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Rider Requirements: Must maintain a daily average pace of 12-18 mph.
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 Fall 2026.
The Fall crossing of the Southern Tier will be from Oct 3- Nov 17, 2026. Most riders will be fundraising for charities. If you are interested, please call us with your details. You may find the October daily itinerary listed at the end of the "Trip Outline".
Why this route? This is the shortest route from coast to coast at approximately 2900 miles, yet you’ll still have bragging rights of cycling across the country.
The timing of the Spring tour was perfect for those who want to get a big jump on their new year miles. But the Fall allows you more time to tune-up. 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 a 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 that includes 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 third state, New Mexico (Land of Enchantment).
Then, we are on to Texas where we will ride 1/3 of our tour, crossing Texas at its widest part. We enjoy the large ranches of western Texas, the Texas Hill Country, just outside of Austin, and on to the rolling hills of east Texas.
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 Florida's panhandle. North Florida has a varied landscape of strawberry fields, lush Live Oak trees, 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
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 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 five layover days scheduled at approximately seven-day intervals.
Final route details and lodging arrangements are being finalized. Please call with your questions. Routes and hotel accommodations will be provided upon registration.
For a special look inside this EPIC tour, check out Project 2950: Pedaling Coast-to-Coast on the Southern Tier or read our blog posts from the 2018 and 2021 rides.
Travel
Airline service for the October 2026 ride should be scheduled into San Diego by Oct 3, 2026 prior to 1 pm. Returning airline service should be scheduled out of Jacksonville, FL, after Nov 17 at 11 am.
Trip Insurance
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 Jan 1,2026, if space is available at Austin, TX.
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.
Fall 2026 Deposit
A non-refundable $500 registration fee is required at sign on.
- 1/3 balance is due by Apr 15,2026
- Second 1/3 due by May 15,2026
- Final 1/3 due by June 15,2026 – [PAID IN FULL]
- Double occupancy registration fees are due at the same time.
- Fees are paid by check. There will be a 3.0% additional fee for credit card use.
- Tour is limited to 12 riders, and we need a minimum of 6 required prior to Jan 15, 2026.
Fall 2026 Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation prior to Apr 6, 2026: 60% refund (of full tour price if payments are up to date)
- Cancellation between May 6- June 5, 2026: 50% refund (of full tour price if payments are up to date)
- Cancellation between Jun 6- July 5, 2026 : 25% refund (of full tour price if payments are up to date)
- No refunds for any reason after Jul 6, 2026
- Please purchase travel insurance for this reason
2027 Spring Cancellations Policy
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- All cancellation must be in writing and are effective upon receipt in our office.
- Full payment is due 120 days prior to tour departure.
- 151+ days before departure: 60% Refund (of full tour price)
- 121-150 days before tour departure: 50% Refund (of full tour price)
- 91-120 days before tour departure: 25% Refund (of full tour price)
- 0-90 days before departure: No Refund
- No refunds are possible after the tour begins.
- No refunds will be made for meals, lodging or services paid for but not used.
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Itineraries
Day 1
10/04 | Alpine, CA | 40 miles | 3397 ft
Day 2
10/05 | El Centro, CA | 94 miles | 4990 ft
Day 3
10/06 | Welton, AZ | 97 miles | 1787 ft
Day 4
10/07 | Gila Bend, AZ | 88 miles | 1126 ft
Day 5
10/08 | Casa Grande, AZ | 72 miles | 1197 ft
Day 6
10/09 | Tucson, AZ | 75 miles | 1297 ft
Day 7
OFF | 10/10| Tucson, AZ | (Saturday) 466 segment miles
Day 8
10/11| Benson, AZ | 65 miles | 3530 ft
Day 9
10/12| Bisbee, AZ | 50 miles | 3497 ft
Day 10
10/13 | Portal, AZ | 84 miles | 2012 ft
