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Best Cycling Navigation Apps [Safe Route-Planning Guide]

By Kevin Glenton

Updated Jan 15, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links, which help to keep Discerning Cyclist rolling. Learn more .

There are moments in a cyclist’s life that fill all of the senses. The excitement and speed of a long straight downhill. The dread when you scan the horizon, knowing the road you’re on is the only one around, and it’s going up and up. Seeing the lights of an open café, when you really need a break, or some food. 

These moments are a response to how you might be feeling on a ride, and often catch you unawares. However, there are ways you can plot and plan a way to find the places that inspire these feelings. Or avoid them!

It’s a little bit old-school these days to set off for a ride without knowing your route in advance. There’s safety and security in knowing what’s ahead of you. Even a simple, recalled memory of sights and turns along a route helps.

Before the advent of cycling computers, or cycling navigation apps, preparation for a ride might take the form of stuffing a map into your pocket. Or in my case, writing the names of villages and towns en-route onto a piece of paper, and sticking it onto my top tube!

PICTURED: Bicycle Anatomy 101 Mug (Limited Edition)

Relying on local authorities to provide adequate signage is not recommended. This is especially true in areas you don’t have much knowledge of. Technology can now provide a cyclist with the information and data necessary to plan and enjoy routes. This ensures a ride that’s free of stress and uncertainty. 

Riding on holiday, either in your own country or abroad, is also improved by having the comfort of knowing where you’re going. We no longer need to rely on rudimentary planning, or paper maps!

Of course, regardless of the navigation method you choose, you should always make sure you’re prepared in advance.

How to Plan Bike Routes

One of the most important things is to know your limits. Have a think about your physical condition, and state of mind. Think about the capacity of the bicycle you’re riding. This is all crucial to making the best of the route.

Have you checked the weather forecast for the full distance? Do you know if there are trains running nearby, if needed? Should you take a spare phone charger?

Safety considerations and preparation are vitally important. This is not only for your peace of mind, but for successfully planning the ride itself. There’s a lot to be said for sitting down well in advance of a ride at your desk and planning, even though looking at a PC monitor might not feel like the beginning of an adventure!

Having a clear picture of where you’re planning to go is improved by utilising the mapping applications your computer or smartphone offers. When engineering your route, take in as much information as possible before setting off, or transferring the route to your cycling navigation app, or cycling computer.

A little bit of research works wonders. If you have time, type the route into google to find out what others think of cycling in the area. Make notes of key areas to explore, coffee-break stops, and potentially fun (or exhausting!) parts of the route.

A browse on YouTube could reward you with on-board camera shots of hills, trails, or terrain. This can help you determine how exposed they are. It pays to do this level of planning. Most cycling navigation apps also have a live-tracking feature, so friends and family can keep an eye on your progress.

How Do I Find the Best Cycling Route?

Using a variety of online tools, and combining them into one plan, will provide you with some of the best routes and maps. Google Maps, Komoot, MapMyRide, Strava, Ride with GPS, Ordnance Survey Maps, and Sustrans (in the UK) are great sources of previously ridden routes.

Remember that one route planning app doesn’t necessarily hold sway over the others. Different cycling navigation apps could give you a new nugget of information to note down, allowing you to improve and/or edit parts of the route.

Maybe you’re focused on roads used for speed , or by professional athletes. Or perhaps your aim is off-road or leisurely pursuits. There are cycling navigation apps to suit all preferences, and most have editing functions which take into account your ability, biking style, or desire for a decent lunch!

Using the best parts from a variety of cycling navigation apps to help you plan your route is worth the effort. 

How Do You Know Which Cycle Route is Safe?

Research and planning are your friends here. A grasp of mapping is really helpful to identify the grading of a road, its surface, and the contour lines (which help to identify the gradient). Knowing the road-surface, and quality of the terrain are essential. Google Street View is a real bonus here.

