TransAmerica Trail

TransAmerica Trail Astoria, OR to Yorktown, VA 12 Map Set (4215.2 mi.)	GPX Data \| Overview TransAmerica Trail Overview Image \| Buy \| Mobile App
1. Astoria, OR to Coburg, OR (227 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 1 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
2. Coburg, OR to Baker City, OR (341 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 2 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
3. Baker City, OR to Missoula, MT (419 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 3 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
4. Missoula, MT to West Yellowstone, MT (329.5 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 4 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
5. West Yellowstone, MT to Rawlins, WY (350 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 5 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
6. Rawlins, WY to Pueblo, CO (389.5 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 6 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
7. Pueblo, CO to Alexander, KS (287.8 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 7 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
8. Alexander, KS to Girard, KS (326.1 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 8 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
9. Girard, KS to Murphysboro, IL (408.5 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 9 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
10. Murphysboro, IL to Berea, KY (400.4 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 10 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
11. Berea, KY to Christiansburg, VA (370.5 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 11 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections
12. Christiansburg, VA to Yorktown, VA (365.9 mi.)	Detail TransAmerica Trail Section 12 Detail Image \|Map Updates and Corrections

History of the Trail.

The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail began in 1973, during our co-founder’s ride from Alaska to Argentina, as nothing more than an ambitious idea for a way to celebrate the nation’s upcoming 200th birthday. By June of 1976, the Trail was ready; the maps and guidebooks were published thanks to an enormous effort. Now cyclists were needed to ride it across the country. Given the name “Bikecentennial,” organizers publicized the event and thanks to strong word-of-mouth and its fortunate, prodigious publicity, 4,000 cyclists showed up for the ride.

Most of the riders were in their 20s and had no experience with long-distance cycling. They traveled in groups of 10 to 12 with leaders trained by Bikecentennial. There were few helmets to be seen and the bikes were often discount-store quality.

But the equipment scarcely mattered. This group of people set out to have the experience of a lifetime and for the most part they did, learning about America and about themselves in a profound way.

Indeed, many cyclists who rode across the country in 1976, and those who ride the Trail today, say essentially the same thing about the experience, “I learned more about this country in 90 days than most people learn in a lifetime.”

The classic route to cross America by bicycle.

Grand parks along the TransAmerica Trail include Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, among the best in the United States. One additional treat: because this route has been ridden by cyclists for years, many of the cafes, restaurants, and overnight accommodations along the route have kept journals consisting of entries written by cross-country riders from previous years, providing you with a cyclist's history of the route. Plan on around three months (give or take) for the crossing. Some traverse the route quicker, but this leaves less time for sightseeing.

Astoria, Oregon, with the hills of a miniature San Francisco, is the official beginning-of-the-road. The view from atop the Astoria Column is well worth the uphill pedal. Stretches of beaches, outstanding state parks, steep ascents and descents, and great seafood abound during your first days of riding before you turn inland to the Willamette River Valley. Eugene is the largest city along the route. Other sizable cities along the way are Missoula, Montana; Pueblo, Colorado; and Carbondale, Illinois. The lush, green western side of the Cascade Mountains is a startling contrast to the dry terrain you'll be riding into after McKenzie Pass. The road over McKenzie Pass literally cuts through an ancient lava field and offers spectacular views of the Three Sisters and other snow-capped volcanic peaks of the Cascades. Central and eastern Oregon is made up of dry, mountainous terrain and is good place to carry extra water. The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center outside of Baker City is a must-see, and after completing your trip crossing the country, you'll have no trouble relating to the experiences of the early pioneers.

Idaho offers a wonderful ride along the Salmon River, and some interesting Native American historic sites to visit. The route then follows the winding, scenic Lochsa River for the longest gradual ascent of the trip (around 70 miles). You'll climb up and over Lolo Pass, enter Montana, and soon reach the spur into Missoula. Missoula, a college town, provides one of the highlights of the route, featuring Adventure Cycling headquarters with its "cyclist's lounge" and other amenities, along with whatever services you may require in town. Beautiful panoramas, wide valleys and mountain passes await you in Montana.

The views in Yellowstone National Park and of the Grand Teton Range in Wyoming are incomparable, and memories will last a lifetime. It's worth an extra day or two off the bike to experience as much as you can of these two phenomenal national parks. Towns such as Dubois and Lander remind you that you're in the west, with their historic architecture and western-style cooking. Lamont is an oasis in the windy, desolate Great Divide Basin, and serves up a mean bowl of chili.

