Bucket list road trip

[papadad111]

I want to take a couple months or more to do a pan-USA motorcycle road trip.

I can stop back in to home base but want to do some serious exploration of America as I've spent most of my adult years traveling the world and not seeing much of my own country.
Probably do this solo but maybe DW will want to tag along for parts of the journey.

I am looking for some itineraries. Years ago there was a book called "seeing American on her two lane highways" or something like that with various itineraries to see the historic sites. I'm starting to research this but a part of me wants to not do much planning and just get up and go. Sorta plan along the way and see what happens.

Has anyone done such a trip - maybe by motorcycle or RV ? What do you recommend? Should this be a year long odyssey? Or is it a 2 month road trip or a few 2 week road trips ? Any ideas what to budget (ok camping and cooking along the way to save some money) and what is your must-see stuff?

The wind is calling .....

 

[braumeister]

This may be the book you're thinking of. I remember enjoying it when it came out. Should be in the library.

Blue Highways: A Journey into America

 

[kitesurfer2]

i retire in 6 weeks and plan on the same thing...
i'll leave may 4th for 2 weeks with a vstrom rally may the 17th before the ride back home. this will be primarily the blue ridge mtns. Sept/Oct will be another trip --Tx, Ariz, Ut, Co and states inbetween. this trip will be in my Miata with my wife. camping only both trips. I'm also working a deal for Extended trip out of Ireland. advrider.com has lots of ride reports to draw info from.

 

[bbbamI]

DH has taken several 'epic journeys' thru the US and Canada on his m/c.

This year he plans to do the remaining eight states of the lower 48. He does map out a plan with an itinerary that for the most part is for my benefit. I think it helps him as well since he'll know where lodging accommodations are available. Sometimes he'll stay with friends, at hotels or KOA campgrounds. He's always had good luck with KOA. He takes a one man tent, sleeping bag and three days of clothing. He also takes a journal and writes of the day's adventures.

His favorite states to ride are Colorado and Wyoming. He says he could take a month just to ride in each of those states. He's put 50k miles on his m/c since he retired in 2009.

 

[kypix]

Here is an epic 13,699 mile route that hits most of the important landmarks.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...-road-trip-hitting-landmark-article-1.2149141

Pretty ambitious itinerary.


kypix

 

[JDARNELL]

Motorcycles are addicting. Trips planned for this year is Run For the Wall, NC, TN, TX, CO, Sturgis 75th Anniversary Rally (est 1M bikers), Bikes, Blues, and BBQ Rally in AR, and I am sure several trips in between. Longest trip at one time will be about a month. Others are about a week at a time.

JDARNELL

 

[healthyandfun]

I took a nine week, 7,000 mile car trip around the U.S. when I retired. * *My focus was to visit friends and family along the way *and to see some sites. *It was a fantastic trip! *Time visiting with family and friends was definitely the highlight. I renewed some relationships that had gotten sidetracked over the years and have maintained them.....priceless!! *It did take more planning than I like, but I was flexible and managed to see everyone on my list. *Plans for the next trip will be to have an open itinerary!

The book, Off the Beaten Path, by Readers Digest offers 1,000 scenic and interesting places to visit. There are many similar titles. *I can't give any specific advice since you will go the motorcycle camping route, but would love to hear of your experiences.*

 

[Lakedog]

My current lease (lakefront condo) expires at the end of the month so I decided to buy another small RV (Phoenix Cruiser) with plans to travel around the US for a few months. I bought the RV last week (2012 model with 12k miles) and will hit the road on 3/31. I will travel with no real itinerary but hope to visit a few old friends and distant relatives that I rarely see anymore.

Since my lab (Coal, recently turned 12) and I are not getting any younger, there will likely be no better time for a long road trip. This may even help me decide where I want to live in the near term.

 

[bjorn2bwild]

No discussion of 'bucket list' would be complete without mentioning Ray Jardine. Here is a link to his motorcycle adventure page.

Ray Jardine's Adventure Page

 

[papadad111]

Thanks for the info. I keep having this vision in my head about a big ball of string and wanting to see it - funny as it is I suddenly realize that for the past 25 years while working... As bob Marley poetically put it .... I knew it was raining but I never really felt the rain.

I've done some long mc trips - longest was 11k miles but we did it in less than 2 weeks. I want to slow down and take my time and see stuff and maybe visit a few people along the way.

DW and I are discussing approach. We have a dog and a kid still in HS so probably will have to initially stretch this out over several smaller segments each being 2 weeks to start. Hard to get away longer... That will come later down the line.
Do maybe some Hub and spoke itineraries to start.

Even during summer it may be hard to get away for long stints. That's ok by me.

can u believe at age 45 I've only bought one vehicle brand new and it was a Toyota corolla? Ha ha Not sure yet what I go with but either a slightly used bmw GS or harley bagger.

What was your favorite itinerary and why?

This was the book I was thinking about. http://www.amazon.com/Road-Trip-USA-Cross-Country-Adventures/dp/1598809253

Thanks !

 

[MuirWannabe]

DH has taken several 'epic journeys' thru the US and Canada on his m/c.

This year he plans to do the remaining eight states of the lower 48. He does map out a plan with an itinerary that for the most part is for my benefit. I think it helps him as well since he'll know where lodging accommodations are available. Sometimes he'll stay with friends, at hotels or KOA campgrounds. He's always had good luck with KOA. He takes a one man tent, sleeping bag and three days of clothing. He also takes a journal and writes of the day's adventures.

His favorite states to ride are Colorado and Wyoming. He says he could take a month just to ride in each of those states. He's put 50k miles on his m/c since he retired in 2009.