On opening most cycling navigation apps, the application’s databases, as well as pre-existing routes provided by other users, can give you an increased awareness of the realities of the route. 

If you’re unsure what lies ahead, think about the worst case scenario. This could be the risk of injury to yourself, or the possible mechanical failure of your bicycle. Remember, there’s always the chance you may not have a phone signal, or battery, to help you out of an unknown area, or one with no visible landmarks around.

Heatmaps, contained within some applications, are a good indicator of how cycle routes are used by others. This can provide you with crucial additional information.

Bear in mind there’s a risk that the heatmap on a route might have been chosen for its difficulty. This may be more true for off-road sections.

Best Free Cycling Route Planner + Navigation Apps 

The convenience of effective GPS (Global Positioning Systems) can take some pressure off your planning. Smartphones and cycling computers can be synced up, and secured to the handlebars of your bicycle to provide guidance. It’s not recommended to use the device with headphones, however. This is to ensure the safety of yourself, and those around you.

Less time spent at junctions deciding which way to turn means more time for enjoying your ride! Some cycling navigation apps allow you to calculate how long you might be out on the road, which makes life easier when it comes to your diary, social life, and family commitments.

Google Maps is a reassuring place to start. It’s a route planner we’re all familiar with, and ideal for a commute, or recreational road-ride. 

Free route planners are increasingly being chipped away at, and turned into subscription services. However, the essential elements of cycling navigation apps with ‘in-app purchase’ options are often still free, and can be re-planned on a free application, then synchronised with a smartphone or cycling computer.

1) Komoot 

Komoot was born in 2009. It uses the open source OpenStreetMap database for mapping. 

The app overlays its own algorithm to emphasise features of interest, such as point to point climbs created by other users. The helps you establish the best route, based on the type of bicycle you’re riding, and the waypoints you select.

Is Komoot Any Good?

The range of activity types, and fitness levels, in conjunction with the database of information from existing users, makes Komoot a wide-ranging app to suit riders of all levels of experience. It’s very easy to use, and actually quite addictive when planning!

Desktop and mobile versions are available. Navigation can be done via the screen, and the speaker, or earpiece. The details of surfaces in existing routes is a really useful feature for those who like to ride on mixed surfaces. It’s of particular use to gravel riders, who can use their bicycle for multiple terrains.

Care is required however. There are segments that make their way onto the gravel classification, but are better suited towards mountain bikes, and worse, electric mountain bikes. I say worse because the gradients here would force most riders to get off and walk.

Some roads automatically chosen by the app may also be on the busy side. This is why it’s well worth checking the route (on a computer if possible) beforehand with a fine-tooth comb. You can easily divert from high classification roads, while still retaining the other aspects of the ride you’d like to include. Mountain bike routes on the app are designed to be as off-road as possible.

The gradient and surface type options can be edited down to sections, so that you can avoid the ‘smoothing out’ process.

Having clearly established gradient types will also help you if you’re riding in an unknown area!

Unsuitable segments can be chopped out, and replaced with a surface that suits your bicycle, mood, or the weather. The gravel section is a treasure trove of tracks and paths which are completely off-grid, providing you with exciting alternative routes. 

The mapping and navigation can also be used offline, and the voice guidance (created in-house) is very good. The routing is elementary at present, but has improved as more subscribers and users save their rides. 

It’s worth mentioning that very occasionally, the off-road routes can lead you on to unpaved public footpaths. I’m talking about the kind of public paths that have stiles, and a grass track! 

You’ll have to be patient with the app until you’re used to its quirks. You can rule out trying to achieve record route times or speeds initially. 

Is Komoot Route Planner Free to Use?

In order for Komoot to work for you, the mapping must be unlocked. You get one free region when you sign up. Subsequent regions cost £3.99. If you’re located in the middle of a region, this will be to your advantage. However, you’re likely to pay more if you’re on the fringes of two areas.

