What's the best route for a cross-country ride?

[jlee]

I'm moving to Phoenix eventually (as soon as I lock in a job)..but I'm not sure how I want to get there. I'm definitely selling my Tundra before I go, and I'm thinking about selling the MR2 (pretty rare in NH...should be able to sell).

I am toying with the idea of riding my SV650 from coast to coast. Yes, it's not a touring bike...but hell I'm young and single..might as well do it before I'm old and attached, right? 😀

Assuming I go from, say.., Portland to San Diego -- any recommendations on which route to take?

Edit: Tentative route

 

[Bignate603]

If there's any chance of snow I'd run down the east coast and then go west. The last thing you'd want is to try and go through the rockies and hit a storm. This will add a bit of length on to the trip but being ridiculously cold and trying to drive in nasty weather wouldn't be enjoyable. If you hold off on going until the summer I'd definitely go through the rockies. It would be an awesome ride.

 

[jlee]

If there's any chance of snow I'd run down the east coast and then go west. The last thing you'd want is to try and go through the rockies and hit a storm. This will add a bit of length on to the trip but being ridiculously cold and trying to drive in nasty weather wouldn't be enjoyable. If you hold off on going until the summer I'd definitely go through the rockies. It would be an awesome ride.

I don't think it'll be this winter - hoping for spring/summer, but I really don't know for sure.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I'm assuming you mean Portland, ME...
If I were you I would take the fastest route from ME to Denver. Unless there is something you want to see back east that's the easiest way to do things.
From Denver take I-70 over the Rockies to US-191 in UT.
From there go South to Moab, and stop at Arches N.P.
Continue South in to Arizona on 191.
Here you have a choice, you can continue South on 191 and go to Canyon de Chelly N.P. or go West on US-160 to Flagstaff and north to the Grand Canyon.
Either way you will end up on I-40, go west to Needles, CA.
From Needles head west until you reach Historic Route 66, Take this to Amboy, CA.
Take Amboy Rd. South to Twenty-Nine Palms, CA.
From 29 Palms go South through Joshua Tree N.P. to I-10, Take I-10 West to either I-15 South or I-5 South to San Diego.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

omg do it...

I have 3-4 friends that have done this and all have tons of pics and memories and etc.. From the small towns to the endless highways with no one but your thoughts..

If it were me, I'd pick a bunch of scenic places to visit and use that as a route. I wouldn't 'focus' on the twisties with a cross country ride..

There are tons of preparation issues.. December Cycle World has a guide from Peter Egan. Check advrider also for tips on how to pack, what to bring, etc

 

[jlee]

I'm assuming you mean Portland, ME...
If I were you I would take the fastest route from ME to Denver. Unless there is something you want to see back east that's the easiest way to do things.
From Denver take I-70 over the Rockies to US-191 in UT.
From there go South to Moab, and stop at Arches N.P.
Continue South in to Arizona on 191.
Here you have a choice, you can continue South on 191 and go to Canyon de Chelly N.P. or go West on US-160 to Flagstaff and north to the Grand Canyon.
Either way you will end up on I-40, go west to Needles, CA.
From Needles head west until you reach Historic Route 66, Take this to Amboy, CA.
Take Amboy Rd. South to Twenty-Nine Palms, CA.
From 29 Palms go South through Joshua Tree N.P. to I-10, Take I-10 West to either I-15 South or I-5 South to San Diego.

Thanks! I've driven up and down the east coast so many times...nothing over here interests me.

omg do it...

I have 3-4 friends that have done this and all have tons of pics and memories and etc.. From the small towns to the endless highways with no one but your thoughts..

If it were me, I'd pick a bunch of scenic places to visit and use that as a route. I wouldn't 'focus' on the twisties with a cross country ride..

There are tons of preparation issues.. December Cycle World has a guide from Peter Egan. Check advrider also for tips on how to pack, what to bring, etc

I just found this via SVRider 😀

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Also, if it were me... I'd post on anand or elsewhere and try to bunk at member's houses.. Not necessarily for free of course, but it certainly is better than staying at sleazy motel/hotels..

Also bring the phone number of a member on a major forum who can make a 'call for help' post in case you break down in the middle of BFN

 

[Zenmervolt]

While I wouldn't recommend it on a motorcycle in the winter, US-2 is an incredible route. It starts in the Michigan Upper Peninsula and goes right by Glacier National Park then through upper Idaho and across towards Seattle. Then you can take US-101 down the coast and through some gorgeous scenery. It's a great road. Though some of the stretches in Montana may push things a bit long between gas stations.

