Here are turn-by-turn directions for a bicycle route I devised which roughly circumnavigates the United States in a counterclockwise direction. Before you turn to the Turn-by-turn Directions below, here is some helpful information which explains how the Turn-by-turn Directions are designed to be used in conjunction with the Summaries of Road Conditions. You will also find an explanation for why certain logistical information is included in the Summaries of Road Conditions.
You will find the Summaries of Road Conditions for each section of the bicycle route on the homepage under the heading “Bicycle Route.” Links to the “Summaries of Road Conditions” for each section of the bicycle route are also located below, following these “Turn-by-turn Directions,” under the heading “Bicycle Route.”
Summaries of Road Conditions
The Summaries of Road Conditions mirror, word-for-word, the format of the Turn-by-turn Directions. For example, the first two lines of the Turn-by-turn Directions appear as follows:
Starting in Austin, Texas (98)
W 2244 (Bee Caves Rd) Bee Caves, 17 mi
These directions are translated as follows:
Starting in Austin, proceed west on Hwy 2244 (Bee Caves Rd) to the town of Bee Caves. It is 17 miles from Austin to Bee Caves. Refer to the Rand McNally Road Atlas, page 98.
Each line of the turn-by-turn directions always includes a direction (west), a highway (2244), and a destination (the city of Bee Caves). The mileage figure next to each city is the distance from the preceding city (Austin in this case). Mileage is calculated from city to city based on Google Maps routing engine. Numbers in parentheses refer to the page number for the relevant map in the Rand McNally Road Atlas.
The Summary of Road Conditions for the “Austin to Natchez” section of the route, repeats these directions, word for word, and then provides a summary of road conditions for that particular section of the route:
“W 2244 (Bee Caves Rd) Bee Caves, Texas, 17 mi (98)”
“Hwy 2244 (Bee Caves Rd) has heavy traffic but also has excellent, paved shoulders west of Loop 360 (N Capital of Texas Hwy) and all the way to Bee Caves. It is best to enter Bee Caves Rd from Loop 360, if possible, because Bee Caves Rd east of Loop 360 is somewhat dangerous for cyclists. Consult your Austin Bicycle Map to determine the best way to reach Bee Caves Rd starting just west of Loop 360 from wherever you are staying in Austin. You can purchase an Austin Bicycle Map at Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-477-3472.”
By mirroring the format of the Turn-by-turn Directions, the Summaries of Road Conditions are easy to use and will help keep you safe! Every inch of the route is covered by the Summaries of Road Conditions!
Logistics
The Summaries of Road Conditions include helpful information regarding grocery stores, water sources, seating areas with electrical outlets, and laundromats which are located DIRECTLY ON THE ROUTE. This information allows you to look ahead and make plans to buy groceries, to replenish your water supply, to charge your devices, or to wash your clothes without wasting precious travel time locating the services you need.
Walmarts are especially important because they have groceries, in store filtered water machines, camping propane, bicycle tubes, and low prices all under one roof. Dollar General and Family Dollar stores are important because they occur frequently and because their prices beat convenience store prices for gallons of water and other necessities. McDonalds are important because they occur frequently, provide a place to rest, usually provide free filtered water, and often have electrical outlets. Finally, I identify any Starbucks or Panera Bread locations which are directly on the route because they are pleasant places to rest and always have electrical outlets.
Turn-by-turn Directions
Here are turn-by-turn directions for the entire route. Travel dates for each section include rest stops in favorite cities as indicated. The mileage figure next to each city is the distance from the preceding city. Mileage is calculated from city to city based on Google Maps routing engine. The only exception to this way of displaying the mileage figures occurs along the Natchez Trace and Blue Ridge parkways. Along these parkways, the mileage figures refer to the mile markers along each parkway. Numbers in parentheses refer to the page number for the relevant map in the Rand McNally Road Atlas.
