Planning Your Own Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip
Q & A

Have you dreamed of traveling cross country but never done it? Now is the time to start!

I have traveled across the country and back eight times in eight years, visiting all 48 contiguous states as well as Alaska. The first four trips I rode on the back as a passenger. One of the aspects I love most about these adventures is interacting with so many people from different walks of life. Many of them either ride or have questions about riding, particularly cross-country travel. Here are their common questions and answers. Many of these tips apply to cross-country adventurers, whether you are on a motorcycle or in a car. Feel free to contact me with your questions, and I will consider posting them.

Picture Yourself Here

Picture yourself in these photos from my summer 2020 trip, and visit the Adventures tab to read detailed descriptions of each journey. Below are detailed questions and answers about planning your own trip.

 Touring Tips: Q & A

Q: How do you plan where to go on your cross-country trips?

A: To plan my trips, I get a physical map of the general geographic area I want to travel in. Then with a highlighter, I mark the places I would like to stop. For my 2020 cross-country trip, this included numerous national parks, favorite hotels, scenic or challenging roads, and delicious eateries throughout the United States. After highlighting my favorite stops, it is easy to visualize the different routes I can use to hit most or all of them. I feel it is good to have a general route in mind but to leave the specifics up to closer to the day of travel, because I know I will want to customize the trip based on my level of fatigue, the weather conditions, and site availability. My general plan in 2020 was to go across the Northern United States to the East Coast, then South to at least Tennessee, West again toward California, and then North home to Oregon. I had about 25 things highlighted on my map and did all but a few of them. Of course, I added more highlights as I went. I also highlight the route I end up going on in another color, so I have a visual record of my trip.

Q: Do you have any other ideas about how to make the trip more adventurous?

A: I find it adds to the fun and adventure to have a theme for each of my cross-country trips. These have included wildlife, friends and family, going from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine, traveling the entire West Coast from the most northwest point of Washington state to the Mexico border and back, and learning to master new roads. For 2020, my theme was “All of my Favorite Things.” I highlighted the locations of my favorite roads, restaurants, parks, and people to visit and traveled from highlight to highlight.

Q: Do you book your hotel rooms for the whole trip in advance?

A: Most of the time I believe it is safest to book reservations shortly before arrival. When you are on a bike, your ability to arrive at a particular destination at a particular time can be adversely affected by weather, road conditions, or your level of fatigue. In addition, it is common to find a new road or destination you want to spend extra time exploring. Setting reservations too many days in advance makes it challenging to follow spur-of-the-moment whims. However, if I want to make a particularly meaningful or significant stop, I usually secure reservations about three days in advance and then plan my route accordingly. I also try to make the last leg of the trip to that destination the shortest so that there is an added buffer of time to cover for unexpected problems.

Q: I like the idea of a cross-country trip but just don’t know how I would pack all the clothes I need on my bike. Do you have any suggestions for saving space?

A: I like to travel light on my cross-country trips, so I have to pack clothes and accessories versatile enough to allow me to eat out at local burger joints as well as expensive steak houses. Each summer before my trip, I splurge on a cute pair of jeans that I really like. I wear those same jeans every day of my trip, freeing up room in my travel bags for accessories that can dress up my look. I pack some designer sandals, a nice shirt, and some matching jewelry to complement the jeans, as well as extra make-up for nights when I will be enjoying fine dining. I pack all of my clothes in separate, color-coded compression bags so they take very little room on my bike and are easy to find.

Q: Do you have advice about saving money on hotel rooms for a longer trip?

A: What type of hotel room you book is very much a personal preference. I try to find the cheapest place that is clean and safe, to save money in order to take a longer trip. I keep several booking apps on my phone so that I can quickly and easily make reservations while on the road. Each app has its benefits, but I find the Booking.com app to be the most user friendly and consistently reliable way to find the best priced room. After booking a few hotels on that app, they start offering what they call “genius” discounts on future bookings. I didn’t find the Hotel.com app to be as user friendly, although they do offer a free booking after ten completed bookings. I tried the Hotel Tonight app, but I never found a better deal in the city I wanted to stay in.