Day 11
10/14 | Columbus, NM | 99 miles | 1758 ft
Day 12
10/15 | El Paso, TX | 72 miles | 949 ft
Day 13
10/16 | Fabens, TX | 40 miles | 651 ft
Day 14
10/17| Van Horn, TX | 99 miles | 1860 ft
Day 15
10/18 | Marfa, TX | 73 miles | 1227 ft
Day 16
OFF | 10/19 | Marfa, TX | 589 segment miles
Day 17
10/20 | Marathon, TX | 56 miles | 1324 ft
Day 18
10/21 | Sanderson, TX | 54 miles | 803 ft
Day 19
10/22| Del Rio, TX | 119 miles | 3999 ft
Day 20
10/23 | Camp Wood, TX | 80 miles | 1814 ft
Day 21
10/24 | Kerrville, TX | 85 miles | 4843 ft
Day 22
10/25 | Fredericksburg, TX | 40 miles | 1609 ft
Day 23
OFF | 10/26 | Fredericksburg, TX | 432 segment miles
Day 24
10/27 | Austin, TX | 84 miles | 4461 ft
Day 25
10/28 | La Grange, TX | 80 miles | 2334 ft
Day 26
10/29 | Navasota, TX | 82 miles | 3212 ft
Day 27
10/30| Cleveland, TX | 75 miles | 2536 ft
Day 28
10/31| Lumberton, TX | 69 miles | 793 ft
Day 29
11/01| DeRidder, LA | 82 miles | 1117 ft
Day 30
OFF 11/02 | DeRidder, LA | 472 segment miles
Day 31
11/03| Ville Platte, LA | 78 miles | 856 ft
Day 32
11/04 | St. Francisville, LA | 80 miles | 884 ft
Day 33
11/05 | Franklinton, LA | 89 miles | 3433 ft
Day 34
11/06| Wiggins, MS | 85 miles | 2876 ft
Day 35
11/07| Moss Point, MS | 75 miles | 1526 ft
Day 36
11/08| Gulf Shores, AL | 70 miles | 483 ft
Day 37
Your Plan
OFF | 11/09 | Gulf Shores, AL | 477 segment miles
Day 38
11/10| Ft. Walton Beach, FL | 75 miles | 744 ft
Day 39
11/11 | Chipley, FL | 86 miles | 2155 ft
Day 40
11/12| Midway, FL | 83 miles | 2726 ft
Day 41
11/13 | Madison, FL | 78 miles | 1951 ft
Day 42
11/14 | Alachua, FL | 84 miles | 1397 ft
Day 43
11/15| East Palatka, FL | 65 miles | 1308 ft
Day 44
11/16 | St. Augustine, FL | 34 miles | 210 ft
Day 45
11/17 | Catch Flights | 505 segment miles | 2941 Total Miles
Please email us if you are riding the March 6 - April19, 2027 tour. info@cycleoflifeadventures.com
SOUTHERN TIER March 6, 2027
Day 1
03/07 | Alpine, CA | 40 miles | 3397 ft
Day 2
03/08| El Centro, CA | 94 miles | 4990 ft
Day 3
03/09 | Welton, AZ | 97 miles | 1787 ft
Day 4
03/10 | Gila Bend, AZ | 88 miles | 1126 ft
Day 5
03/11 | Casa Grande, AZ | 72 miles | 1197 ft
Day 6
03/12 | Tucson, AZ | 75 miles | 1297 ft
Day 7
OFF | 03/13 | Tucson, AZ | (Saturday) 466 segment miles
Day 8
03/14| Benson, AZ | 65 miles | 3530 ft
Day 9
03/15 | Bisbee, AZ | 50 miles | 3497 ft
Day 10
03/16 | Portal, AZ | 84 miles | 2012 ft
Day 11
03/17 | Columbus, NM | 99 miles | 1758 ft
Day 12
03/18 | El Paso, TX | 72 miles | 949 ft
Day 13
03/19 | Fabens, TX | 40 miles | 651 ft
Day 14
03/20| Van Horn, TX | 99 miles | 1860 ft
Day 15
03/21 | Marfa, TX | 73 miles | 1227 ft
Day 16
OFF | 03/22 | Marfa, TX | 589 segment miles
Day 17
03/23 | Marathon, TX | 56 miles | 1324 ft
Day 18
03/24 | Sanderson, TX | 54 miles | 803 ft
Day 19
03/25 | Del Rio, TX | 119 miles | 3999 ft
Day 20
03/26| Camp Wood, TX | 80 miles | 1814 ft
Day 21
03/27 | Kerrville, TX | 85 miles | 4843 ft
Day 22
03/28 | Fredericksburg, TX | 40 miles | 1609 ft
Day 23
OFF | 03/29 | Fredericksburg, TX | 432 segment miles
Day 24
03/30| Austin, TX | 84 miles | 4461 ft
Day 25
03/31 | La Grange, TX | 80 miles | 2334 ft
Day 26
04/01| Navasota, TX | 82 miles | 3212 ft
Day 27
04/02| Cleveland, TX | 75 miles | 2536 ft
Day 28
04/03 | Lumberton, TX | 69 miles | 793 ft
Day 29
04/04 | DeRidder, LA | 82 miles | 1117 ft
Day 30
OFF |04/065| DeRidder, LA | 472 segment miles
Day 31
04/05 | Ville Platte, LA | 78 miles | 856 ft
Day 32
04/06| St. Francisville, LA | 80 miles | 884 ft
Day 33
04/07| Franklinton, LA | 89 miles | 3433 ft
Day 34
04/08| Wiggins, MS | 85 miles | 2876 ft
Day 35
04/09| Moss Point, MS | 75 miles | 1526 ft
Day 36
04/10 | Gulf Shores, AL | 70 miles | 483 ft
Day 37
Your Plan
OFF | 04/11 | Gulf Shores, AL | 477 segment miles
Day 38
04/12 | Ft. Walton Beach, FL | 75 miles | 744 ft
Day 39
04/13| Chipley, FL | 86 miles | 2155 ft
Day 40
04/14 | Midway, FL | 83 miles | 2726 ft
Day 41
04/15 | Madison, FL | 78 miles | 1951 ft
Day 42
04/16 | Alachua, FL | 84 miles | 1397 ft
Day 43
04/17| East Palatka, FL | 65 miles | 1308 ft
Day 44
04/18 | St. Augustine, FL | 34 miles | 210 ft
Day 45
04/19 | Catch Flights | 505 segment miles | 2941 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
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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