Austin to Natchez
April 1st to April 21st
838 miles
Starting in Austin, Texas (98)
W 2244 (Bee Caves Rd) Bee Caves, 17 mi
W 71 Spicewood, 19 mi
W 71 Llano, Texas (100), 41 mi
S 16 to Hwy 265
W 265 to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
E 265 back to Hwy 16
S 16 Fredericksburg, 39 mi (from Llano)
E 290 Johnson City, 30 mi
E 290 Dripping Springs, 25 mi
S 12 Wimberly, 15 mi
S 12 San Marcos, 15 mi
E 21 to Hwy 71
E 71 Bastrop, Texas (101), 44 mi (from San Marcos)
N 95 Elgin, 18 mi
N 95 Taylor, 16 mi
N 79 Thorndale, 13 mi
N 79 Rockdale, 13 mi
N 79 Hearne, 30 mi
N 79 Jewett, 45 mi
N 79/Loop 256 Palestine, 43 mi
E 84 Rusk, 30 mi
E 84 Reklaw, 11 mi
E 84 Mt Enterprise, 19 mi
E 84 Timpson, 17 mi
E 84 Tenaha, 10 mi
E 84 Logansport, Louisiana (44), 16 mi
E 84 Mansfield, 21 mi
S 171 Many, 42 mi
S 171 Leesville, 35 mi
E 10 Pickering, 8 mi
E 10 Oakdale, 43 mi
E 10 Ville Platte, 28 mi
E 10 Washington, 16 mi
E 10 Beggs, 5 mi
E 10 Lebeau, 6 mi
E 10 Palmetto, 4 mi
E 10 Melville, 10 mi
N 105 Simmesport, 25 mi
Desert mode from Simmesport to Natchez, make sure all your water containers are full.
S 1 to Hwy 15
N 15/131 Vidalia, 66 mi
E 84/N 61 Natchez, Mississippi (56), 3 mi
Natchez to Pigeon Forge
April 21st to May 7th
707 miles
Starting in Natchez, Mississippi (56)
N Natchez Trace Parkway (NTP) south end, mile 0
N NTP Jackson, mile 100
N NTP Kosciusko, mile 160
N NTP French Camp, mile 180
N NTP Houston, mile 226
N NTP Tupelo, mile 260
N NTP Pharr Mounds, mile 286
N NTP Bear Creek Mound, mile 309
N NTP Cherokee, Alabama (4), mile 320
N NTP Collinwood, Tennessee (94), mile 355
N NTP to Hwy 64, mile 370
E 64 Lawrenceburg, 32 mi (from Collinwood)
E 64 Pulaski, 19 mi
E 64 Fayetteville, Tennessee (95), 29 mi
E 64 Winchester, 33 mi
E 41A Cowan, 6 mi
E 41A Sewanee, 7 mi
E 41A Monteagle, 6 mi
E 41 Tracy City, 7 mi
N 56 Altamont, 15 mi
N 56 Beersheba Springs, 5 mi
N 56 McMinnville, 22 mi
E 70S/30 Spencer, 21 mi
(that’s an “S” as in “South” after 70)
E 30 Pikeville, 25 mi
E 30 Dayton, 17 mi
E 30 Athens, 28 mi
E 39 Englewood, 7 mi
N 411 Madisonville, 10 mi
N 411 Maryville, 28 mi
N 321 Apple Valley, 15 mi
N 321 Wears Valley, 9 mi
N 321 Pigeon Forge, 11 mi
Pigeon Forge to Waynesboro
May 7th to June 7th
511 miles
Starting in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (95)
S 441 Gatlinburg, 7 mi
S 441 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, mile 0
S 441 Newfound Gap summit, mile 14
S 441 Cherokee, North Carolina, mile 35 (74)
N Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) south end, mile 469
N BRP Waterrock Knob, mile 455
N BRP Richland Balsam summit, mile 431
N BRP Mt Pisgah, mile 409
N BRP Asheville, mile 383
Take a one week rest break in Asheville, North Carolina.
N BRP Craggy Gardens, mile 365
N BRP Little Switzerland, mile 335
N BRP Blowing Rock, mile 292
N BRP Fancy Gap, Virginia, mile 200 (106)
N BRP Mabry Mill, mile 176
N BRP Roanoke, mile 120
N BRP Peaks of Otter, mile 86
N BRP Humpback Rocks, mile 6
N BRP Waynesboro, mile 0
Take a one week rest break in Waynesboro, Virginia.
