Southern Tier Shortcuts

[mudmin]

Hi, I am planning to take the southern tier route in March & April 2006 (from Fl to CA)

I was wondering if there are any suggested shortcuts?

I would like to trim of a few miles.

Thanks,
Dan <><

[MattRuscigno]

Bumping this topic because I have similar questions- specifically on the SD-Austin segments. From a quick glance looks like a lot of up and down? Thoughts from anyone who has ridden it? Thank you.

[aggie]

There are "shorter" routes than what is mapped by ACA.  However you must bear in mind traffic, shoulders (or lack thereof) and available services.  For instance you could ride from El Paso, TX to Tuscon, AZ and then over to San Diego.  Unless you ride on the interstate where permitted that aren't that many services and there aren't that many other roads available.  When I've followed the ACA routes I always know how far I have to ride to the next place I can get food and/or water. 

[staehpj1]

The ST is fairly direct already, but there are places where you can go shorter.  Typically you will miss things that Adventure Cycling thought were worthwhile though.

My suggestion is to play it by ear as you go.  That is what I did.  I think that I was in a better position to know where I might want to shortcut and where I would be happier following the AC route that way.

My preference was to use the interstate a good bit more than was suggested and to also go a bit more direct in some other places as well.  I thought at the time that if doing it again, I'd stay with US 90 a lot more, possibly even using it for it's full length.

[MattRuscigno]

Thank you for the reply. Yes, it's always a toss up and some sort of sacrifice. I don't mind a little traffic or slightly less scenery for a small portion if it'll save me a few hours of riding.

[henry_jackson]

Selecting the route on Google Maps (St Augustine to San Diego -> select bike option) you get a route that's around 500 miles shorter. Another 100 miles can be saved by riding Jacksonville to San Diego. It seems the greatest deviation from the ACA route is in Texas where you bypass all of the major cities (and conveniences that come with them) and instead hop from small town to small town on frontage roads.

But, even with bypassing the large towns there is still a Walmart every couple of days, gas stations, hotels, etc. My biggest concern with the route deviation is by bypassing the large cities you'll miss the bike shops.

[staehpj1]

But, even with bypassing the large towns there is still a Walmart every couple of days, gas stations, hotels, etc. My biggest concern with the route deviation is by bypassing the large cities you'll miss the bike shops.

You can always alter the route when/if you need a bike shop, worst case hitching a ride to one if necessary.

[Westinghouse]

You can take Interstate 10 by going north out of San Antonio, and staying on it most of the way to Casa Grande, AZ. The shoulders in NM and AZ can get rough and covered in debris. Dodging junk takes the edge off the sameness. You can take I-8 at Casa Grande and stay on it mostly till Yuma, AZ where you exit, and get on one of the bumpiest roads in America beginning in Wintehaven, CA. Stay on bumpy till it runs out and go right a couple of dozen miles or so, and you are on hwy. 78. Go west. Glamis, Imperial Valley etc .Regain I-8 in Ocotillo, CA until you must exit onto hysterical highway 80. Pine Valley and west and there you are.

[22hornet]

I started in Jacksonville and rode US 90 most of the way, I also rode along the gulf through Mississippi and then went through New Orleans, so I missed a lot of the true ST but it was my choice and it seemed to me I missed a lot of dog chases but I dealt with faster traffic. You can find my blog on "crazy-guy on a bike" under How the West was Won if you want some info on taking a different route.

[Westinghouse]

I would not take Hwy. 90 going west out of New Orleans ever again. It is better to follow the river to the Plaquemine ferry, and go north to Hwy 190. The Cajun Circus truck stop is a really good place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 24 and 7. If you take 190 west through Baton Rouge you will meet a long narrow bridge with wide traffic. Don't try it. Even at 1:00 am it was impossible to cross without encountering extremely fast trucks and cars. There is absolutely no side lane on this bridge. The Tammany Trace to 190 is a much better alterative to 90 through N.O. That is if you want to skip part of the ACA route. I would advise also there are good reasons the mapped route was chosen as opposed to others ways.