About The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail
The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail was originally created in 1976 as a route across the country in honor of America's 200th birthday. That year over 2000 cyclists rode the entire "Bikecentennial" route, from Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon. Since then, many thousands repeat this journey each year, and the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail is still the most-used cross-country bicycle trouring route.
In Kansas, the very first Biking Across Kansas tour was actually a test of the Bikecentennial route across the state. The route enters Kansas in the east near Pittsburg, passes through the southern Flint Hills and broad western plains, and exits the state just west of Tribune.
You can order detailed maps of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail from Adventure Cycling Association. The Kansas section of the route is contained in three maps:
- Map #7 - Pueblo, CO, to Alexander, KS
- Map #8 - Alexander, KS, to Girard, KS
- Map #9 - Girard, KS, to Murphysboro, IL
Communities Along This Route
- Tribune
- Leoti
- Scott City
- Dighton
- Ness City
- Rush Center
- Larned
- Nickerson
- Newton
- Cassoday
- Eureka
- Chanute
- Girard
- Pittsburg
Note: Most of the communities along the route of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail provide free camping in their city parks as a courtesy to touring cyclists. "If you have the chance to thank someone before you leave – city workers, law enforcement, shopkeepers, etc. – do so. Appreciation can go a long way towards making townsfolk welcoming to the next bicycling strangers that pass through!"