Bundles of collected, adjoining regions are available for £8.99. Alternatively, you can opt for a worldwide package. Additional regions are a welcome addition to any cycling holiday, and remember that your package can be expanded to include walks, hiking, and cycle touring. 

What Are the Benefits of Komoot Premium?

The features offered by Komoot Premium, available on a subscription-basis, are multi-day planning, discounts on products, and planning features for extended riding packages. The World Pack is also available. All existing features of the maps function work with Komoot Premium.

The full outdoor package costs £59.99 as an annual subscription, or £4.99 if billed monthly. 

Multi-day planning lets you create tours for all skill levels, including accommodation suggestions, routes reviewed by riders, a summary of the expected hours you’ll be riding per day, and the expected metres of climbs per day. Detours are included, and can be made en-route.

The Personal Collections feature lets you catalogue specific rides by region, for filing for personal use, or for sharing.

Weather, and sport-specific mapping features help reduce the margins for error.

Komoot Premium also unlocks discounts for you on cycling gear. At the time of writing, over 100,000 products are on offer at discounted prices. The current promotions are on offer with Bikester and Campz.

When it comes to Komoot, worldwide maps and navigation, plus live tracking, builds a complete package for you – and those who want to follow every turn of your wheels.

How Do I Plan a Route on Komoot?

(All speech bubbles the author’s own)

Step 1 – Planning the Route

Planning can be done via a PC or smartphone. After entering your start and finish waypoints, the blue line will indicate the most appropriate routing. Once you have this template on screen, you can click any points of interest, specific rides, or the red discs which have been entered by other riders, to find out more. 

The app will give you the option to include them on the route. Any points of interest created by the community of riders using the app will usually have a bio, and images attached.

Step 2 – Waytypes and Surfaces

This view allows you to gauge the surfaces you’re going to be riding on. It’s useful in identifying the specifics of the route, and when the application will guide you onto a cycleway, as opposed to the road. 

If you have a preference for roads over cycleways, you can edit the screen here by clicking on the blue line, and making the minor adjustments necessary to move the line.

If you know the roads you are travelling on, you could leave this setting. The guidance from the speaker, or your headphones, will tell you when it senses you’ve veered off course. Distance in metres is provided by the voice software, for example, “route begins left in five hundred metres”. It also tells you when you’re back on course.

Step 3 – Points of Interest.

Simply click onto these to add the POI of your choice.

Step 4 – Summary

The app will create a summary on the webpage, ready to be sent to a smartphone app, or to a third-party device.

For information, here’s an image from the smartphone app mid-route.

2) Garmin Cycling Route Planner

Garmin Connect is the platform used by the company as its database and homepage for route users. Dashboards, challenges, calendars, newsfeeds, activities, and reports are all included. Like many route-planning apps, the interface is moving towards a social media, virtual room style.

User data entered on social platforms is of great value to all of the companies mentioned in this article. Route planners rely greatly on rider data to move users towards bike-friendly routes.

The Garmin Connect application has a smartphone app too. The main intent here is synchronisation with a Garmin device . 

Does Garmin Have Navigation for Cycling?

The navigation tool preferred by Garmin would be one of their own devices. Routes can also be set to be added automatically if they’ve been created via third-party services.

You can synchronise with Garmin Connect via your PC if this is where the route is saved, or alternatively, the route can be sent to a compatible device. This can be transferred via a .GPX file or .FIT file.

How to Plan a Cycling Route on Garmin 

Step 1 – Open Garmin Connect

Click through Training/Courses/Create a Course. You can then decide whether you want to share your location with Garmin.

Step 2 – Choose a Course Type

You can choose from Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, or Gravel/Unpaved Cycling. Next, choose the drawing method from either a custom built route, or a round trip. 

If you choose a round trip, you enter a distance and start direction from the points of a compass. You can then add a course point onto it. There are general points such as food, water, first aid and danger, as well as cycling specific points like climbs, or sprints. An elevation and pace calculator is also provided.

