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We have chosen the Southern Tier of the US from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL as the route for our EPIC Cross Country, Southern Tier Bike Tour for Spring 2024.
Why this route? This is the shortest route from coast to coast at 2940 miles, yet you’ll still have bragging rights of cycling across the country.
The timing will be perfect for those who want to get a big jump on their 2024 miles. As we progress West to East, we should have the best, consistent temperatures ranging from the 60s to perhaps the 80s–perfect cycling conditions.
While we won’t guarantee freshly paved bike trail for the entire route, we will boast that we have sought the most accommodating routes available in the area and you will enjoy scenery to include: seashores, mountains, ranch lands, wildflowers, bayous and citrus groves.
This southern route takes us through wonderfully warm towns in southern California. We climb out of San Diego and head toward the Arizona border, Tucson, Tombstone, and the Chiricahua Mountains before taking on our 3rd state, New Mexico (Land of Enchantment).
Then, we are on to Texas where we will ride 1/3 of our tour crossing TX at its widest part. We enjoy the flat ranches of western TX, the TX Hill Country, just outside of Austin, and on to the rolling hills of east TX.
From there, it’s a few days of riding across Louisiana. Time to enjoy some Cajun cooking. We cross the boot heels of both Mississippi and Alabama, then take a ferry across Mobile Bay to enter FL’s panhandle. North Florida has a varied landscape of strawberry fields, lush Live Oaks, horse farms, small college towns and orange groves, as we move toward the coast. If you are curious, try connecting the dots:
San Diego, CA · Tucson, AZ · Tombstone, AZ · Columbus, NM · El Paso, TX · Del Rio, TX · Austin, TX · LaGrange, TX · De Ridder, LA · St. Francisville, LA · Poplarville, MS · Mobile, AL · Dauphin Island, AL · Pensacola, FL · Tallahassee, FL · Gainesville, FL · St. Augustine, FL
We have priced this bicycle tour as a budget tour coming in at $345/day. Cycle of Life Adventures has and always will offer all-inclusive bicycling vacations. We encourage you to compare our cross-country tour to others in the industry. We do not camp, but stay in nice clean hotels and inns. There are no wet, cold tents to set up and break down. There are no cold, clammy showers and outhouses. You are not sharing the cooking and cleaning chores with other cyclists. We eat dinner at nice restaurants in the evenings and sometimes grill out under the stars. We have healthy breakfasts, nutritious fruits, vegetables, snacks and beverages on the van.
Every morning, you simply take your items to the van and we take care of your things from there. Our vans are equipped with Wi-Fi and charging stations. Your family and friends are welcome to visit on our off days or ride along for a day.
We use the Adventure Cycling maps as our basic guide, but do not adhere to them entirely, as we have our own special stops, quaint backroads, amusements and break days planned. The average daily riding mileage is 74. Due to geography and lodging availabilities, there will be several century days scheduled. Along the route, we have 5 layover days scheduled at approximately 7-day intervals.
Final route details and lodging arrangement are being finalized. Please call with your questions. Routes and hotel accommodations will be provided upon registration.
See the blog posts from our 2018 and 2021 rides.
Travel
Airline service should be scheduled into San Diego by March 2, 2024 prior to 1 pm. Returning airline service should be scheduled out of Jacksonville, FL, after April 16 at 11 am. Travel insurance is highly recommended due to our refund policies for this tour. Various insurers are available. We suggest Allianz.
Accommodations
All hotels (no camping).
Special Note
Due to the length and cost of this tour, we ask that each registrant call the office staff personally and discuss the personal goals you desire to achieve from a tour of this magnitude. Prior to Registering, please read the following link to our special tour documents: Cross Country Bike Tour – Waiver and Release/ Safety Procedures
This tour is not sold in segments, but is planned as a complete cross country tour to fulfill your bucket list. Half segments will be offered after August, if space is available at Austin, TX. Half way stop/start date is March 28 for this trip.
Due to extensive long-term planning, special cancellation and refund policies are needed. Because of distance, we suggest that you ride your own bike. Arrangements can be made for pre-shipping, and with provided specifications of your bicycle, we do have parts and supplies with us for emergency repairs, but we are not a retail store. It is highly recommended you bring 2 additional tires, 10-12 tubes, extra spokes, a chain and a well-tuned bicycle.
We cannot accommodate tricycles or recumbent bicycles on our Epic tours.
Spring 2024 Deposit
A non-refundable $500 registration fee is required at sign on.
- 1/3Â is due by September 1, 2023
- 2nd 1/3Â due by November 1, 2023
- last 1/3 – paid in full by January 1, 2024.
- Double occupancy registration fees are due at the same time.
- Fees are paid by check. There will be a 2.25% additional fee for credit card use.