Very cool bbbaml. Your DH looks like a bad ass. I envy his trips and hope to do something similar upon retirement.

Muir


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[bbbamI]

Very cool bbbaml. Your DH looks like a bad ass. I envy his trips and hope to do something similar upon retirement.

Muir


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Heh...you should see him by the time he gets home from one of his epic journeys.

I've gone on short trips with him, but only when the weather is perfect. His longer trips, well I'll just say I stay at home because I want him to enjoy his trip...it wouldn't be much fun for him listening to me freak out when I felt a raindrop.

...and Muir, I hope you get to enjoy that type of adventure as well.

 

[arky]

I would highly recommend riding California Hwy 1. Some of the prettiest views around and it is an especially scenic view from a motorcycle.

 

[eytonxav]

Here is an epic 13,699 mile route that hits most of the important landmarks.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...-road-trip-hitting-landmark-article-1.2149141

Pretty ambitious itinerary.


kypix

+1 I was going to post this one as well. I did notice the route misses Niagra Falls, although it goes pretty close to that attraction.

 

[bingybear]

i retire in 6 weeks and plan on the same thing...
i'll leave may 4th for 2 weeks with a vstrom rally may the 17th before the ride back home. this will be primarily the blue ridge mtns. Sept/Oct will be another trip --Tx, Ariz, Ut, Co and states inbetween. this trip will be in my Miata with my wife. camping only both trips. I'm also working a deal for Extended trip out of Ireland. advrider.com has lots of ride reports to draw info from.

I RE beginning of March. I would do something with the blue ridge parkway or Shenandoah NP. I did that several years back on a Wee Strom... Those were not great twisties, but just get off the BRP and there are plenty of them.

 

[retirementguy1]

I've used this book a few times to plan out MC trips.


http://www.amazon.com/Most-Scenic-D...=8-2&keywords=readers+digest+100+scenic+roads


My second trip I was planning on camping but after 12 hours on a bike I wanted a hot shower and a bed. I didn't camp once. lol

 

[papadad111]

Great inputs. Thanks. Can anyone recommend motorcycle friendly tent camp grounds or do you typically camp in state or national parks ?

 

[kitesurfer2]

Great inputs. Thanks. Can anyone recommend motorcycle friendly tent camp grounds or do you typically camp in state or national parks ?

BlueRidge MC campground in Cruso NC is good. Willville at Meadows of Dan Va is the best! Iron Horse just off 28 near deals Gap is MC only too. I have camped at many others over the years with no problems. I usually look for RV's. If RV's are there, i go elsewhere.

 

[Ronstar]

I try to take as many National Scenic Byways routes as possible when I road trip. I go online, find the scenic byways for each state, and then plan my trip to best fit these routes. Just went through Arizona and Utah, now in Colorado. But road tripping can be rough when you spend long days in the saddle


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[bingybear]

I try to take as many National Scenic Byways routes as possible when I road trip. I go online, find the scenic byways for each state, and then plan my trip to best fit these routes. Just went through Arizona and Utah, now in Colorado. But road tripping can be rough when you spend long days in the saddleView attachment 21388


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Is that the motorcycle before the invention of the motor?

 

[Sittingduck]

Great post! I hope the mc crowd will report back on some of their trips.

I am looking forward to ER later this year and my goal is to visit as many National Parks as I can the first couple of years. 1st trip will be from Illinois to Tucson to visit some friends.

Any suggestions of places I shouldn't miss would be appreciated. The more obscure sights off the beaten path - the better.

Wish the DW would join me, but she has an annoying habit of falling asleep on the back after a couple of hours. I keep feeling her helmet hit me between the shoulder blades...

 

[bingybear]

Great post! I hope the mc crowd will report back on some of their trips.

I am looking forward to ER later this year and my goal is to visit as many National Parks as I can the first couple of years. 1st trip will be from Illinois to Tucson to visit some friends.

Any suggestions of places I shouldn't miss would be appreciated. The more obscure sights off the beaten path - the better.

Wish the DW would join me, but she has an annoying habit of falling asleep on the back after a couple of hours. I keep feeling her helmet hit me between the shoulder blades...

you know with that bike... the correct application of bungee cords could keep her sitting up right! Would be more difficult is you had a dual sport.

 

[Sarah in SC]

We did a nice 6,000 mile route over 6 weeks this past summer, starting in Seattle and going up the Canadian Cassiar Highway (which was incredible) to the Yukon, then back down through Alberta into Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado before heading pretty much straight back to SC through Kansas and Tennessee.

Our route is here: Team Dixie Chickens | Team Dixie Chickens Bus

We stayed at State Parks (called Provincial Parks in Canada) except for a couple of nights at friends' houses and one in a hotel (very exciting to do laundry).
Highlights for us were the aforementioned Cassiar (if you go that way, be sure to also hit Liard Hot Springs up by the Yukon...awesome!) and and the two lane from Wyoming into Utah that goes by the Flaming Gorge recreation area. We stayed at a random Forest Service campground that was stunning!

 

[fritz]

The drive trips that I found great and remain my favorites over the years are -
Driving the bridges to Key West
Alt M89 from Flagstaff, AZ to Cottonwood, Jerome, and Prescott, AZ
Rt1 along the coast of California (LA up to Santa Cruz)

 

[RS53576GG]

Another vote for the Ride Reports forum at Adventure Rider Motorcycle Forum. Lots of good reading and great pictures. Well worth a look, whether you're a motorcyclist or not. "Underboning the World - 2 Symbas, 1 Couple, No Sense" and "Borneo Equator Expedition - Jungle , Swamps and Heatstroke" are among my favorites.