupply points. And add the phone numbers of those locations if you have one. If there is some country store that is the last resupply point for 100 miles along your route it is helpful to know if it is open. Don't ask me how I learned this.
6. The headwinds in the Dakotas and eastern Montana are fierce.
If you have a positive mental attitude, a sense of humor, and some patience with yourself you can do this. Have fun!
