Trip Summary Trip Dates: May 02 - Aug 02 Start - End Locations: Williamsburg, VA - Florence, OR/Shuttle to Eugene, OR Days: 93   Rest Days: 18   Level of Support: Self-contained Miles: 4258 Average Miles Per Day: 57 Surface: Road Riders: 14 Type: Self-Contained   Meals: Shared cooking Accommodations: Camping Physical Difficulty: Advanced   Airport: Richmond, VA/Eugene, OR Cost: $4249 Booking Status: Closed

This world-renowned cross-country route is the one that started it all. Its challenges and delights have provided thousands of adventures over the years, and hold many more to come. Make this the summer to put yourself in the picture. Invest three months in making a dream come true, and complete the ride you know you’ve always wanted to do.

We at Adventure Cycling hear the stories of many TransAm veterans. Some riders talk about the great roads they bicycled daily. Others mention the singular joy of eating more than they wanted, day in and day out for three months, and still losing weight. But after riding all of the miles and dipping their bikes’ wheels in both oceans, their most powerful discovery is that fundamental goodness is alive and well in this country.

What’s mentioned most often is the sense of surprise and discovery the ride provides—of ever-changing landscapes and a still-rural nation. Nearly all riders discover friendliness, generosity, and variety in the American people, traits that are lost or ignored in the stereotypes appearing on television and in other media.

The adventure begins in the Historic Triangle of Virginia. From there, you’ll travel westward through the hills and mountains of Virginia and Kentucky. After passing through the southern tip of Illinois, there are… more hills. In fact, the relentless hills of Missouri’s Ozarks are often cited as some of the toughest challenges of the entire route.

You’ll then breeze across Kansas and ride onto the flats of eastern Colorado—or, as one tour leader said, “the part of Colorado that has more emptiness than Kansas ever dreamed of.” Soon thereafter, you’ll reach the Rocky Mountains, with their wildflower-studded alpine meadows and scented forests of pine, spruce, and fir.

Most of the remainder of your journey will be in mountainous terrain, or in the vast valleys and watersheds separating the ranges of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon. The thrill of crossing the Cascade Mountains at McKenzie Pass, and knowing only a couple of easy days of riding are left until you reach the Pacific, produces a euphoria that will leave you feeling giddy.

What is the day-to-day experience like? First and foremost, it is a group experience. Imagine spending ninety-three days and nights on the open road, traveling, cooking, and laughing; getting cold, getting hot, and getting wet—sometimes all three in the same day—and sharing it with the support of a small group of fellow cyclists.

This self-contained tour belongs to you and your fellow participants, and to a remarkable degree, you each will have a voice in shaping your experience. You will participate in all of your group’s decision making and daily chores. You also will be free to take as much time as you want every day to take photos, meet locals, and learn about this incredible country we Americans call home.

Although it’s now more than thirty years old, the TransAm remains a brand-new adventure waiting to happen for those who haven’t yet ridden it. Celebrate life, live large, and get your priorities straight by spending the summer of 2008 crossing the continent on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail! You’ll get to know this country and its people better than you ever imagined. More importantly, you’ll discover yourself, including inner resources you may not even know you possess.

For more detailed information, see Self Contained trip logistics.

READY TO GO?
You can sign up for the TransAm now. Go to our online sign-up.

EXTRAS
To learn more about the TransAmerica Trail, visit our TransAm maps page.