Evolution of the Trans America Trail: What is next for the Trail? Continued user feedback. Please send me route improvement suggestions and rider experiences. We still need camp spot waypoints! I update the GPS files each year based on rider experiences and feedback. Looking for more difficult route options too!
About Sharing the TAT: I believe in an open source ride world so I give away all the info to share the ride in the hopes that others will do the same with other great rides. Let's all get together and contribute to making a rich riding world.
Help by providing feedback and ride information: On each of the ride sections there is a User Comments Form that is designed so that riders can easily view comments from others who have recently ridden the section and riders can add their own comments just after riding the section. Please help us improve the trail ride experience by adding your ride comments after you ride each section. Have some fun with your comments along the way. It is kind of fun to see who may be chasing you along the trail. (Link to the ride sections)
History of the Trans America Trail: The Trans-Am Trail was first organized by Sam some time in the early 1990's. Sam conceived and organized the partial route from Tennessee to Oregon and built roll charts and maps to enable Dual Sport motorcycle riders to navigate the route. Wow! Thanks Sam. Unfortunately, he was never able to complete the route to the east coast. However, other riders stepped in and by 2006, the desired coast to coast route was completed by starting at the Atlantic Ocean and continuing to Oregon. Finally the dream of the coast to coast Transamerica goal was achieved. Since that time, many others have contributed and expanded the route to include rich options. Now the Trans America route includes choices for likely issues that people encounter along the way such as alternate routes around mud holes, snow in the Rockies, frustrated farmers, high water river crossings and improved gas stops. In 2014, new trail sections were added to allow riders to select a route between New York and Los Angeles. These routes turned out to be equally spectacular.
Currently riders are working on Northern routes that would be better options for the heat of summer and more Southern routes for riders wanting to make the journey in the winter months. We are hoping to see this by 2017.
Let's all hope for a bright future for Trans America routes.
FAQ:
Q: How long does it take to complete the trail?
A: Some riders do it as fast as 2 weeks but at a comfortable pace of 7 riding hours per day, it takes about 26 days
Q: How long is the route?
A: New York to Los Angeles is 5139 miles (8270km) and Cape Hatteras NC to Port Orford OR is 5174 miles (8326km)
Q:Can I ride the trail from West to East?
A: Yes you can, however there will be a few spots where you will have to take the easier options due to one way roads. It is as simple as riding the arrows (chevrons) backwards.
Q: What must my gas range be?
A: There is one day that is 161 miles between gas stops, however, I would recommend a 120 mile range on a tank and to carry a little bit in a bottle for the longer days.
A: What bike would you recommend?
Q: I would say any bike that you are comfortable on. The nicer ones would be a WR250R or a DRZ400 if you were trying to do all the hard, single track options. The route can still be done on a big 1200cc adventure bike however, you probably would want to take the green routes. So there is a wide range of bikes that can go on the trip, but the bike you take, will determine the options you can choose.
Q:What tires do you recommend?
A:You could do the route on any good dual-sport tire however you might want more aggressive knobbies for the hard options in the West but that all depends on your vision of how you want to approach the ride.
Q: What is the recommended ride length per day?
A: I have separated it based on gas stops and would suggest 2-3 gas stops a day, however, you can veer off the trail or go at a slower pace if you want and cover 1 gas stop a day.
Q: Where should I get bike maintenance done?
A: There a a few good options and several places that are a little way off the trail that you could go to if you have an issue. Richfield, UT at Jorgensen's Honda, Beebe, AR at Sunrise Yamaha, Las Vegas, NV at Yamaha of Las Vegas all have good size motorcycle shops where you could get help. You could also go to Tulsa, OK or Colorado Springs, CO but they are a little way off the trail.
Q: What is the best GPS for the ride?
A: Almost any will work, but if you want to buy a new one see my GPS Recommendations:
Adventure Bike GPS and Dual Sport Bike GPS