Waynesboro to Spearfish
June 7th to July 21st
2,177 miles
Starting in Waynesboro, Virginia (106)
N Skyline Dr, south end, mile 104
N Skyline Dr through Shenandoah National Park
N Skyline Dr to Hwy 33, mile 66
W 33 Elkton, 31 miles (from Waynesboro)
W 33 Harrisonburg, 17 mi
W 33 Brandywine, West Virginia, 29 mi (112)
W 33 Franklin, 12 mi
W 33 Seneca Rocks, 25 mi
W 33 Elkins, 35 mi
W 33 Buckhannon, 25 mi
W 33 Weston, 15 mi
W 33 Glenville, 27 mi
W 33 Spencer, 39 mi
W 33 Ripley, 25 mi
S 62 Cottageville, 8 mi
N 2 Ravenswood, 11 mi
W 33 Ravenswood Bridge
E 124 Portland, Ohio, 9 mi (81)
E 124 Long Bottom, 7 mi
E 124 Reedsville, 5 mi
E 50/N7 Little Hocking, 12 mi
N 339 Veto, 8 mi
N 339 Beverly, 16 mi
N 60/83 Hackney, 8 mi
N 83 Cumberland, 19 mi
N 83 New Concord, 13 mi
N 83 Coshocton, Ohio, 25 mi (79)
N 83 Millersburg, 25 mi
W 39/60 Loudonville, 18 mi
S 3/W 97 Lexington, 22 mi
W 288/309 Marion, 31 mi
W 309 Kenton, 27 mi
W 309 Lima, 29 mi
W 81 (Allentown Rd) to Willshire, 38 mi
W 33/27 Decatur, Indiana, 10 mi (36)
W 224 Markle, 22 mi
W 224 Huntington, 10 mi
W 24 Wabash, 21 mi
W 24 Peru, 14 mi
W 24 Logansport, 18 mi
W 24 Monticello, 23 mi
W 24 Kentland, 37 mi
W 24 Sheldon, Illinois, 7 mi (32)
W 24 Watseka, 10 mi
S 1 Hoopeston, 25 mi
W 136 Rantoul, 35 mi
W 136 Heyworth, 43 mi
W 136 McLean, 11 mi
W 136 Havana, 48 mi
W 136 to Hwy 24
W 24 Astoria, 18 mi
W 24 Rushville, 15 mi
W 24 Mt Sterling, 17 mi
W 24 Camp Point, 17 mi
W 24 to Hwy 96
W 24 Quincy, 23 mi
E 24 back to Hwy 96
N 96 Hamilton, 35 mi
N 96 Keokuk, Iowa, 4 mi (38)
W 136 Wayland, Missouri, 13 mi (58)
W 136 Memphis, 34 mi
W 136 Lancaster, 22 mi
W 136 Unionville, 28 mi
W 136 Princeton, 33 mi
W 136 Bethany, 28 mi
W 136 Conception, 40 mi
W 136 Maryville, 18 mi
W 136 Tarkio, 33 mi
N 59 Shenandoah, Iowa, 24 mi (38)
N 59 Oakland, 38 mi
N 59 Harlan 26 mi
W 44 to Hwy 30
W 30 Logan, 26 mi
W 30 Missouri Valley, 8 mi
W 30 Blair, Nebraska (62), 13 mi
W 30 Fremont, 24 mi
W 30 Columbus, 47 mi
W 30 Grand Island, 64 mi
N 281/W 2 Broken Bow, 81 mi
W 2 Alliance, 191 mi
S 385 to Hwy 26
W 26 Scottsbluff, 54 mi
W 26 Lingle, Wyoming (116), 42 mi
N 85 Lusk, 47 mi
N 85 Newcastle, 80 mi
N 85 O’Neil Pass (93)
W Alt 14 through Spearfish Canyon
W Alt 14 Spearfish, South Dakota (93), 77 mi
Take a one week rest break in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Spearfish to Sandpoint
July 21st to August 15th
969 miles
Starting in Spearfish, South Dakota (93)
N 85 Belle Fouche, 13 mi
W 212 Alzada, Montana (61), 38 mi
W 212 Broadus, 58 mi
Desert mode from Broadus to Miles City, make sure all your water containers are full.
N 59 Miles City, 79 mi
Desert mode from Miles City to Jordan, make sure all your water containers are full.
N 59 Jordan, 84 mi
Desert mode from Jordan to Winnett, make sure all your water containers are full.
W 200 Winnett, 76 mi
W 200 Gilt Edge turn off
W 200 Lewistown, 54 mi
W 200 Great Falls, 106 mi
The Great Falls city map on page 61 of the Rand McNally Road Atlas is not very helpful. Here are bicycle friendly directions to northbound Hwy 89 without getting on I-15:
Proceed W on 10th Ave to 2nd St.