With the Custom Drawing option you can choose to follow popular routes as ranked by the Garmin community, follow exiting roads, or ‘draw’ a route freehand.

Step 3 – Create Your Route

Scroll through the map to locate your start point. You can also enter a postcode to narrow down the search, then use the +/- zoom function to narrow in. You can choose from a satellite or map view. As you start to narrow in, heatmaps will show roads coloured in increasingly deeper shades of purple, which are the most popular routes cycled by other Garmin users. 

The Google Maps bike lanes tool is overlaid in green too. We’ve switched to a Map view to highlight this in the image below. The Google Maps bike lanes tool is less visible when planning your route via a smartphone.

Your course can then be saved for synchronisation with a relevant device.

3) Google Maps for Cycling

Straightforward, helpful, and free, Google Maps helps millions of journeys to go a little more smoothly. The software syncs well between devices, and the voice direction is very good. However, there are challenges when it comes to bicycle routes in terms of their popularity with other road users.

How Do I Create a Cycling Route on Google Maps? 

(We’ll be looking at using Google Maps via a smartphone for simplicity and efficiency – assuming that the phone will be attached to the handlebars once the ride begins)

Step 1 – Go to Google Maps

The application, depending on Location Services being enabled, will centre in on where you are with a blue dot. You can touch the screen to centre in on the start point, or enter the address or postcode details.

Step 2 – Enter the Route Directions

Remember to choose the bicycle icon for your proposed destination. You can then toggle through the options offered – the shortest time taken is usually the default, which the map is set to. There are options for satellite and terrain, as well as cycle routes .

Step 3 – Preview Your Route

Route preview offers you the chance to look at the specifics of the ride. This can help with identifying dual carriageways, or what look like busy A-roads. 

Clicking on the layer icon in the top right hand corner opens up the mapping detail, and clicking ‘traffic’ will give real-time information on how busy the route is. Remember, this will be specific to the time of day you’re looking at the smartphone, by default.

For information, here’s a mid-route screenshot using the Google Maps app.

Is Google Maps Good for Cycling?

The rate at which Google offers updates and product improvements bodes well for cyclists. Discerning cyclists are at home in cities, and the wealth of data Google obtains is of great help in this environment. The advanced algorithm and real-world conditions add to the usefulness of the app.

However, remember that when it comes to the roads chosen by the algorithm, at times there may be quieter routes available. In the example above, the 8 minute slower route takes in a dedicated 5kms of cycleways, some of which are segregated by a kerb. The left turn of the fastest route pushes you into bus lanes, and A-roads.

4) Strava Route Planner

As well as offering one of the largest social networks for cycling fans, the Strava app is well known for having segments – portions of road or trail created by members, where cyclists can compare times. We’re entering into the world of Lycra here, record-making locations known for precise start and finishing points, or record times achieved by the kings and queens of the mountains. 

The Strava route planner builds on these segments, and you can add or remove them according to your wishes. Strava’s origins are in road-cycling, and although it has developed itself (and its subscription services) to cover all sports, the legacy of road cycling remains embedded in these segments.

The basic operating principles are similar to the other cycling navigation apps we’ve covered. You create the route, save it in your profile, then navigate the route via your smartphone application or other appropriate device .

The route creation is available for PC as a subscription-only package. You can view previously saved routes on the free service.

Route creation includes trail names, elevation guides, and information about the surface type. The Segment Explore options allows for micro-assessment of the routes.

Does Strava Have Turn-by-Turn Navigation?

The navigation is limited to a blue line on the application’s map. Strava doesn’t offer audible directional navigations. Strava segments are displayed on the map also.

How Do I Follow a Route on Strava? 

Once you’ve downloaded the free application onto your smartphone, simply save and select your route, then click the orange start button once you’ve found the GPS signal.

Is Strava Good for Navigation?

