Adventure Cycling Association

This ten-day, van-supported trip explores the wild and picturesque terrain of the West Texas Big Bend region. A road rider’s dream come true, this tour offers low-traffic byways, an abundance of stunning scenery, and ample opportunities to discover the secrets of Big Bend National Park, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Davis and Chisos mountain ranges, and the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River.

Our journey through this hidden gem of the Lone Star State will not be without its challenges — the landscapes are vast, quiet, and empty, with long stretches devoid of services. But we’ll make the most of the towns we do visit, taking time to explore Fort Davis, Alpine, Marathon, Terlingua Ghost Town, Presidio, and Marfa.

See the unique beauty of this place for yourself as we alternate between charming backroads and sandy beaches.

After gathering near the bicycle-friendly town of Eugene, we’ll head north, cycling through vineyards, orchards, and Christmas tree farms. Before we know it, we’ll be riding down the craggy coastline, camping near the beach, and watching waves break against lighthouses — and we’ll almost definitely catch site of a few sea lions. This ride will follow rivers for much of its course, so we’ll be treated to gentle grades and lush landscapes as we pedal toward our camping destination each day. Pack your tent, roll up your sleeping bag, grab your camera, and get ready for a celebration of coastal Oregon.

On this very special bicycle tour, you’ll explore 332 of the very best miles along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, often called “America’s Favorite Drives” — they should be nicknamed “America’s Favorite Bike Tours!”  

Among the most popular units of the National Park System, the Parkway and Drive twist and turn through a rural landscape of dark forests, sun-dappled fields, and mountain meadows surrounded by rustic split-rail fences. We’ll spin past historic farmsteads and lodges and through the many valleys known locally as “hollers,” all the while taking note of these roads’ fascinating engineering. Immerse yourself in Appalachia’s singular mix of flora and fauna and its unique and venerable mountain culture. Join us for Blue Ridge Bliss!

Escape the frigid confines of winter this year with a warm, mellow tour in the Sunshine State, and let our van do the heavy lifting! This ride showcases the best of South Florida along one of Adventure Cycling’s finest routes. 

You’ll start in Fort Myers, see the modern quaintness of Naples, and enjoy the down-home quirkiness of Everglades City. From there, prepare to be enamoured with the majestic swamplands as we ride the Tamiami Trail Road to be enveloped in Big Cypress National Preserve. Not long after that, you’ll find yourselves spanning Florida’s longest bridges hopping from Key to Key until your soul reaches full Parrothead for a celebration in Key West. A sunset ferry ride back to Fort Myers will close out this glorious loop of all the diverse adventure South Florida has to offer.

Then our Colorado Alpine Trails tour is for you! We’ll enjoy the mountain terrain of central Colorado, pedaling mostly on paved, car-free pathways that provide nonstop views of the spectacular Rockies. Your gear will be carried for you and your meals catered — and the daily distances will be shorter than on many of our tours.

Beyond the great cycling and good eating, you can enjoy a mountain gondola ride, river rafting, and alpine hikes. We’ll cap the trip with a descent along the Colorado River, followed by a soak in the world’s largest hot-spring pool. Come join us for an unhurried bicycle-travel experience. Perfect for beginners or veteran cyclists who want to relax.

Travel along the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway through southern Mississippi from Ridgeland to Natchez, a jewel of a town. Tour the antebellum homes in the town that was once the richest in the South before continuing our journey through the verdant farmlands to Port Gibson, the town General Grant deemed “too beautiful to burn,” and visit Windsor Ruins along the way. We spin on to the historic Civil War city of Vicksburg, and visit the Vicksburg National Military Park, the key to the Civil War.

Enjoy the mild temperatures and the beauty of fall as we discover the historic south on this eight-day, van-supported tour. It all starts in the Old Southern city of Savannah, known for its beautiful squares, old oaks dripping with Spanish moss, fabulous history, and fascinating stories. Then it’s off to explore coastal wildlife refuges and the pristine stretches of Georgia’s Golden Isles — vibrant, thriving coastal communities rich in history and full of traditions with historic landmarks around every bend. 

We’ll continue to enjoy the spectacular landscapes and fall splendor of south Georgia as we make our way to the tranquil and natural settings of the north Florida coast, then finally to the cobblestone streets, quaint caf√©s, and unique shops of America’s oldest city, St. Augustine, founded in 1553 and known today as the “Ancient City.”

Our loop tour of North Carolina’s Outer and Inner Banks offers a chance to explore the region’s history-rich harbor towns on the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds and the coastal communities nestled in the state’s barrier islands. Leaving our camping and cooking gear at home, we’ll sleep indoors each night and enjoy the region’s excellent seafood and other delicacies.

After two days of spinning through the coastal plains, we’ll leave the mainland by ferry to explore places like Ocracoke Island, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and Kitty Hawk. With an endless parade of things to do, we’ll view lighthouses, shipwrecks, and abundant wildlife, as well as the site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. After eight days of exploration, we’ll pedal back to our starting point in Elizabeth City.

The luggage support, catered meals, two nights of indoor lodging, and moderate daily mileages will help us ease gently back into the spin of things as we pedal beneath the blue Arizona sky.

The route starts just outside of Tucson and traverses country roads and climbs over the cactus-studded flanks of desert mountains. We’ll visit Green Valley, which is famous for its pecans, as well as the Patagonia/Sonoita area, where the cowboy lifestyle thrives alongside exquisite vineyards and a blooming art community. We’ll have a chance to tour places like Tombstone’s O.K. Corral and Bisbee, with time for other pursuits such as bird watching, gallery hopping, and wine tasting. So leave the winter chill behind and join us for a week of bike touring in the Desert Southwest.

Prepare for a southern-style, cross-country ride on our shortest, most accessible transcontinental trip. To make this tour even better, we’ll enjoy the relative luxury of having the Adventure Cycling van tote our gear to and from each overnight location as we pedal from the West Coast across deserts, over mountains, past prairies, beyond bayous, and through citrus groves, all the way to the East Coast. You’ll also enjoy starting this epic tour in one of America’s best beach cities, San Diego, and ending it in St. Augustine, America’s oldest continuously occupied city settled by Europeans.

Notable stopovers along this route, each with a unique set of diversions, include Phoenix, Austin, and New Orleans. In between there are many other great sights, sounds, cuisines, and cultures to experience.