A sign at 2nd St says “To Historic Downtown.”
Proceed N on 2nd St to 1st Ave N/Central Ave.
Proceed W on the bridge over the Missouri River.
Use the protected bikeway when crossing the bridge.
After crossing the river, immediately turn right onto 3rd St.
Proceed N on 3rd St to NW Bypass Rd.
Proceed W on NW Bypass Rd crossing under I-15.
NW Bypass Rd becomes Vaughn Rd.
(Vaughn Rd is locally referred to as Frontage Rd.)
Proceed W on Vaughn Rd approximately 15 miles.
There is a stop sign when Vaughn Rd gets to Hwy 200.
There are no signs indicating Hwy 200.
Turn left on Hwy 200 towards the Conoco Station.
Continue 8 miles on Hwy 200 to Hwy 89.
Turn right onto northbound Hwy 89.
N 89 Fairfield, 35 mi
N 89 Choteau, 18 mi
N 89 Dupuyer, 33 mi
N 89 Browning, 38 mi
W 2 East Glacier, 14 mi
N 49 to Two Medicine Campground in Glacier National Park
N 49/89 St Mary, 30 mi
W Going To The Sun Road to Rising Sun Campground
W Going To The Sun Road to West Glacier, 50 mi
W 2 Columbia Falls, 19 mi
W 40 White Fish, 10 mi
N 93 Eureka, 51 mi
S 37 Libby, 69 mi
W 2 to Hwy 56
S 56 Ross Cedars Scenic Area
S 56 to Hwy 200
W 200 Clark Fork, Idaho (31), 68 mi (from Libby)
W 200 Sandpoint, 26 mi
Take a one week rest break in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Sandpoint to Port Townsend
August 15th to August 21st
422 miles
Starting in Sandpoint, Idaho (31)
W 2 Priest River, 22 mi
W 2 Newport, Washington (109), 7 mi
W 20 Colville, 64 mi
W 20 Kettle Falls, 9 mi
W 20 Sherman Pass, mile 320
W 20 Republic, 44 mi (from Kettle Falls)
W 20 Wauconda Summit, mile 288
W 20 Tonasket, 40 mi
W 20 Omak, 24 mi
W 20 Loup Loup Summit, mile 214
W 20 Twisp, 37 mi
W 20 Winthrop, 9 mi
W 20 Mazama, 20 mi
W 20 Washington Pass, mile 162
W 20 Rainy Pass, mile 156
W 20 Newhalem, 40 mi
W 20 Concrete, 32 mi
W 20 Burlington, 29 mi
W 20 Oak Harbor, 29 mi
W 20 Coupeville, 11 mi
W 20 Port Townsend (ferry ride), 5 mi
Port Townsend to Yosemite
August 21st to September 15th
1,260 miles
Starting in Port Townsend, Washington (109)
W 101 Sequim, 31 mi
W 101 Port Angeles, 17 mi
W 101 Forks, 56 mi
S 101 Humptulips, 82 mi
S 101 Hoquiam, 22 mi
S 101 Aberdeen, 4 mi
S 101 Raymond, 25 mi
S 101/4/401 bridge to Astoria, Oregon (84), 58 mi
S 101 Warrenton, 6 mi
S 101 Seaside, 12 mi
S 101 Cannon Beach, 9 mi
S 101 Tillamook, 40 mi
S 101 Lincoln City, 44 mi
S 101 Newport, 25 mi
S 101 Florence, 49 mi
S 101 Coos Bay, 49 mi
S 101 Bandon, 24 mi
S 101 Port Orford, 27 mi
S 101 Gold Beach, 28 mi
S 101 Brookings, 28 mi
S 101 Crescent City, California (12), 26 mi
S 101 Klamath, 22 mi
S 101 Eureka, 63 mi
S 101 Garberville, 67 mi
S 101 Leggett, 23 mi
S 1 Ft Bragg, 43 mi
E 20 Willits, 35 mi
E 20 Lucerne, 45 mi
E 20 Williams, 51 mi
E 20 Colusa, 10 mi
E 20 Yuba City, 24 mi
E 20 Marysville, 2 mi
E 20 Grass Valley, 34 mi
S 49 Auburn, 24 mi
S 49 Placerville, 27 mi
S 49 Sutter Creek, 30 mi
S 49 Angels Camp, 32 mi
S 49 Sonora, 16 mi
E 120 Chinese Camp, 10 mi
E 120 Groveland, 16 mi
E 120 Yosemite National Park, 48 mi
Yosemite to Taos
September 15th to October 21st
1,406 miles
Starting in Yosemite National Park (12)
E 120 Tioga Pass
E 120 Lee Vining (13), 50 mi (from Yosemite Valley)
S 395 Bishop, 65 mi
S 395 Big Pine, California (15), 15 mi
S 395 Lone Pine, 42 mi
S 395 Ridgecrest, 79 mi
S 395 Kramer Junction, 49 mi
S 395 Adelanto, 30 mi
E Air Expy Victorville, 9 mi
E 18 Apple Valley, 7 mi
E 18 Lucerne Valley, 14 mi
E 247 Landers, 38 mi
E 247 Yucca Valley 16 mi
E 62 Joshua Tree, 8 mi
S Park Blvd through Joshua Tree National Park
N Park Blvd to Twentynine Palms, 36 mi (via Joshua Tree National Park)
Desert mode from Twentynine Palms to Parker, make sure all your water containers are full.