The Strava application has the most elementary capabilities of the apps we’ve covered when it comes to route planning and navigation. These aspects are better left to the other cycling navigation apps we’ve looked at. The road-riding community element dominates the cycling aspects of the application. 

As this service has moved to subscription-only, outside of any free trials, this is a feature that the developers will need to stay on top of to keep paying customers satisfied – so it may be worth keeping an eye on future updates.

Komoot vs Garmin vs Google Maps vs Strava [Bike Route Planning] 

What is the best map app for cycling .

It’s a difficult one to call! There’s the convenience of Google Maps, the segments and heatmaps of Strava and Garmin, or the micro-planning abilities of Komoot. All are working on their integration and synchronisation, so you may find that using a combination of apps works best for you.

That being said, for all-round accessibility on the PC, and visualisation of new and different routes, Komoot edges it for an advance-planning nerd like me.

(all prices accurate at the time of writing)

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The 7 Best Cycling Mapping & Route Planning Apps

These seven cycling route planning and mapping apps can help you get around your city—or even the world. They’re not all created equal, though, so we’ll take a look at their pricing, details, and ideal user base.

About Cycling Route Planning & Mapping Apps

Cycling-oriented route planning and mapping apps share many similarities with tracking and training apps (such as Ride With GPS ), except they’re primarily built to help you plot a course and then navigate your way.

Here, we’ll take an in-depth look at the top seven apps, as ranked by Google Play and iTunes downloads, so you can decide which one to download before heading out on your next cycling adventure.

1. Google Maps

Pricing : Free

Main Features : Google Maps might not initially come to mind when you think about cycling, but the app works in more than 220 countries and territories and allows you to highlight bikes paths in green, as well as lower traffic roads that are safer for cyclists to travel on.

All you have to do is type in your address, choose the best route (if the app provides more than one), and go. It will then display distance, estimated time, ETA, and traffic conditions with real-time updates.

Note : Google Maps’ ETA function might not always be accurate, depending on the terrain you’re riding, as well as how fast.

As you move along, Google Maps provides real-time GPS navigation (with street view and audio), displays elevation gain and loss, and automatically re-routes based on traffic conditions and road closures. The app also lists hundreds of millions of businesses and places, which you can locate and save (along the way).

If needed, you can even use the app’s offline maps for navigation without an internet connection, which can be especially useful in rural areas.

What Riders Say : Most cyclists report that Google Maps is easy to use, with dependable directions delivered via clear audio and visual prompts. The relatively few complaints typically relate to crashing, incorrect (or at least not the fastest) courses, and difficulties with the app’s layout or user interface.

Best For : If you’re looking for a highly-rated, efficient, accurate—and free!—bike navigation app, it’s difficult not to at least start with Google Maps. However, there’s no route-building option like you’ll find with many of the other options listed here, depending on your needs.

Pricing : First region free; single regions, region bundles, or the Complete Package $3.99–$29.99

Main Features : The Komoot GPS tracking app helps mountain bikers, road cyclists, and hikers plan their adventures, which is why they advertise they’re “the key to the outdoors.”

Komoot’s Planner allows you to carefully choose your routes based on details like surface (e.g., hiking paths, singletrack trails, paved roads, etc.), distance, elevation profile, and distance.

Then, you can download the route directly to your device—including topographic maps—to track your rides and receive turn-by-turn voice navigation, even when there’s no internet connection. You can check out points of interest along the way, and also recommend your favorite places to the Komoot community as well.

When finished, the Komoot app syncs your data across all your devices, including Android Wear, Wahoo ELEMNT/ELEMNT BOLT, the COBI app, along with Garmin devices via Garmin Connect.

You’ll also have the opportunity to add geotagged photos, highlights, and tips to your adventure log, and then share your story with friends, family, and other Komoot users. As you contribute, you’ll earn upvotes and could one day become a Pioneer!

What Riders Say : Most iOS and Android users frequently compliment Komoot’s ease of use, its usefulness, and the excellent navigation and powerful route planning it offers.