Q: How can you save money on eating out when you are on long road trips?

A: Eating out for all meals on a long road trip can be more costly than many riders, myself included, can afford. I save money by eating out for two of my meals (lunch and dinner) and supplementing the rest with snacks from local grocery stores. I typically avoid purchasing food at gas stations because of the high mark-ups there. I have found non-dairy protein drinks to be a great mid-afternoon snack while on the road, as the drinks don’t need to be refrigerated and the high levels of protein keep my energy up until I can eat dinner, so I buy several at a time and stow them in my bag. Once I’ve arrived in the town where I will be staying for the night, I buy snacks for after dinner and the next morning’s breakfast. Not only do I save money, but I can sleep in and still be on the road at the same time as if I’d awakened early and gone out to breakfast.

Q: Are there things I should have on my bike at all times?

A: I feel more comfortable riding my bike if I know I am prepared for all weather conditions, as well as unexpected changes in plans. As a result, my personal policy is to have a wide variety of gear with me at all times. My right-side saddlebag is always filled with an emergency overnight bag (medication, toothbrush and toothpaste, sleep-mask, make-up, and razor) as well as rain gear, extra layers, and a cooling vest. This bag is pre-packed, and I never remove the items unless I am using them or cleaning them.

Q: What kinds of extra equipment should I pack for longer trips?

A: If I’m going to be gone more than a few days, I like to pack backups for essential items that don’t take up too much space. It’s very common for things to break or be stolen, and it’s nice to have replacements handy instead of taking time out of my trip to go find them. For example, since I use a RAM x-grip to mount my phone on my bike, I always take an extra tether and rubber tips because the tether sometimes breaks and the tips can come off. I also take an extra face shield for my helmet, as it takes virtually no space in my bag when I stand it upright and pack my compression bags around it. I pack extra straps for my luggage in case a strap breaks or I change how I want to tie the bags down. A warranty on my phone screen protector allows me to replace it at any ATT store instead of having it mailed to my house. In addition, I have backup goggles, my winter pair of gloves, and extra layers in case my electric jacket fails. On my 2020 trip, I needed everything except the gloves, goggles, and emergency layers.

Q: I’d like to do an endurance ride. How do you recommend I start getting ready?

A: The IBA Forum is an excellent place to ask questions about the challenges and requirements of completing an IBA-certified ride. The members there are extremely helpful and encouraging. Another rider there who has completed several IBA-certified rides provided me with many helpful tips, such as numbering my gas receipts, different kinds of ear plugs to consider, and ways to stay hydrated.

Q: I’d like to ride Tail of the Dragon. Where should I stay before the ride?

A: For riding Tail of the Dragon, I prefer to leave from Robbinsville, North Carolina, though many motorcyclists I talked to recommended staying in Cherokee, North Carolina at the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cherokee has an abundance of attractions, including fine dining and gambling, but it is over an hour away from the start of the Tail. Robbinsville is less than half an hour away and also located almost directly at the beginning of the Cherohala Skyway.

Q: There are a few roads I would really like to spend time on this summer. Do you have any advice about how I can maximize my time on those roads?

A: If there is a road I particularly like riding, I will often book a hotel room near the head of the route so that I can travel on that same stretch at least two days in a row as I explore nearby areas. For instance, in 2020 I intentionally stayed in Silverton for four nights so that each day I could ride the Million Dollar Highway as I ventured to other parts of Colorado. As a result, I was able to ride it eight times that summer alone. Unlike splurging with dessert, there is nothing unhealthy about enjoying your favorite routes as often as you would like!

Q: How do you keep on top of bills and paperwork when you are on the road for weeks at a time?