E 62 Parker, Arizona (8), 110 mi
S 95 to Hwy 72
S 72 Hope, 49 mi (from Parker)
E 60 Wickenburg, 61 mi
Take a one week rest break in Wickenburg, Arizona.
Optional excursion to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. Refer to Phoenix city map in the Rand McNally Road Atlas, page 8. It is 76 miles one way from Wickenburg to Taliesin West.
E 60 to Bell Rd
E Bell Rd to Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd
(ride on sidewalks along Bell Rd)
S Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd to Taliesin West
N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd to Bell Rd
W Bell Rd to Hwy 60
(ride on sidewalks along Bell Rd)
W 60 to return to Wickenburg
N 93/E 71 Congress (8), 17 mi
E 89 Yarnell, 10 mi
E 89 Prescott, 34 mi
Refer to Prescott city map (9)
N 89A Sedona (8), 67 mi
N 89A/Beula Blvd Flagstaff, 30 mi
Refer to Flagstaff city map (9)
N 180 Valle (8), 50 mi
N 64 Tusayan, 22 mi
N 64 Grand Canyon National Park
E 64 Cameron, 60 mi (from Tusayan)
N 89/E 160 Tuba City, 26 mi
E 160 Kayenta, 75 mi
E 160 Teec Nos Pas, 73 mi
E 64 Shiprock, New Mexico (68), 27 mi
E 64 Farmington, 28 mi
E 64 Bloomfield, 14 mi
E 64 Dulce, 71 mi
E 64 Chama, 27 mi
E 64 Brazos Summit, 193 mi
E 64 Tierra Amarilla, 15 mi
E 64 Tres Piedras, 50 mi
E 64 Taos, 32 mi
Take a one week rest break in Taos, New Mexico.
Taos to Marfa
October 21st to November 14th
781 miles
Starting in Taos, New Mexico (68)
E 64 Angel Fire, 24 mi
E 64 Cimarron, 36 mi
E 64/N I-25 Raton, 42 mi
E 64 Capulin, 29 mi
E 64 Clayton, 54 mi
E 87 Texline, Texas (98), 11 mi
E 87 Dalhart, 36 mi
S 385 Hereford, 95 mi
S 385 Littlefield, 65 mi
S 385 Levelland, 24 mi
S 385 Brownfield, 30 mi
S 385 Seminole, 41 mi
S 385 Andrews, 29 mi
S 385 Odessa, 35 mi
S 385 Crane, 32 mi
W 329 Grand Falls, 31 mi
S 18 Ft Stockton, 32 mi
S 385 Marathon, 59 mi
W 90 Alpine, 31 mi
N 118 Ft Davis, 24 mi
S 17 Marfa, 21 mi
Take a one week rest break in Marfa, Texas.