Relatively few seem to think the app has an outdated user interface, and multiple experienced bugginess/crashing and incorrect navigation.

Best For : Komoot doesn’t feature cadence or heart rate monitor integration, but it does offer detail-oriented route planning and tracking, with the ability to download topographic maps and use offline (currently no regions in Canada).

Pricing : Free–$4.99/mo, or $29.99/yr

Main Features : The Bikemap app allows you to discover, navigate, and track your rides using your phone, tablet, or watch (GPX and KML support included).

First, you can search Bikemap’s database of more than four million routes across 100 countries, including popular cycling routes nearby. You can filter your route by mountain or road bikes, relevance, popularity, length, and ascent, as well as find points of interest such as public restrooms, bike rentals, repair shops, charging stations for your e-bike, and so forth.

When you’re ready, Bikemap’s maps, routes, and intelligent voice navigation work online and offline, and you can choose between a variety of styles like Basic, OpenCycleMap, OpenStreetMap, 3D, and Night Mode.

As you move along, the app’s screen displays current speed, distance, duration, ascent, descent, and altitude. And if you go off-course, the app will automatically re-route you to get you where you’re going.

Once you’re finished, you can share your ride with the Bikemap community.

What Riders Say : The iOS Bikemap version comes with a meaningfully higher average rating than the Android version, although most compliments revolve around its ease of use, along with reliable turn-by-turn directions.

Complaints vary, although most related to functionality issues, less-than-stellar route building engine, excessive advertising with free accounts, and high Premium subscription fees for what you get.

Best For : If you frequently ride both road and mountain routes, Bikemap’s ability to differentiate between the two could deliver a lot of value. The social aspect is limited, though.

4. Bike Citizens

Pricing : Free; $4.99 per city, or $19.95 for all cities

Main Features : Advertised as “the first cycling app designed for cyclists in urban areas,” the Bike Citizens App (formerly known as BikeCityGuide) promises to offer bicycle-optimized maps and real-time, bike-friendly route calculation in 450 cities across Europe, Australia, and the US.

All you have to do is enter your address, and Bike Citizens delivers real-time route calculation that prioritizes cycleways, cycle paths, and living streets. And its OpenStreetMap (OSM) platform even works offline to help save battery power and roaming costs.

As you ride, Bike Citizens’ bike computer tracks your speed, distance, and time, automatically recalculates if you go off-route, and even allows you to create individual tours from its categorized lists of sights. Finally, the company also sells its smartphone mount called FINN, which they’ve sold to more than 450,000 customers.

What Riders Say : The Bike Citizens App represents another instance where iOS users seem to report much better overall experiences than those on Android.

The biggest compliments report that it’s easy to use, automatically delivers bike-friendly routes, and efficient operation.

On the other hand, the biggest complaints tend to reference functionality issues (difficulty importing, slow processing, stops recording mid-ride, less-than-stellar route choice, etc.).

Best For : The Bike Citizens app works in 67 cities in the US, although its database offers many more European cities, depending on your location. It’s also ideal if you bike a lot in one or two cities, and if you prefer paying for one-time downloads versus ongoing monthly subscription fees.

5. Cyclers Navigation

Pricing : Free–$29/yr

Main Features : Czech Republic-based Cyclers Navigation allows you to plan cyclist-friendly routes between two or more locations, including those with public transportation. The app also displays real-time bike-sharing availability and location information along your way.

Simply choose your current location or enter a starting and ending address, and Cyclers Navigation will display the best route, along with its total distance, estimated time, and “bike friendliness” score. Crowdsourced heatmaps also let you know the popularity of different routes.

During each ride, Cyclers Navigation will track your time and distance, provide turn-by-turn navigation and short-term weather details, and warn you about dangers along the way, including unsafe locations, road closures, and restrictions in the cycling infrastructure.

As you log more and more miles, the app builds a personal heatmap so you can see where you cycle the most. You can also win prizes and collect unique badges for your cycling achievements.

