Best Cross Country Route with Hotels ever 50-70 miles

[MidTMike]

Is there any route you would recommend that would put in hotels about every 50-70 miles?  I ride a trike and that is the most I want to travel in one day.  Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

[FredHiltz]

I think any of the road routes except Western Express could be done this way. You would lose a bit of flexibility and need to plan further ahead for reservations, but this would still be a great trip.

I can speak from experience only for Northern Tier, where I carried camping gear mostly as a backup and stayed indoors wherever I could. I used the gear two or three times by choice, but never by necessity. I did cut short one or two days, knowing there was a long empty stretch the following day, so as to start the long stretch early in the day.

On weekends and in towns with only one or two lodgings, I called ahead two or three days in advance. Otherwise, riding into town in early afternoon and asking at the tourist center or the grocery store worked well.

Fred

[staehpj1]

It might be kind of tough on the Trans America.  You might have to do some short days to set up for the longer stretches and I think you would definitely need to do a few days that were longer than 70 miles.

[MidTMike]

Thanks guys.  I am really open to which route I will take.  I will leave around July 15th if that makes any difference.  I can do some days over 70 with no problem.  I just can't do them consistently.  I want a leisurely trip at my own pace without over doing it.  As much advice as possible is GREATLY appreciated.

[va_bentrider]

It's doable. I'm planning on doing a modified Northern Tier E>W this summer with hotels every 50-70 miles.  Biggest gap: Fargo, ND to Cooperstown (96 miles).  I'll go off route at Argusville and stay on CR 81 to Mayville (2 motels), then rejoin at Cooperstown.

I can post other route mods if you're interested.

[MidTMike]

I can post other route mods if you're interested.

It sounds like you are doing exactly what I am.  I am very interested if you are OK posting them.  Thank you!

[staehpj1]

Thanks guys.  I am really open to which route I will take.  I will leave around July 15th if that makes any difference.  I can do some days over 70 with no problem.  I just can't do them consistently.  I want a leisurely trip at my own pace without over doing it.  As much advice as possible is GREATLY appreciated.

In that case the TA would probably be fine too.  Do be sure to call ahead, since sometimes the situation changes and places close either for good or temporarily.

[va_bentrider]

My modified Northern Tier route for credit card tour:

(Listing towns with hotels.)

Start at Portland, ME (Two Lights State Park), join ACA route at Fryeburg, ME via Scarborough.

On route to Niagara Falls, ON.

ACA Lake Erie Connector (Port Colborne, Simcoe, Port Stanley, Wallaceburg) to Marine City, MI.

Off route at Imlay City to Ludington via Birch Run, Alma, Big Rapids.

Ferry to Manitowoc, WI and join ACA North Lakes Section 2.

Off route near Riverdale to hit motels in Brillion, rejoin route at Wrightstown.

Off route to New London, Stevens Point, Marshfield, Augusta, Eau Claire, Menomonie, Baldwin, New Richmond, Center City (MN), join ACA NT at Cambridge.

Off route at Long Prairie to Alexandria, Fergus Falls, rejoin ACA NT at Fargo.

Off route at Argusville (north of Fargo), then Hillsboro, Mayville, rejoin at Cooperstown.

On route to Minot, ND then old ACA route through Old Town (Four Bears Lodge, I want to hit the Affiliated Tribes Museum) to Williston.

On route to Browning, MT (War Bonnet Motel).

Off route to Babb (Montana's Duck Lake Lodge) via Duck Lake Rd to avoid RVs on US 89.

Rejoin ACA NT at Babb and follow it (via Going to the Sun Highway) to Anacortes, WA.

Total miles: 3,585.

btw: I'm riding a "funny" bike too - a recumbent.

[indyfabz]

My modified Northern Tier route for credit card tour:....

You probably know this, but in case you don't, way advance reservations in and around Glacier are probably a good idea.  It's the park's centenial and they are expecting larger than normal crowds.  Also, check the road work schedule on the park's web site.  Finally, try to get at least some pie at the Park Cafe in St. Mary.

[vanvalks]

Just a note--the stretch from Mazama WA to Marblemount WA is 76 miles over Washington Pass and Rainy Pass with no services of any sort,  There is a National Park Camprground about 25 miles east of Marblemount.

Bob

[Pat Lamb]

TransAm you've got a few long days (50-70 miles), but I think it's doable.  Big challenge is going to be getting reservations at Yellowstone, and perhaps the Tetons.  My wife caught us a cancellation at West Thumb the day before we got there, but we camped at Teton (Jackson Lake).  I can't really imagine cycling right through the Tetons without stopping overnight!

[staehpj1]

TransAm you've got a few long days (50-70 miles), but I think it's doable.

I agree that it is do able, but doubt that you can get by without doing some days a good bit longer than 70 miles.

We weren't looking for motels on our TA, but I think there were a number of days where motels are farther apart than that.  I am pretty sure there were some places where it was closer to 100 miles than to 70 between motels.  I would have guessed that there would be a few 100 mile days required.