Marfa to Port Aransas
November 14th to December 1st
756 miles
Starting in Marfa, Texas (98)
S 67 Presidio, 60 mi
E 170 Lajitas, 50 mi
E 170 Terlingua, 12 mi
E 118 Panther Junction, 30 mi
N 385 Marathon, 68 mi
E 90 Sanderson, 54 mi
E 90 Langtry, 61 mi
E 90 Comstock, 28 mi
E 90 Del Rio, 32 mi
S 277 Eagle Pass, 55 mi
E 277 Crystal City, 44 mi
S 83 Carrizo Springs, Texas (101), 12 mi
S 83/E 44 Freer, 102 mi
E 44 Alice, 36 mi
E 359 Mathis, 30 mi
E 359 Skidmore, 15 mi
S 181 Sinton, 19 mi
S 181 Gregory, 25 mi
E 35 Aransas Pass, 15 mi
S 361 Port Aransas (free ferry ride), 8 mi
Take one week rest break in Port Aransas, Texas.
Return to Austin
268 miles
Starting in Port Aransas, Texas (101)
N 35 Rockport, 18 mi
N 35 Port Lavaca, 52 mi
N 35 Palacios, 29 mi
N 35 Blessing, 12 mi
W 71 La Grange, 90 mi
W 71 Smithville, 21 mi
W 71 Bastrop, 13 mi
W 71 to Hwy 21
Refer to Austin Bicycle Map:
W 21 to 812
N 812 to Elroy Rd
N Elroy Rd to Burleson Rd
W Burleson Rd into Austin, 33 mi (from Bastrop)
The route described in this book starts in Austin, Texas and ends in Austin, Texas. It totals 10,095 miles not including the optional 152 mile excursion to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Alternate Route Through Nevada
Here is an alternate route from Sandpoint, Idaho to Bishop, California which will take you through the Bitterroot Mountains, through the Saw Tooth Mountains, along the Salmon River, and across Nevada. If you have previously toured the North Cascades and the Oregon Coast, this is an incredibly scenic alternate route. The total mileage is 1,135 miles.
I’ll never forget my first time bicycling across Nevada. I felt like I was journeying across another planet! Nevada has a surreal beauty which is almost beyond belief! Best attempted in the fall when the weather is cool. Road conditions are excellent the entire way with either full shoulders or acceptable mini-shoulders and with very light traffic.
The summits all range from 6,200 feet to 6,500 feet with the exception of Montgomery Pass which is 7,167 feet. The climbs all have long, straight 4-6% grades. I would describe the climbs as a lot of work but not particularly challenging.
Once you arrive in Bishop, simply rejoin the route described in this book. (You will head south on Hwy 395 towards Joshua Tree National Park.) Numbers in parentheses refer to the page number for the relevant map in the Rand McNally Road Atlas.
Starting in Sandpoint, Idaho (31)
E 200 Clark Fork, 26 mi
E 200 Thompson Falls, Montana (60), 59 mi
E 200 Plains, 25 mi
E 200 Ravali, 41 mi
E 200/S 93 (Reserve St) Missoula, 36 mi
S 93 Lolo, 12 mi
S 93 Hamilton, 37 mi
S 93 Darby, 17 mi
S 93 Lost Trail Summit
S 93 Salmon, Idaho (30), 76 mi
S 93 Challis, 59 mi
S 75 Stanley, 58 mi
S 75 Ketchum, 61 mi
S 75 Shoshone, 55 mi
S 93 Jerome, 19 mi
S 93 Twin Falls, 16 mi
S 93 Jackpot, Nevada (64), 47 mi
S 93 HD Summit
S 93 Wells, 68 mi
Desert mode from Wells to Ely, make sure all your water containers are full.
S 93 Ely, 138 mi
Desert mode from Ely to Tonopah, make sure all your water containers are full.
W 6 Currant Summit
W 6 Railroad Valley
W 6 Black Rock Summit
W 6 Lunar Crater
W 6 Warm Springs Summit
W 6 Saulsbury Summit
W 6 McKinney Tanks Summit
W 6 Tonopah, 169 mi
W 6 Montgomery Pass
W 6 Benton, California (12), 81 mi
W 6 Bishop, California (15), 35 mi
Alternate Route Across Southern New Mexico
Here is an alternate, southerly route from Wickenburg, Arizona to Seminole, Texas. The total mileage is 745 miles. Road conditions are excellent the entire way with either full shoulders or acceptable mini-shoulders. When you arrive in Seminole simply rejoin the route described in this book. (You will head south on Hwy 385 towards Andrews.)