- Tour is limited to 12 riders and we need a minimum of 6 required prior to December 31, 2023.
Spring 2024 Cancellation Policy
- $1000 cancellation fee before September 1, 2023
- $1500 Cancellation fee before November 1, 2023
- $2500 cancellation fee before December 31, 2023
- No refunds for any reason after January 1, 2024
- Please purchase travel insurance for this reason.
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Itineraries
Day 1
03/03/24 | Pine Valley, CA | 52 miles | 5734 ft
Day 2
03/04/24 | El Centro, CA | 81 miles | 2664 ft
Day 3
03/05/24 | Welton, AZ | 97 miles | 1933 ft
Day 4
03/06/24 | Gila Bend, AZ | 88 miles | 1126 ft
Day 5
03/07/24 | Casa Grande, AZ | 75 miles | 1217 ft
Day 6
03/08/24 | Tucson, AZ | 75 miles | 1297 ft
Day 7
OFF | 03/09/24 | Tucson, AZ | (Saturday) 468 segment miles
Day 8
03/10/24 | Benson, AZ | 65 miles | 3530 ft
Day 9
03/11/24 | Bisbee, AZ | 50 miles | 3497 ft
Day 10
03/12/24 | Portal, AZ | 84 miles | 2012 ft
Day 11
03/13/24 | Columbus, NM | 99 miles | 1758 ft
Day 12
03/14/24 | El Paso, TX | 69 miles | 856 ft
Day 13
03/15/24 | Clint, TX | 51 miles | 2377 ft
Day 14
03/16/24 | Van Horn, TX | 105 miles | 1860 ft
Day 15
03/17/24 | Ft. Davis, TX | 80 miles | 2227 ft
Day 16
OFF | 03/18/24 | Ft. Davis, TX | 603 segment miles
Day 17
03/19/24 | Marathon, TX | 54 miles | 1135 ft
Day 18
03/20/24 | Sanderson, TX | 54 miles | 818 ft
Day 19
03/21/24 | Del Rio, TX | 119 miles | 3999 ft
Day 20
03/22/24 | Camp Wood, TX | 80 miles | 1814 ft
Day 21
03/23/24 | Ingram, TX | 80 miles | 4785 ft
Day 22
03/24/24 | Fredericksburg, TX | 40 miles | 1609 ft
Day 23
OFF | 03/25/24 | Fredericksburg, TX | 427 segment miles
Day 24
03/26/24 | Buda, TX | 87 miles | 4651 ft
Day 25
03/27/24 | Giddings, TX | 74 miles | 2659 ft
Day 26
03/28/24 | Navasota, TX | 80 miles | 2990 ft
Day 27
03/29/24 | Cleveland, TX | 75 miles | 2493 ft
Day 28
03/30/24 | Lumberton, TX | 69 miles | 793 ft
Day 29
03/31/24 | DeRidder, LA | 82 miles | 1117 ft
Day 30
OFF | 04/01/24 | DeRidder, LA | 467 segment miles
Day 31
04/02/24 | Ville Platte, LA | 78 miles | 856 ft
Day 32
04/03/24 | St. Francisville, LA | 80 miles | 884 ft
Day 33
04/04/24 | Franklinton, LA | 88 miles | 3382 ft
Day 34
04/05/24 | Wiggins, MS | 85 miles | 2911 ft
Day 35
04/06/24 | Moss Point, MS | 75 miles | 1526 ft
Day 36
04/07/24 | Gulf Shores, AL | 70 miles | 483 ft
Day 37
Your Plan
OFF | 04/08/24 | Gulf Shores, AL | 476 segment miles
Day 38
04/09/24 | Ft. Walton Beach, FL | 75 miles | 744 ft
Day 39
04/10/24 | Chipley, FL | 86 miles | 2155 ft
Day 40
04/11/24 | Midway, FL | 78 miles | 2206 ft
Day 41
04/12/24 | Madison, FL | 77 miles | 1968 ft
Day 42
04/13/24 | Alachua, FL | 84 miles | 1445 ft
Day 43
04/14/24 | East Palatka, FL | 66 miles | 1308 ft
Day 44
04/15/24 | St. Augustine, FL | 33 miles | 210 ft
Day 45
04/16/24 | Catch Flights | 499 segment miles | 2940 Total Miles
Included
- Lodging (see above)
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner (see above)
- Park entry fees
- Ride with GPS mapping; printed guide sheets, if desired
- Minimum of 2 guides
- Mechanic
- Van support
- Luggage transports
- Airport transfers
- Souvenir jersey
- Laundry service one day per week
Not Included
- Airfare
- Rental bikes
- Alcoholic beverages
- Bike box shipping fee
- Lunch and dinner during off days
- Souvenirs
- A 12% gratuity is not included but suggested; all gratuities will be divided among all tour support personnel
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