Across America Route Finalized
Planning the Southern tier route
Crossing America by bicycle is no small undertaking. Fortunately for me, the Adventure Cycling Association already have many routes planned that are the safest and best way to get from A to B. I chose the Southern Tier mainly as it is the shortest (!) route at only 2,896 miles & 83,751 feet of climbing, but also as it ends in St Augustine where Pia’s parents happen to live, and where we scattered her ashes in the ocean in July 2021. I plan to end my ride at that very beach.
The Southern Tier is broken up into seven sections as follows:
San Diego, CA to Tempe, AZ (432.4 mi. distance + 12,975 ft. cumulative ascent)
Tempe, AZ to El Paso, TX (512.9 mi. + 26,662 ft.)
El Paso, TX to Del Rio, TX (432.6 mi. + 8,445 ft.)
Del Rio, TX to Navasota, TX (433 mi. + 18,281 ft.)
Navasota, TX to New Roads, LA (388.5 mi. + 6,861 ft.)
New Orleans, LA to DeFuniak Springs, FL (306.2 mi. + 3,900 ft.)
DeFuniak Springs, FL to St. Augustine, FL (390.9 mi. + 6,627 ft.)
I’ve spent the last few days planning each day, estimating how far I will cycle based on terrain/ascent, air temperature, and facilities available along each section. Averaging 80-90 miles per day, it should take me 33 days in total including several rest days. My son Jonny and I plan to depart San Diego in the early morning of Thursday September 8 and arrive in St Augustine on or around October 16. Here are the key dates in case anyone plans to meet up along the way; it reads like a band’s tour dates!
Sep 8 – Depart San Diego, CA << START
Sep 8 – Boulevard, CA
Sep 9 – Holtville, CA
Sep 10 – Wellton, AZ
Sep 11 – Gila Bend, AZ
Sep 12 – Tempe, AZ
Sep 13 – REST DAY
Sep 14 – Punkin Center, AZ
Sep 15 – San Carlos, AZ
Sep 16 – Safford, AZ
Sep 17 – Silver City, NM
Sep 18 – Caballo, NM
Sep 19 – El Paso, TX
Sep 20 – REST DAY
Sep 21 – Sierra Blanca, TX
Sep 22 – Marfa, TX
Sep 23 – Sanderson, TX
Sep 24 – Del Rio, TX
Sep 25 – REST DAY
Sep 26 – Camp Wood, TX
Sep 27 – Kerrville, TX
Sep 28 – Johnson City, TX
Sep 29 – Bastrop, TX
Sep 30 – Navasota, TX
Oct 1 – Coldspring, TX
Oct 2 – Silsbee, TX
Oct 3 – DeRidder, LA
Oct 4 – Bunkie, LA
Oct 5 – New Roads, LA
Oct 6 – Darrow, LA
Oct 7 – New Orleans, MS
Oct 8 – REST DAY
Oct 9 – Biloxi, MS
Oct 10 – Dauphine Island, MS
Oct 11 – Milton, FL
Oct 12 – DeFuniak Springs, FL
Oct 13 – Quincy, FL
Oct 14 – Madison, FL
Oct 15 – Alachua, FL
Oct 16 – Arrive St. Augustine, FL << FINISH
Additional Info
I am riding solo but my son Jonny is driving ahead of me each day in our 21-foot Winnebago Solis RV. He’ll be carrying a back-up bicycle, spares, tools, food, water and most importantly a shower and a bed for each night we’re not in a motel! He’ll be great company on what will be the most challenging ride I’ve ever undertaken. Spring or Fall are the best times of year to attempt the Southern Tier – it’ll still be very hot in September but less chance of bad weather, especially in the mid-West and South where storms and tornadoes are a thing. We’ll be posting every day to the Insta account @xencyclist and posting to this blog at the end of each of the seven sections. Keep following!
Our Winnebago Solis