The scenery quickly changes from dry, high desert to alpine as you reach Kremmling, Colorado. Touristy Breckenridge in Summit County is another great place for a layover day. You begin a long climb to crest the Continental Divide at Hoosier Pass, 11,542 feet, up amongst snow-covered peaks. As the route leaves the Rockies, Royal Gorge Park offers a fun layover day, either for hanging out at the Arkansas River bridge or taking a helicopter ride over or a raft trip through the gorge. Pueblo offers bike shops and great places to eat; it also serves as the halfway point of the TransAm Trail (time to celebrate!). It's a good place to stock up - it's the largest city you'll pass through until Carbondale, Illinois.

Things start to dry out as you get into the eastern part of Colorado and cross into western Kansas. Carrying extra water is a good idea here - this is hot, barren country. Right around Haswell, Colorado, you'll see your last hazy glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. Overnights at city parks in Kansas are usually accompanied by cool dips in the city swimming pools. You might have to do some early morning and early evening riding to escape the midday heat. Don't miss the pies at Cooky's in Golden City, Missouri! The flat-as-a-pool-table terrain of the Great Plains will change quickly into the roller-coaster riding of Missouri. You'll find Missouri offers Civil War history, terrific canoeing at Eminence, and an excellent swimming hole at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park.

The route crosses the Mississippi River at Chester, Illinois, and heads into Carbondale, another fun college town. A ferry takes you across the Ohio River into Kentucky, where you'll enjoy the evening fireflies at your campsites. Kentucky offers rolling white-fenced farms and woodlands until reaching Berea, the gateway to the Appalachian Mountains. A loop south of the route will take you to see Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest cave system in the world. Past Berea, you'll spend some time ascending and descending the mountains of the Appalachians, and riding part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. The mountains turn to rolling hills and then flat riding through lush plantations and farmlands. The last stretch of the route is rich in the history of the American Revolution, with Colonial Williamsburg as the highlight. Yorktown, situated on the Chesapeake Bay, is the route's end.

Photo by Chuck Haney

Some stretches of the western portion of the route follow large river valleys and can be generally flat, but expect some climbing almost every day between Astoria, Oregon, and Pueblo, Colorado. The passes throughout the Rocky Mountains are generally long but not terribly steep. The descents from these passes are, of course, a blast. Most of Kansas is beautifully flat. Missouri through the Ozarks and eastern Kentucky through the Appalachians offers short, steep climbs. You might even have to walk up some hills. The Virginia portion of the route, surprisingly, has more total elevation gain than any other state.

TransAmerica Trail - Main Route
Section	Distance	Elevation	Total Climb	Avg. Climb/mile
Total	4215.2 miles	Minimum: 0 ft. Maximum: 11,535 ft.	217,350 ft. east bound 217,455 ft. west bound	52 ft. per mi. east bound 52 ft. per mi. west bound
1	227.0 miles	Minimum: 0 ft. Maximum: 840 ft.	10,600 ft. east bound 10,025 ft. west bound	47 ft. per mi. east bound 44 ft. per mi. west bound
2	341.0 miles	Minimum: 425 ft. Maximum: 5,330 ft.	19,680 ft. east bound 16,780 ft. west bound	58 ft. per mi. east bound 49 ft. per mi. west bound
3	419.0 miles	Minimum: 1,225 ft. Maximum: 5,235 ft.	23,775 ft. east bound 24,075 ft. west bound	57 ft. per mi. east bound 57 ft. per mi. west bound
4	329.5 miles	Minimum: 3,125 ft. Maximum: 7,420 ft.	15,785 ft. east bound 12,300 ft. west bound	48 ft. per mi. east bound 37 ft. per mi. west bound
5	350.0 miles	Minimum: 5,325 ft. Maximum: 9,570 ft.	19,065 ft. east bound 19,000 ft. west bound	54 ft. per mi. east bound 54 ft. per mi. west bound
6	389.5 miles	Minimum: 4,650 ft. Maximum: 11,535 ft.	20,210 ft. east bound 22,310 ft. west bound	52 ft. per mi. east bound 57 ft. per mi. west bound
7	287.8 miles	Minimum: 2,080 ft. Maximum: 4,730 ft.	2,310 ft. east bound 4,940 ft. west bound	8 ft. per mi. east bound 17 ft. per mi. west bound
8	326.1 miles	Minimum: 815 ft. Maximum: 2,085 ft.	5,905 ft. east bound 7,015 ft. west bound	18 ft. per mi. east bound 22 ft. per mi. west bound
9	408.5 miles	Minimum: 355 ft. Maximum: 1,565 ft.	25,020 ft. east bound 25,630 ft. west bound	61 ft. per mi. east bound 63 ft. per mi. west bound
10	400.4 miles	Minimum: 325 ft. Maximum: 1,030 ft.	24,110 ft. east bound 23,510 ft. west bound	60 ft. per mi. east bound 59 ft. per mi. west bound
11	370.5 miles	Minimum: 655 ft. Maximum: 3,755 ft.	31,850 ft. east bound 30,760 ft. west bound	86 ft. per mi. east bound 83 ft. per mi. west bound
12	365.9 miles	Minimum: 0 ft. Maximum: 3,335 ft.	19,040 ft. east bound 21,110 ft. west bound	52 ft. per mi. east bound 58 ft. per mi. west bound

