The U.S. Bicycle Route System is adding four new routes in three states! The new routes are USBR 37 in Indiana, USBR 51 in Missouri, and two routes in Kansas: USBR 50 and USBR 55. We added 3568 miles to the system in 2024. This is the most of any year and brings the total milage to 23,186. Here are the routes we added in the spring of 2024.

Digital maps for all designated U.S. Bicycle Routes are available to the public for free.

New Routes

Indiana USBR 37

USBR 37 is a designated bicycle route that connects the Erie Lackawanna Trail in Northwest Indiana to the Monon Trail in Central Indiana. Traversing 186.9 miles of the Hoosier State, the route primarily consists of existing city streets and country roads with some sections on off-street trails and multi-use paths. USBR 37 begins in Griffith, IN weaving through a mix of suburban and rural landscapes before ending in Carmel, IN.

Traveling southward, the route nears Rensselaer, passes near Indiana Beach Boardwalk, and heads towards Prophetstown State Park in the Town of Battleground. Cyclists traveling through West Lafayette are encouraged to experience the Wabash Heritage Trail and cross the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge. The journey continues through Lafayette, taking paths like the Big 4 Rail Trail and the Farm Heritage Trail.

As USBR 37 approaches its endpoint in Carmel, it travels through Lebanon and Zionsville, following the Zionsville Rail Trail. The route concludes at the Monon Trail on E 106th St in Carmel, serving as a useful connection to one of Indiana’s most popular multi-use paths.

Missouri USBR 51

USBR 51 through Missouri begins at US 69 at Missouri / Iowa state border and ends on US 71 at the Missouri/Arkansas state border connecting to existing USBR 51 in Arkansas for a total of 553.7 miles. The route has segments along Missouri state and local roadways as well as some established trails including the Katy Trail, Watkins Woolen Mill State Park, Corp of Engineers at Truman Lake, Swinging Bridge Trail, Frisco Highline Trail to name a few.

This route establishes USBR 51 as a north-south bicycle route through the state of Missouri with no gaps. This will tie into Arkansas USBR 51 and complete a significant central length of the National Corridor Plan USBR 51 currently planned to stretch from New Orleans, LA into Minnesota.

Kansas

Cyclists in Kansas are lucky and get two new routes, this will bring the total number of miles in this state alone to 883 miles. 

USBR 50

USBR 50 is in the beautiful northeast corner of Kansas and will serve as a future connection between Nebraska and Missouri. USBR 50 begins in Irving, KS mostly following K-7 with a stopover in Troy, KS before continuing south to end in Atchison, KS on the US 59 bridge. USBR 50 overlaps with the newly designated USBR 55 that continues south to the Kansas/Oklahoma border.

The total length of the fully paved route is 40 miles and it passes through 2 counties: Atchison and Doniphan. On this scenic route, cyclists can stop at the Four State Lookout in White Cloud, KS to take in views of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and the Missouri River. Both Troy and Atchison offer great restaurants, and Atchison has several lodging options to choose from.

USBR 55

USBR 55 is a north-south route located in the eastern part of Kansas where experienced cross-country cyclists can expect to encounter lots of hills and trees, and a charming mix of urban and rural areas. USBR 55 begins in Irving, KS at the Kansas/Nebraska state line then continues south for 288 miles, passing through 10 counties, before it ends in Caney, KS at the Kansas/Oklahoma state line.

USBR 55 uses a mix of highways, local roads and crushed limestone trail. Approximately 47 miles (16%) of the USBR 55 is unpaved taking advantage of a major resource of the state, the Prairie Spirit Trail, consisting of well-maintained crushed limestone, that connects Ottawa to Humboldt. Along the route, there will be primo bike shops, and plenty of dining and lodging options, including a basecamp in Humboldt with tiny cabins and camping spots. Casual and fine dining, happy hours, breweries, cafes, etc. all await you on this scenic journey.