Cross-country trip - best route in spring?

[uhmeebuh]

After I sell my big gixxer, I'll be picking up some sort of touring oriented bike (Multistrada is on the top of the short list) and riding cross-country with a friend.

We want to hit the Grans Canyon, Deals Gap, and head out to the Carolinas and then up to NY. After that we don't really have a set idea of what route and I have installed MS Maps yet :blush

Any recommendations?

[rocketbunny]

Ok - I'll bite.

Generally you want to aim for late spring/early summer for a cross-country trip. June seems to be about the best time for early summer trips. Not too cold, not yet too hot, and most of the snow has melted out of the good roads in the Sierras and Rockies. If you wait til fall, late August or early September can work, but you can also risk getting the first snows around that time.

[uhmeebuh]

Originally posted by rocketbunny
Ok - I'll bite.

Generally you want to aim for late spring/early summer for a cross-country trip. June seems to be about the best time for early summer trips. Not too cold, not yet too hot, and most of the snow has melted out of the good roads in the Sierras and Rockies. If you wait til fall, late August or early September can work, but you can also risk getting the first snows around that time.

Thanks Becca!

We were thinking May but we can probably do June just as easily...I aint afraid of no rain!

[slydrite]

garmin would be very useful.......most of the new ones are water tight

[monkeythumpa]

40 is a good route, the old 66. You go through some great scenery and it is far south to be free from snow but high enough to be cool.

[Razel]

I-40 will be cooler than I-10. I-10 is a bit...empty in west Texas. Lots and lots of nothing. Look at Hudspeth County on the map, and you get an idea of just how much there is to see besides plain blacktop. On the plus side, I-10 goes through the Texas hill country, (between Alpine and Kerrville, and south of Junction)where there are some great two-lane roads to stretch your skills on. Corners and straights...just be on the look-out for Officer Sanchez.

If you go late enough, you can get in at the North entrance to the Grand Canyon, and compare the view with the larger and more popular Southern entrance. North was closed for April this year, though. May be like the Calif. passes and opens at the end of May.

East of Birminham is Barber Raceway, with one of the coolest motorcycle museums in the country. Deals Gap is a good choice, but it goes through a federal park with the 45MPH signs that go with it. Just remember to get your dragon decal (for the bike) once you get there. Cherohala Highway would be another road in the area to check out as well.

[MaxThrottle]

It really depends on how much time you have too.

Having gone northern, central, and southern routes, I'd recommend staying north. State highways 20 and 2 are decent and off the beaten path. As mentioned previously, I-10 can get pretty boring.

Plus, you can go through the Badlands, Glacier, Yellowstone...