FANTASY ROADTRIP

[3fan4life]

I've always wanted to ride all of the lower 48 states.

There is a lot of this country that I have seen but there is a whole lot more of it that I would like to see.

I came across this today:

http://www.roadrunner.travel/2015/03/22/the-most-efficient-route-through-the-lower-48/

And it got me to thinking about the possibility of taking my dream trip.

Knowing that we have members here from all over the country and many that have travelled extensively across the country.

I've decided to propose the following question:

If you had the opportunity to tour all of the lower 48 states what places in each state would you say are a "MUST SEE" ?

My thought process is to get input from all here and map out a route that goes to all of those places.

For starters I'm curious to see what that map would look like.

And if ever given the chance, I'd like to tackle the trip someday.

[DirtyDan]

The 4 “must see”s are Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite.

More to follow

Dan

[Oss]

Add to those some of my favorites

The road up to Jerome and Sedona to the Grand Canyon from near f6gals place think its 89 89A
is great

Muir Woods road from Sausalito north way cool

Lolo Pass (even in the rain and snow at the top it was awesome)

From South Lake Tahoe 88-89 then south and up 120 into Yosemite is totally amazing
Going down no guard rails weeeeeeeeeee

Million Dollar Highway 550 in Colorado both ways.

The pig trail and many of the single number roads in Arkansas if the road is dry

You have done my favorite Catskill road Claryville Rd  that is a winner.

The road down eastbound from Lake Placid

100 in Vermont and the road up Mt Washington NH

+1 on Glacier but its better east to west

Zion all of it

Cherahola, 28 too many to count

West Virgina has so many great roads  33 is just one of them



Still looking forward to more roads in eastern Oregon and the Natches Trace and finishing 16 near Tazewell

[ptgb]

I've been in 44 States on motorcycles. (Not Visited: Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Alaska, Hawaii). Some just passing through, others extensively toured. We did 10 states in a month last summer.

The #1 place to see/ride of those 44 States, IMO = Beartooth Highway in Wyoming - by far.

Oregon's Crater Lake

Colorado = Pretty much point the bike in any direction, unbelievable scenery around every bend.

In the East..... smack dab where you live IMO... Blue Ridge Parkway, The Snake, Southern and Eastern West Virginia.

[fudgie]

I like little stuff to see. Historic mostly or little towns.

Illinois- Eh, nothing particular as I haul ass thru it.
Iowa- LeClair is a neat town on the River. Riding in the NW part of the State is very pretty.
SD- Black Hills roads of Vanocker Canyon, Needles HWY, Iron Mnt Road. Anything at rally time. 44/52 west of Wagner SD at the river.
WY- Alladin WY. Chris LeDoux Memorial in Kacee WY. Everything in Cody WY. Chief Joseph HWY (better then Beartooth imho). Yellowstone NP.
MT- Beartooth pass and def Glacier NP. Pompieys Pillar.
ID- Roads around Salmon ID
UT- Mexican Hat UT. Goosenecks St Park. "Forest Gump Hill".
CO- Million Dollar HWY. 4 corners monument.
AZ- Grand canyon. Winslow AZ for rt 66 nostalgia.
NM- Anything in New Mexico is neat. Never knew it was so mountainous. Rosewell NM. Lincoln Co NM (Billy the kid)
TX-Big Texan Steakhouse in Amarillo TX.
KS-Dodge City
OK- Rt 66 stuff
NE- Front st in Ogalalla. Wagon ruts. Signature Rock. Anything on hwy 20

Plenty of States I didn't list but these are the highlights.

We're hitting 10-12 National Parks this summer.

[Crackerborn]

Alaska is still on the bucket list for me even though not part of the lower 48. I love any road I have never been on or not traveled recently. Any county road in the Appalachians and Catskills. Maine since I never made it to Maine on a bike while on the the eastern seaboard. The Midwest is a bit more problematic. There are absolutely wonderful places to ride and some less than exciting areas and they can all be found in Nebraska (just kidding, great place to ride if you stay off I-80). The western states are all great once off the plains and in the hills. Zion is a must, Yellowstone and Glacier also but they are so heavily traveled in the summer months that it almost isn't worth it. Lolo Pass is one I haven't done in too many years but I was more impressed with it than the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountain National Park. There are great places to ride in the Southwest but it has always been 100* plus when I have been there unless I was in the hills.

Any road will do and every state has wonders that need to be explored.

[Cynic]

I am medically retired and traveling across America, albeit by car since I'm on oxygen and don't feel safe traveling that far on a bike. As such, I've gained a bit of expertise in this subject.

Any attempt to travel all 48 states and see the sights in a single trip would be folly, unless you had at least a year to do it.

I began in May 2016 with Route 66, and to date have only completed about 1/2 of the country and sights.

If you are truly interested in an optimal trip, send me a PM with your time constraints, maximum daily mileage, hotels or camping, and starting point, and I can create a route that will allow you to see as much as possible.

Daryl

[The emperor has no clothes]

I am medically retired and traveling across America, albeit by car since I'm on oxygen and don't feel safe traveling that far on a bike. As such, I've gained a bit of expertise in this subject.

Any attempt to travel all 48 states and see the sights in a single trip would be folly, unless you had at least a year to do it.

I began in May 2016 with Route 66, and to date have only completed about 1/2 of the country and sights.

If you are truly interested in an optimal trip, send me a PM with your time constraints, maximum daily mileage, hotels or camping, and starting point, and I can create a route that will allow you to see as much as possible.

Daryl

Agreed  one could spend a year just in the western states.

[Lefebvredds]

Washington Coast all the way to San Diego. 

Big Sur reopens in September, an area where nature has proven that man has no business trying to
Put a highway on the part of the pacific coast.

(no wonder it's the best view hands down.

When you get to the end, buzz me.

Cheers,
Mike

[DirtyDan]

All good suggestions

Chief  Joseph is GREAT

Feel free to PM me if you like

I spent years out there........

Happy to help

Dan

[1NorthRyder]

Highway 21 out of Boise ID up to Stanley. Spend the night there if you can, great place and then head NE on 75.
+1 on Zion National park
The Dragon, but only to say you've done it.
Blue Ridge Parkway is a must see.
I've been on some great roads across the US that I will never be able to find again. Some were by accident and others were recommended by locals. Don't be afraid to stay off the beaten path. We try to ride secondary roads whenever possible.

[Pete]

Natchez Trace

[scooperhsd]

I would like to be able to do what Bruce (DDT) gets to do. OTOH - he is nice enough to write about them to take the rest of us with him, for which I'm personally grateful .

[..]

Blue Ridge Parkway.

North to south

South to North.

In GA The gauntlet.

http://thebikerbarn.com/index.cfm?Content=10

As a stand alone road

Hwy 60 from Dahlonega GA to Morganton GA.

[..]

Link to a question I asked a while ago

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,92372.0.html