Also, don't sell the MR2, you'll regret it. 😛

ZV

 

[PricklyPete]

While I wouldn't recommend it on a motorcycle in the winter, US-2 is an incredible route. It starts in the Michigan Upper Peninsula and goes right by Glacier National Park then through upper Idaho and across towards Seattle. Then you can take US-101 down the coast and through some gorgeous scenery. It's a great road. Though some of the stretches in Montana may push things a bit long between gas stations.

Also, don't sell the MR2, you'll regret it. 😛

ZV

Agreed with Zem...but not during the winter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm moving to Phoenix eventually (as soon as I lock in a job)..but I'm not sure how I want to get there. I'm definitely selling my Tundra before I go, and I'm thinking about selling the MR2 (pretty rare in NH...should be able to sell).

I am toying with the idea of riding my SV650 from coast to coast. Yes, it's not a touring bike...but hell I'm young and single..might as well do it before I'm old and attached, right? 😀

Assuming I go from, say.., Portland to San Diego -- any recommendations on which route to take?

Look me up when you get to San Diego. You're welcome to stop by for a beer.

 

[jlee]

While I wouldn't recommend it on a motorcycle in the winter, US-2 is an incredible route. It starts in the Michigan Upper Peninsula and goes right by Glacier National Park then through upper Idaho and across towards Seattle. Then you can take US-101 down the coast and through some gorgeous scenery. It's a great road. Though some of the stretches in Montana may push things a bit long between gas stations.

Also, don't sell the MR2, you'll regret it. 😛

ZV

Heh - as I'm starting in northern New England, winter is definitely out regardless. 😛
I'm contemplating a Z06..but you're probably right. I would miss her.

Look me up when you get to San Diego. You're welcome to stop by for a beer.

Sweet. I might actually be in San Diego for a bit next Monday night -- depends on what time I leave Phoenix.

Tentative route

 

[arrfep]

Dude, check out www.adventurecycling.org . It's a bicycle touring organization, but the routes they have mapped out would be pretty sweet to do on a motorcycle as well. I bicycled cross country a few years back but have since driven much of the same route. Their routes will especially be good if you're planning on camping at all.

 

[herm0016]

i live in rock springs wyoming if you end up coming out on I80, though denver is much nicer, us 191 runs right through here and you could head south on that from here.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Heh - as I'm starting in northern New England, winter is definitely out regardless. 😛
I'm contemplating a Z06..but you're probably right. I would miss her.

I'm sure you'd have fun with a Z06, but with as much work as you've put in on the MR2 to make her truly "yours" I think you'd regret it later. What you need to do is get a Z06 in addition to the MR2. 😉

If winter is completely out, then definitely look at US 2. It's gorgeous in the Upper Peninsula and there are beautiful camp sites near Lake Superior. Even the stretches in Montana and the Dakotas are beautiful and once you hit Idaho the drive gets gorgeous again. And then there's the famous US 101 along the Pacific coast (and CA-1 which diverges from 101 in Leggett and is even better than 101).

I drove CA-1 from Fort Bragg north to Leggett one night in the fog and it was the scariest and best drive of my life. Winding road through redwoods with little runoff area but simply gorgeous. In the daytime it would be one of the best roads in America. At night and in the fog it's a bit white-knuckle though.

If you choose this route, let me know when you're coming through Seattle and we can grab a beer.

 

[jagec]

Me, I hooked up a small trailer to my MR2, and me and my cousin swapped driving and riding the motorcycle to make it across the country. Result: Now I have my MR2, my bike, AND my memories. Highly recommended.

Don't do too many miles in a day, though.

 

[sjwaste]

Is that an MR2 Turbo? What would the asking price be on that? 🙂 I'd love to have one in the driveway next to my 91 Supra Turbo.

 

[jlee]

Me, I hooked up a small trailer to my MR2, and me and my cousin swapped driving and riding the motorcycle to make it across the country. Result: Now I have my MR2, my bike, AND my memories. Highly recommended.

Don't do too many miles in a day, though.

Problem is that I need a truck or a large-ish trailer - upright air compressor, rollaround tool chest, queen mattress/boxspring.. I thought about renting a truck, putting my stuff and the bike in the back, and the car on a flatbed...but that doesn't really help with the 'ride a motorcycle coast-to-coast' idea. 🙁

Is that an MR2 Turbo? What would the asking price be on that? 🙂 I'd love to have one in the driveway next to my 91 Supra Turbo.

Probably more than market value, what with the time and money I've put into her. 😛

 

[Sukhoi]

I did a somewhat similar drive 2.5 years ago, though mine was Lexington, KY to San Jose, CA. It's a lot of fun and well worth going out of your way to see the sights. I went all the way up to Montana and then dropped back down.

CrackRabbit has some good suggestions. Though if it is wet when you go to Canyon de Chelly don't try it unless you have good 4WD. I was literally sideways going down the road in a 4WD RAV4 just after New Years this year because it was so muddy from melting snow.