TransAmerica Trail Alternates
Name	Section	Distance	Total Climb	Avg. Climb/mi
Florence Alternate	1	78.0 miles	2,875 ft. east bound 2,550 ft. west bound	37 ft. per mi. east bound 33 ft. per mi. west bound
Salem Spur	1	9.5 miles	235 ft. east bound 275 ft. west bound	25 ft. per mi. east bound 29 ft. per mi. west bound
Eugene Spur	1	6.0 miles	105 ft. south bound 65 ft. north bound	18 ft. per mi. south bound 11 ft. per mi. north bound
Three Capes Scenic Option	1	15.5 miles	1,045 ft. east bound 1,040 ft. west bound	67 ft. per mi. east bound 67 ft. per mi. west bound
Eugene Spur	2	6.0 miles	105 ft. south bound 65 ft. north bound	18 ft. per mi. south bound 11 ft. per mi. north bound
Santiam Alternate	2	49.0 miles	4,145 ft. east bound 2,635 ft. west bound	85 ft. per mi. east bound 54 ft. per mi. west bound
Alternate	3	5.4 miles	135 ft. east bound 75 ft. west bound	25 ft. per mi. east bound 14 ft. per mi. west bound
Old Darby Alternate	4	13.0 miles	610 ft. east bound 390 ft. west bound	47 ft. per mi. east bound 30 ft. per mi. west bound
Gibbons Pass Alternate	4	18.0 miles	2,475 ft. east bound 665 ft. west bound	138 ft. per mi. east bound 37 ft. per mi. west bound
Teton Spur	5	33.0 miles	620 ft. south bound 1,190 ft. north bound	19 ft. per mi. south bound 36 ft. per mi. north bound
Mississippi Levee Alternate	9	38.0 miles	1,020 ft. east bound 1,320 ft. west bound	27 ft. per mi. east bound 35 ft. per mi. west bound
Mammoth Cave Loop	10	79.0 miles	5,140 ft. east bound 4,950 ft. west bound	65 ft. per mi. east bound 63 ft. per mi. west bound
Richmond Alternate	12	34.6 miles	940 ft. east bound 1,110 ft. west bound	27 ft. per mi. east bound 32 ft. per mi. west bound

This route can be ridden from May through September. Note that snow can occur at any time in the Rocky Mountains, and the highest pass on the route is over 11,500 feet in Colorado. Although the prevailing weather patterns are from west to east, local wind patterns are more dependent on the passing pressure systems and local terrain, so you can expect your fair share of tailwinds and headwinds regardless of which direction you ride the route. Plan on around three months (give or take) for the crossing. Some traverse the route quicker, but this leaves less time for sightseeing.

Camping choices will vary across the country between small private campgrounds, city parks, state and national parks, national forests, and the occasional back yard. The northern Oregon coast is a heavily traveled tourist route and is flush with camping and service opportunities. From Oregon eastward through Kansas, you'll find services limited mainly to the towns along the route. Carrying extra water in the west is a good plan. Camping options improve once you're in the Rockies, but you should still expect some long stretches between accommodations and services. Options will increase near tourist areas such as Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Kansas is legendary for its hospitality. Camping in city parks is the norm through Kansas and Missouri. Food, water, and overnight accommodations are abundant from Missouri to Virginia.

Some campgrounds will charge a cyclist traveling alone less if they have hiker/biker sites, but often they will charge the price of a regular tent site, and that can easily be $10-$20/night. The maps list churches that have opened their doors to cyclists, but they aren't all that closely spaced. If you're friendly and ask around, you can often get yourself invited to camp in a yard. In national forests you are allowed to camp anywhere on national forest land as long as you "pack it in, pack it out." Many city parks are free to camp in.

You may also wish to sign up with Warmshowers, a reciprocal hospitality site for bicycle travelers, for other overnight options.

Route Highlights