Our favorite bike tours Cycling is life. Or maybe cycling is (almost) more important than coffee.
At any rate, we have ridden many organized and self-planned bike tours ranging from 1-day rides to week long rides. Below are some of our favorite bike tours.
For a general run-down on how to choose a tour and the difference between organized and self-planned tours, see our guide .
Organized Bike Tours
Week long Cycle Montana – Missoula Location: Montana, USA Description: Cycle through rural Montana with experienced guides Vendor: Adventure Cycling Association Distance: 407 miles Duration: 8 days Terrain: Hilly Type: Loop Why go: Mountain scenery. Crosses over the Continental Divide – twice!
Ireland – Southwest Location: Ireland Description: Self-guided tour through Ring of Kerry and southwest Vendor: Iron Donkey Distance: ~400 miles Duration: 7-10 days Terrain: Hilly Type: Loop Why go: Self-paced ride providing countless pub stops
GOBA – Ohio Location: Ohio Description: Explore small-town Ohio by bike Vendor: GOBA Distance: ~300 miles Duration: 7 days Terrain: Hilly Type: varies – depends on the route that year Why go: The camaraderie is off-the-charts on this ridee
Teaching Family Homes – Upper Peninsula, Michigan Location: Michigan, USA Description: Tour the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Vendor: Teaching Family Homes Distance: ~240 miles Duration: 6 days Terrain: varies – depends on the route that year Type: Loop Why go: The UP is beautiful and the support of the tour crew is amazing
Mountains to Coast Ride – North Carolina Location: North Carolina, USA Description: Ride across the state of NC Vendor: Cycle NC Distance: ~400 miles Duration: 7 days Terrain: varies – depends on the route that year but always starts hilly and ends flatter Type: Point-to-point Why go: Pure Americana experience cycling through small towns connected via back roads
RAGBRAI – Iowa Location: Iowa, USA Description: Ride across the state of Iowa Vendor: RAGBRAI Distance: ~450 miles, depends on yearly route Duration: 7 days Terrain: Varied Type: Point-to-point Why go: Party on wheels. The atmosphere is like having a county carnival follow you on the bike for 7 days.
3-day Mountain Ride – North Carolina Location: North Carolina, USA Description: 3-day ride of NC mountains Vendor: Cycle NC Distance: Pick your own daily mileage 5-100 miles Duration: 3 days Terrain: Paved roads. Expect a terrain ranging from hilly to “you gotta have that 3rd chain ring (aka creeper gear) to avoid walking the route” Type: Spoke-and-wheel Why go: Easy way to explore NC mountain towns
Coastal Ride – North Carolina Location: North Carolina, USA Description: 3-day ride of NC coastal town Vendor: Cycle NC Distance: Pick your own daily mileage 5-100 miles Duration: 3 days Terrain: Paved roads. Flat except for drawbridges Type: Spoke-and-wheel Why go: Easy way to explore NC coastal town
1-day Tour de Tucson – Arizona Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA Description: 1 day perimeter ride around the city Vendor: Perimeter Cycling Distance: Pick your own mileage based on set starting points. Usually 5 to 100 miles available. Duration: 1 day Terrain: Paved roads. Primarily flat-ish except for one section of hills Type: Loop for full distance, point-to-point for shorter distances Why go: Experience Tucson by bike with 10,000 other cyclists
Location: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Description A gorgeous but challenging ride through Cape Breton Distance: Duration: 7 days Terrain: Paved roads, hilly Type: Loop Why go: Scenery and friendly locals
Location: Georgia, USA Description Ride from Atlanta GA to the border of Mississippi Distance: Duration: 3-5 days Terrain: Paved greenway, mostly flat Type: Out-and-back Why go: Greenway route, easy access to amenties
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA Description Ride from small town Ohio to Lake Erie Distance: Varies based on starting point, 88 miles roundtrip for our route Duration: 1 day Terrain: Mostly paved greenway, some road. Flat. Type: Out and back Why go: Greenway ride to Lake Erie
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Description Ride from Raleigh, NC to Clayton, NC Distance: 33 miles one-way Duration: 1 day Terrain: Paved greenway, some hills Type: Out-and-back Why go: Greenway route along Neuse River
Self-planned Bike ToursWeek Long Cabot Trail – Canada Location: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Canada Description: A gorgeous but challenging ride through Cape Breton Vendor: self-planned Distance: ~400 miles Duration: 7 days Terrain: Paved roads,hilly Type: Loop Why go: Scenery and the friendly people
Silver Comet Trail – Georgia Location: Georgia, USA Description: Ride from Smyrna (just outside Atlanta) to the Alabama border Vendor: self-planned Distance: ~61 miles Our itinerary here Duration: 1-5 days Terrain: Greenway, mostly flat Type: Out-and-back Why go: Enjoy a multi-day tour on a car-free path
1-day Western Reserve Greenway – Ohio Location: Ohio, USA Description: Ride to Lake Erie Vendor: self-planned Distance: varied based on staring location. Our out-and-back was 88 miles Duration: 1 day Terrain: Greenway, mostly flat Type: Out-and-back Why go: Mostly car-free ride to Lake Erie
Neuse River Greenway – North Carolina Location: North Carolina, USA Description: Ride from Raleigh to Clayton, North Carolina Vendor: self-planned Distance: ~30 miles one-way Duration: 1 day Terrain: Greenway, varies between flat and hilly. Type: Out-and-back Why go: Scenic ride along the Neuse River
