There’s never been a better time to explore the USA by bike for your next holiday, especially when there’s so much to look forward to along the way.
Whether you want to explore the streets of the biggest cities, race downhill on the best mountain biking trails, or cruise along the coastline at your own pace, biking in the USA has something for everyone — and Brand USA invites cyclists to choose their trail.
“The USA offers an incredibly diverse range of biking experiences — from thrilling mountain trails and scenic coastal routes to culinary tours and urban bike paths,” Brand USA president and CEO Fred Dixon said. “No matter when or where you choose to spend your holiday cycling here, you can expect to discover America’s great culture, welcoming destinations, and limitless recreational opportunities.”
Reasons to ‘cycle-brate’
Next year in 2026, the USA will ring in a number of blockbuster events and meaningful milestones. 4 July 2026 will mark the nation’s 250th birthday and a number of cities, including Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., plan to celebrate accordingly with special events and festivals that would make for the perfect stop on a bike tour.
The 2026 World Cup will return to the United States for the second time in the global soccer tournament’s history, and will tap cities like New York – New Jersey’s Met Life Stadium, Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium and Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, along with eight other host cities.
Plus the 100th anniversary of Route 66 — the historic highway known for its rich history as one of the country’s first major highways — will make for the perfect occasion to discover the treasures of Americana from Chicago to Santa Monica, California on two wheels.
Each June, Race Across America — the long-distance road cycling race across the U.S. — kicks off to challenge avid cyclists in what is often considered world’s toughest bike race, where men and women compete to race as fast as they can across the country, and as quickly as possible, in as few as 12 days.
Open Streets programs provide the public access to normally busy streets by temporarily closing them to cars. The community event returns this year on June 29 and July 27 in the Strip/Lawrenceville neighbourhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the public is welcome to attend.
Conquer the Coast, held in Texas, is an annual 106kms ride along the shoreline of Corpus Christi that attracts riders to bike 106-, 34- and 16-kilometre rides to raise money for charity. The event kicks off on 20 September.
And Bike New York’s Discover Hudson Valley Ride kicks off later this year on 12 October, returning to the region in Poughkeepsie where it will lead five routes, spanning 24 kilometres up to 161 kilometres, for riders of all activity levels.
Cycle holiday options
- Sights in the City: A number of major cities across the USA, such as Chicago and San Diego, have opened new bike lanes for local and visiting cyclists alike to traverse. Parks in the heart of major and mid-size cities also offer the chance to explore the tranquil side of a hustle and bustle metropolis in secure settings that are often separated from busy trafficked streets.
- Mountains: Perhaps the pinnacle of a thrilling and adventurous biking vacation is hitting the best mountain biking trails around the country. Some of the most well-known mountain biking destinations around the country include the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Appalachian Highlands that extend to the Carolinas, Bentonville, Arkansas, regions of Georgia including Elijay, along with Virginia, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Arizona and Oregon.
- Outdoor adventures: Biking can be combined with camping, inn hopping, national and state park visits to make the perfect summertime pairing. A number of campgrounds around the USA offer amenities, trails and other convenient accommodations for riders who want to extend their stay in the great outdoors. Inn-to-inn biking opportunities offer guided and self-guided tours where each night you explore local communities. And biking to and throughout parks helps reduce vehicle traffic and congestion, especially during the high season.
- Coastal and Beach: You can’t go wrong with a bike ride along the coast or on the beach itself when it comes to the pristine shorelines of the USA.
- Culinary: Bike, bite and imbibe a little on bike tours that focus on food, wine, beer and spirits. Santa Fe, Chicago and many more offer the opportunity to cycle through diverse local cuisine and culture.
- Rail trails: Rail Trails, such as the Great American Rail Trail, are one of the most popular types of bike trails found in the USA. These multi-use paths for pedestrians, hikers and cyclists are developed out of decommissioned or abandoned railroad tracks and provide relatively flat trails for people of all ages and activity levels.
- Bike Tours: Organised, multi-day bike tours offered by tour operators and travel companies can be a great fit for those who want community, comfort and convenience.
- Bike Share Programs: Bike share programs are a great way to get acquainted with local communities in an affordable and convenient way. These programs help provide the public opportunities to rent a bike temporarily for a fee. Citi Bike, Lime, Bird and Lyft are among the most well-known public bike share programs on the market today.
Tips
It’s always a good idea to plan ahead when organising a trip to visit the USA. If you’re planning a bike trip to the USA and want to bring your bike with you, it’s important to check with your airline regarding fees and other policies.
Always keep some amount of cash handy during a bike trip to pay for things like entrance fees to state and national parks that may have smaller operations and may only accept cash instead of electronic payments. And when it comes to locks and parking your bike somewhere, make sure you have adequate locks to secure your bike and know how to properly fasten them, as well as legal and safe places to park your bike.
