The Cross Country
Motorcycle Tour

A fascinating motorcycle tour right across the United States. From Ft. Lauderdale in Florida across the southern states of the USA, along the Gulf of Mexico through the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Los Angeles in the West-coast. Naturally also visit Daytona, New Orleans, Tucson and Los Angeles.

Riding days: 16
Distance: 3103 miles/4965 km

Day 1 Ft. Lauderdale Day - Daytona Beach (244 miles / 391 km)
Get on your motorcycle and head north. Through Palm Beach, residence of the rich and the famous and the charming Gold Coast then on to Daytona Beach. A visit to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral is certainly worthwhile.

Day 2 Daytona - Tallahassee (256 miles / 410 km)
Today pass through Ocala National Forest and Silver Springs to reach High Springs. This was once a mining and railroad town, and is now mostly known for its large number of antique shops and cozy small town atmosphere. The last stop of the day will be in Wakulla Springs, boasting a 100 meter deep well, once claimed by Ponce de Leon in 1513 to be the Fountain of Youth.

Day 3 Tallahassee - Pensacola (199 miles / 318 km)
After the Apalachicola National Forest, a considerable section of the route will run along the Gulf of Mexico and pass several seaside resorts. Through Panama City Beach with its white sandy beaches and crystal clear water, you'll reach today's final destination - Pensacola. The great number of restored houses dating from the 18th and 19th century will give you an impression of the varied history of this harbor town in the Florida “panhandle”.

Day 4 Pensacola - New Orleans (207 miles / 331 km)
“Good ol’ highway 90”, which runs like a thread through your tour, will take you across Mississippi and Alabama to the state of Louisiana. Spend the night in New Orleans near the swinging French Quarter, with its famous Bourbon Street.

Day 5 New Orleans (0 miles)
Take plenty of time to explore New Orleans inside and out. A trip on a radar boat or visit a Plantation House just outside New Orleans. It's all equally interesting. However in the evening, a visit to Bourbon Street is definitely a must. This place is literally crammed with lively bars and good restaurants.

Day 6 New Orleans - Lafayette (169 miles / 270 km)
The old highway 90 takes you right through the swamps (bayous) of Louisiana. Towns like Jeannerette and Franklin still breathe a colonial atmosphere. Make a boat trip through a world of alligators, rare birds and subtropical plants. Stay in Lafayette, the centre of Cajun Music. In the evening you try the fine cuisine and local music.

Day 7 Lafayette - Houston (237 miles / 379 km)
Through the Southwest of Lafayette enter the Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge. This road, which runs right through the swampy area along the Gulf of Mexico, is also known as Alligator-Alley. So, keep your eyes focused on the road ….! After the ferry crossing of the bay at Cameron, pass Port Arthur and head to Houston, where stay the night.

Day 8 Houston - San Antonio (215 miles / 344 km)
The fact that Texas is less flat than many people think, will become clear today, while riding through the rolling hills north of Interstate I-10. Explore the Natural Bridge Caverns just before San Antonio. San Antonio, your home for the night, is also known as the Venice of Texas. The town centre has several nice bars and terraces along the Riverwalk.

Day 9 San Antonio - Del Rio (154 miles/ 246 km)
Today also, ride scenic roads wherever possible. The 470 takes you through the Hill Country State Natural Area to Utopia. Meandering through green rolling country will be the motto of the day. Del Rio is located at the border with Mexico. In the evening you can have a nice meal and a fun night out in Cuidad Ancuna, just across the Mexican border. The taxi ride to Cuidad Ancuna is inexpensive.

Day 10 Del Rio - Alpine (204 miles / 326 km)
The first stop on this motorcycle tour day is the bridge over the river Pecos. You can easily imagine yourself to be in a John Wayne movie. Just a little further down the road, stop in Langtry to visit the museum (and saloon) of the legendary Judge Roy Bean. Highway 90, which runs like a thread through your tour, takes us through a typical Texan landscape in the afternoon.

Day 11 Alpine - El Paso (280 miles / 448 km)
In the morning you can visit the Mc Donald Observatory, one of the largest observatories in the world. The next item on today's program is a visit to Fort Davis, followed by exhilarating curves in the Texas Alps. Near Saragosa we turn off to the I-10 and head for El Paso. Before you go to your hotel room, you should definitely see the largest Harley-Davidson store in the World: Barnett Harley-Davidson.

Day 12 El Paso - Tucson (316 miles / 506 km)
Since you'll be traveling quite a distance today, it's best to get an early start. Again, a ride along the Mexican border, pass through villages like Anima, Playas, Hachita and Portrillo, once Mexican territory, before you reach the former silver town and western town of Tombstone. Both Boothill Graveyard and the OK Corral attest to a rugged past.

Day 13 Tucson (0 miles)
Spend a lazy day by the pool or go shopping in town. You can also visit the Old Tucson Studios, where western movies are still recorded, or go horseback riding through the Saguaro National Park with its huge cactuses. Aeroplane enthusiasts can visit the Davis Monthan Air Force Base, where 5000 aeroplanes are stored in the desert.

Day 14 Tucson - Yuma (240 miles / 384 km)
After the I-10 and I-8, pass a number of small villages before reaching the scenic nature of the Sonora Desert in the afternoon. This desert area has the characteristic vegetation of high rising organpipe cactuses. Stay in Yuma.

Day 15 Yuma - Palm Springs (215 miles / 344 km)
Just outside of Yuma ride through the East Mesa Sand Hills, a patch of Sahara desert in America. Then continue north along the Salton Sea to arrive at the southern entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park. This magnificent park boasts perfectly rounded rocks and typical trees and is certainly worth a visit. Stop in Palm Springs, an oasis in the desert with a lively centre and plenty of bars and restaurants.

Day 16 Palm Springs - Santa Monica (167 miles / 267 km)
The San Bernardino National Forest will definitely guarantee exhilarating curves in the morning. Through Hemet and Perris reach the I-15. Your final destination Santa Monica will guarantee a fun afternoon and evening. Get a hotel near the beach and the lively Third Street Promenade is just around the corner.

End of Motorcycle Tour