A: My summer trips have always been several weeks long, usually seven to eight weeks. As a result, there are always personal and financial matters that I need to attend to while on the trip. I often use local libraries to catch up on paperwork, as the computers are usually free and printing is often free as well. While I can do much of what I need to do on my phone, it is helpful to sit down every two to three weeks and make sure everything is in order. For instance, in 2020 I printed out at the library day passes to two national parks. Each summer I also assign someone I trust to collect my mail, then I call them periodically and ask them to open and read any bills or papers that I can’t already access online.

Q: I’ve seen pictures of you in parts of the country that are very hot. How do you stay cool on your bike?

A: For me, a cooling vest is a must when travelling in exceptionally hot areas. I keep one in my right-hand saddle bag at all times. It is compact and lightweight but makes a world of difference when encountering temperatures in the high 90s or above. The vest lining absorbs water that then slowly evaporates, cooling me down. To me, it feels like the temperature is a good 10-15 degrees cooler when I have my vest on.

Q: How do you stay positive when unexpected challenges come up?

A: Most of the time, when unexpected challenges come up, I remind myself that these troubles are all part of the adventure. Being positive helps to make the difficulty more palatable. I also ask myself how I can turn the challenge into a blessing. For example, if it starts hailing and I am cold, that might be a great time to pull over at a bakery for some hot chocolate. During road construction, I might have an enjoyable conversation with the construction worker holding the stop sign. If I get stuck behind slow traffic, I put my feet up on my highway pegs, relax, and try to take in the scenery more than I would if I were going faster. I believe my personal faith also helps me to feel more optimistic about difficulties in general. I have seen time after time how God can use a hardship to bring about something good in my life.

Q: Do you do everything on your own or do you get help from others on your trip?

A: One of the things that makes road trips fun for me is having a great support network. I am blessed to have a lot of friends who ride, as well as friends who don’t ride but are supportive of me riding. I know that I can call on them when an unexpected need comes up and am honored to help them when they need assistance. For this reason, whenever a friend asks for a favor, I try to make their request a priority. On my trip in 2020, I called one friend when I decided to extend my first endurance ride so he could look into weather conditions for me. I called another friend to look into potential gas stops for me on the second ride, since one of my planned stops did not pan out.

Q: I’ve heard you mention interesting conversations with so many different people in your travels. How do you start up conversations on your trip?

A: I have found that having an open map out on the table while I am eating is a great way to make myself approachable to others and start conversations I might not otherwise have had. People see me in my riding gear with a map out and will often ask me about where I am from or where I am going. I highlight my route with a highlighter so I have a handy visual of where I have been. Many people also want to know if I’m traveling alone. I very much enjoy the back-and-forth conversations that often occur, as well as information sharing and encouragement.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for getting to know a new town a little better?

A: I find it extremely helpful to develop a network of biker friends who like to travel. I make it a habit to share tips with them and also contact them for ideas when I am visiting an area. I also make it a point to learn from the locals while I am in a town. Having a map out while eating as mentioned earlier, often results in other customers stopping by to volunteer valuable information. When I check into my hotel, I often ask for advice from the desk clerk. If I am in a town for more than one day and find a restaurant that I like, I often return to the same restaurant the following day. I know I will have another good meal and being there more than once allows me to get to know the staff a little better. I love hearing stories about the area and getting local tips, and the restaurants appreciate my repeat business.

Q: I don’t have locking saddlebags on my bike. Do you have any tips for keeping my belongings safe?

A: I have learned that nothing is completely safe if left in my saddlebags when I am away from the bike. I keep all essential items for my trip in one saddlebag liner that I always have with me. My left saddlebag liner has my credit cards, cash, riding gloves, medication, goggles, and phone. When I leave my bike for any reason, I take this with me. I also have tools in both bags that I would rather not carry inside with me. I don’t want them easily visible, so I place them into two different large wool socks and stick them in the bottom of each of my bags. That way, if someone looks in, it would appear as if I left a sock in my saddlebag. This doesn’t completely protect them, but it does help.

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