Starting in Wickenburg, Arizona (8)
E 60 Surprise, 36 mi
Traverse Phoenix metropolitan area:
E Bell Rd (use sidewalks where possible)
S 35th Ave
E Southern Ave Tempe, 37 mi
E Southern Ave Mesa, 7 mi
E Southern Ave Superstition Springs, 11 mi
E Southern Ave crossing Tomahawk Rd
Turn left on Cortez Rd
Turn right on Old West Hwy to Hwy 60
E 60 Globe, 63 mi
Desert mode from Globe to Show Low, make sure all your water containers are full.
E 60 Show Low, 87 mi
As you enter Show Low on Hwy 60, there is a wonderful indoor Family Aquatic Center on your left. The sparkling clean, twenty-five yard swimming pool is perfect for swimming laps. The adjacent hot tub is hot, bubbly, and very relaxing. There is a sunny, outside deck adjacent to the swimming pool where I do my Egoscue exercises.
There is a Safeway with a Starbucks on your left just past the swim center. There is a Glacier water machine outside the Safeway. Continue past the Safeway another mile and a half on Hwy 60 (Deuce of Clubs Dr) and turn right onto White Mountain Rd. Immediately after you turn right, there is a Starbucks on your left. Continue on White Mountain Road for about four miles (mostly uphill) and you will find a Walmart on your left.
Free camping is available in the national forest areas adjacent to Hwy 60 just before and just after Hwy 60 passes through Show Low. I always take several days off in Show Low because it is such a pleasant place to visit.
E 60 Springerville, 46 mi
E 60 Quemado, New Mexico (68), 49 mi
E 60 Pie Town, 22 mi
E 60 Datil, 21 mi
E 60 Magdalena, 35 mi
E 60 Socorro, 27 mi
S I-25 to Hwy 380 exit
E 380 Carrizozo, 75 mi
E 380 Capitan, 21 mi
E 380/70 Roswell, 69 mi
E 380 Caprock, 47 mi
E 380 Plains, Texas, 55 mi (98)
S 214 Denver City, 16 mi
S 214 Seminole, 21 mi
Austin Bicycle Route
My favorite Austin bicycle ride begins and ends at Mozart’s Coffee which is located at 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. It totals about thirty miles and winds through various beautiful, old Austin neighborhoods. This ride will help familiarize you with Austin. It will also help familiarize you with the route I recommend for departing Austin by bicycle. Here are turn-by-turn directions:
Starting at at Mozart’s Coffee, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd
Turn left out of parking lot onto Lake Austin Blvd
Pass Walsh Boat Landing on your left
Lake Austin Blvd curves right and becomes Scenic Dr
Scenic Dr becomes Cherry Lane
Turn left onto Rockmoor Ave
Turn right onto Windsor Rd
Turn left onto Pecos St
Turn right onto Greenlee Dr
Turn left onto Hillview Rd
Cross Exposition Blvd
Hillview Rd becomes Westover Rd
Proceed under Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway)
Westover Rd becomes Northwood Dr
Turn left on Jefferson St
Cross 35th St
Turn left at light onto Bull Creek Rd
Cross 45th St
Turn right onto Hancock Dr
Turn left onto Shoal Creek Blvd
Cross Allandale Rd (2222)
Cross White Rock Dr
Pass Stoneway Dr on left
Turn left onto Great Northern Dam Walkway
Great Northern Dam Walkway becomes Far West Blvd
Proceed over Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway)
Turn right onto Woodhollow Dr
Cross Greystone Dr
Turn left onto Spicewood Springs Rd
Cross Mesa Dr
Exercise caution down extremely steep hill
Turn left (south) onto Loop 360 (N Capital of Texas Hwy)
Exercise caution crossing ramps on Loop 360
Cross beautiful Loop 360 Bridge over Lake Austin
Take exit for 2244 (Bee Caves Rd)
Turn left (east) onto Bee Caves Rd
You will turn right (west) onto Bee Caves Rd to depart Austin.
Turn left onto Red Bud Trail at second traffic signal
Turn right onto Yaupon Valley Rd at four way stop Exercise caution on speed bumps
Turn left onto Laurel Valley Rd
(or continue on Yaupon Valley if you miss Laurel Valley)
Turn left onto Westlake Dr
Turn right onto Red Bud Trail at four way stop
Climb short hill to summit
Exercise caution down extremely steep hill
Exercise caution on sharp turns at bottom of hill Cross narrow bridge over Lady Bird Lake
Climb short steep hill
Turn left onto Lake Austin Blvd
Proceed about 1 mile and look for Mozart’s on your left Ride ends at Mozart’s Coffee, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd