Daily Information
The ride begins on September 1, 2024 in Anchorage, Alaska. From there, we'll fly to Seattle, Washington to ride the 48 contiguous states. After a morning ride on Day 49, we will take a direct flight from Las Vegas to Honolulu, where the dream becomes reality on Day 50.
The package is all-inclusive and includes flights (from ANC to SEA on Day 1 and from LAS to HNL on day 49), meals (breakfast and dinner), hotels, transportation from state to state, the official BEST jersey, and the official BEST shirt.
Check the FAQ below and hit the Booking page for pricing information.
50 miles. 50 miles in 50 states in 50 days. You are free to ride more or less if you choose.
Almost 8,000 miles total, which averages out to about 3 hours per day. There are some longer days in the larger states and some shorter days in the smaller states. The longest drive will be 5 hours and the shortest is less than an hour. Ride in the comfort of the van and let the driver take care of you. Driving totals are listed on the Itinerary Page if you would like more specifics.
Lodging for 50 ride days, ground transportation, air transportation from Alaska and to Hawaii, SAG support (with mid-ride water stop), breakfast*, dinner*, BEST jersey**, and BEST shirt**. A floor pump, repair stand, and basic tools will be available for shared use.
*All meals are vegan.
**If reserved by May 15.
Flights to Alaska (before the trip) and from Hawaii (after the trip), and lunch (during riding time).
BEST is capped at 12 riders. Book now before the spaces are gone!
We do not currently have an option for non-riders. Non-riders are welcome to visit, but we cannot guarantee available lodging.
Alaska is completed early on Day 1, followed by a direct flight to Seattle that evening. Washington is ridden on Day 2. Nevada is completed early on Day 49, followed by a direct flight to Hawaii that evening. Hawaii is ridden on day 50.
We recommend packing a backup bike for the flights. Bike rental services are available in AK and HI, but time is limited when it comes to picking up/dropping off a rental bike.
Flights will be booked on August 5. Be aware that flight departure times are always subject to change. We use the SEA and LAS airports because they provide multiple direct flights daily, but there is always a possibility for flights to get delayed or cancelled. For this reason, we book the earliest flights possible. Prepare to ride early on flight days. All flights went smoothly in 2023, and we hope for the same in 2024.
It was designed in 2022 to be the ideal compromise between using the shortest driving route possible and visiting the best cycling areas possible. We consider this a physical challenge first and a sightseeing adventure second. The route was successfully used in 2023, and we made some slight adjustments to make it even better in 2024.
The backwards C-shaped route has certain advantages. It provides the best chance of good weather, staying to the north in September and to the south in October. The long drive days are mostly towards the beginning and the end of the trip when motivation is highest. Doing a 50-state challenge gives an unavoidable bias to the states east of the Mississippi River, but the overall route gives a good mixture of mountains, plains, and coastal areas.
We use the best routes possible while keeping the driving distance reasonable. Like the driving route, the riding routes were designed in 2022, ridden in 2023, and slightly adjusted for 2024. Most routes are out on the open road, but there are some stretches on bike trails. 99% of the surfaces are paved.
Check below for route overviews and ride footage from 2023. Final GPS files will be posted on our membership site.
BEST is all-inclusive, but it's a no-frills tour. Expect standard hotels with 2 riders per room.
We do not currently offer an option of solo hotel rooms.
Cargo space allows for 2 bikes and 3 bags per person.