PM me if you have questions on any particular National Parks west of the Mississippi...I've been to most of them in the past few years.

Now based off your tentative route do you have any real reason to go to Oklahoma City? Also if you go through St. Louis take the elevator up the arch. I'd either just take the fastest route to Denver, or go up to I-90 if you have time. It's kind of a neat drive across South Dakota. You could see the Badlands NP, Mt. Rushmore NM, and Wind Cave NP. Then cut over to I-25 and go to Denver. I-70 W from Denver is quite scenic and you get up in the mountains fast. Take I-70 W to US-191 S in Utah to Moab. Check out Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, and Dead Horse Point SP. Take US-191 S through Blanding, UT to US-163 S/W to Monument Valley.

If you have time then I *highly* suggest you somewhat reverse course from here. Take UT-261 N (there are some bad ass switchbacks that go up a mesa, look up the Moki Dugway) to UT-95 N/W. Continue up to UT-24 W to Capitol Reef NP. From there take UT-12 S/W to Bryce Canyon NP. Then go US-89 S to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's way better than the South Rim (10x less people). Backtrack a bit and take UT-9 W into Zion NP. It's not that big a deal but Zion is pretty neat to enter from the east if you have never been there. Then I-15 S through Las Vegas. If you're going before May take a detour to Death Valley NP...it's one of my favorite parks.

Now if you don't go to Death Valley I would take the Kelso Cima road south through the Mojave NP and from there down through Joshua Tree NP. Also if your bike is dirt-road capable I can give you a number of very scenic dirt roads to drive around the West.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Problem is that I need a truck or a large-ish trailer - upright air compressor, rollaround tool chest, queen mattress/boxspring.. I thought about renting a truck, putting my stuff and the bike in the back, and the car on a flatbed...but that doesn't really help with the 'ride a motorcycle coast-to-coast' idea. 🙁

Have a professional moving company ship your things and hire a company to ship the car. It's not terribly unreasonable to ship a car across the country. Yes, it's more expensive, but it's the price for the trip and I think it would be worth it.

ZV

 

[theblackbox]

"Though if it is wet when you go to Canyon de Chelly don't try it unless you have good 4WD. I was literally sideways going down the road in a 4WD RAV4 just after New Years this year because it was so muddy from melting snow."

something about the terms rav4 and 4wd just don't mix in the same sentence. if you plan on doing canyon de chelly, i would recommend a real 4wd vehicle.


if you are going to hit the golden triangle, canyonlands and capitol reef are musts. if you have any experience canyoneering, capitol reef and zion are some of the best in the country.
if you really like 4wd and want some fun, canyonlands has some of the best and most difficult trails in the country. moab is fun, but canyonlands has some down right scary stuff.

i always like crossing through the navajo nation, some parts of it are a wonderful drive, especially at night. nothing beats stopping on the middle of a highway at midnite where there are no lights, no people.

i wouldn't recommend i70 from denver to grand junction anytime after november, especially with the recent storms we have been getting, while summit county is nice, the driving is not.

there are a lot of great things to see along highway 40 if you take business 40 (route 66) exits, and great places to eat. Shamrock, tx tucumcari, nm (blue swallow) joe and aggies (the green chili is awesome) in holbrook, plus the wigwam motel.
if you 66 parts, oatman is a must too. amboy is cool, neat history.

 

[Sukhoi]

"something about the terms rav4 and 4wd just don't mix in the same sentence. if you plan on doing canyon de chelly, i would recommend a real 4wd vehicle."

If the roads are dry you could do it in a 2WD sedan easily. I was just pointing out if they're wet even a light 4WD system isn't enough to do it comfortably.

 

[theblackbox]

"something about the terms rav4 and 4wd just don't mix in the same sentence. if you plan on doing canyon de chelly, i would recommend a real 4wd vehicle."

If the roads are dry you could do it in a 2WD sedan easily. I was just pointing out if they're wet even a light 4WD system isn't enough to do it comfortably.

oh, sorry, i thought you were talking about the bottom of the canyon. that sand going in can be nasty. 🙂

once you are in the canyon, though, it's not that bad.

 

[Sukhoi]

Oh lol I have been talking about Chaco Canyon...got the two mixed up. I've never been to Canyon de Chelly, but I thought you have to take an Indian guide to go about anywhere now?

The RAV4 4WD is actually mildly impressive. Last month I made it up a pretty sandy hill to get to a campsite near Wire Pass.

 

[theblackbox]

and not too far from the same area, there are some great lava tubes if you are into caving in new mexico, at el mapias. all you need is high ground clearance unless it has rained or is winter melt, then even 4x4 have a few issues in areas. if it is dry, it is easy sailing.

 

[theblackbox]

you are correct, you need a navajo guide or be a navajo to go into the valley. 🙂