After each ride, you’ll have the ability to rate your route, share your experiences in the community, connect with other cyclists, and gain access to cycling news and events.

Important : Although Cyclers Navigation’s gamification and social features work anywhere in the world, maps and navigation features are currently only available in the following locations:

• All of the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechia, and Singapore
• Bogota, Colombia
• Bratislava, Slovakia
• Brussels, Belgium
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Milan, Italy
• Santiago de Chile, Chile
• São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

What Riders Say : Compared to some of the above, Cyclers Navigation comes with much higher ratings among Android users than those using iOS.

Most compliments indicate that the app is quick and straightforward to use and easy on battery life, with more than one reviewer stating that it’s the best urban cycling app available.

On the other hand, frequent complaints reference instability issues, difficulty finding locations, incorrect directions, and limited region support.

Best For : Cyclers Navigation app will work best for riders in some European, South American, and Asian countries (currently no support for North America), who don’t require offline maps. The app’s gamification aspect could help keep you motivated, as well.

6. Bicycle Route Navigator

Pricing : $9.99–$94.99 per route section

Main Features : The Bicycle Route Navigator app from the Adventure Cycling Association offers more than 100 downloadable maps that don’t require file conversions—or an ongoing subscription.

In total, the Bicycle Route Navigator app features almost 47,000 miles of well-established bicycle routes, along with cycling-specific details like:

• Elevation profiles
• Riding conditions
• Bike shop locations
• Food and water sources
• Scenic stops (e.g., waterfalls, hot springs, lakes, art museums, etc.)
• Overnight accommodation listings (e.g., camping facilities, small hotels, and cyclists-only lodging)

As you ride, you can call many of these locations with a tap on your screen. The app also provides real-time wind and weather data, including include thunderstorm, flood, and fire warnings.

What Riders Say : The Bicycle Route Navigator app is another example where Android users leave much higher overall feedback than iOS users.

Most compliments indicate it’s easy to use (including without an internet connection), delivers valuable features, and accurate. On the flip side, common complaints are that it’s clunky to use, doesn’t feature turn-by-turn directions, can’t import or export data, and is buggy.

Best For : The Bicycle Route Navigator app is best for touring cyclists who need access to robust data that can help them plan lengthy, detailed routes in remote areas with no signal. Also, for those who want to support a worthy organization.

7. BikeMaps.org

  Pricing : Free

Main Features : The BikeMaps.org website and app are crowdsourced tools that local cyclists can use to map their trouble spots while riding, including crashes, near-misses, hazards, and thefts.

Important : BikeMaps lists far more incident reports in Canada than any other country, which might not come as much of a surprise since its development was “sponsored by the Canadian Automobile Association, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Mitacs.”

BikeMaps pools all of this submitted data and analyzes it “using GIS and statistics” to identify higher-risk hotspots. Then, after creating an account and defining your alert area, the app will send you push notifications when incidents are reported in your area.

Together, BikeMaps advertise they’re all about mapping your cycling experiences and making them safer.

What Riders Say : BikeMaps currently only offers an iOS app, which has a five-star rating on iTunes.

Best For : The BikeMaps app and website might work best for safety-oriented Canadian cyclists, who want a free tool to track bike-related safety incidents. However, there’s no tracking, route building, or training aspects.

How Can You Choose the Best Mapping & Navigation Cycling App?

As with any other technology, selecting the right mapping and navigation app will depend on the aspects you highlight.

For example, if paying the lowest price is at the top of your list, most of the options above offer free versions. However, only Google Maps and BikeMaps.org provide access to all the apps’ features without paying to upgrade.

Neither Google Maps nor BikeMaps.org offers route-building engines, though, whereas all of the remaining options focus more on this aspect.

Google Maps also offers worldwide navigation, whereas Cyclers Navigation only works in someEuropean, South American, and Asian countries (currently no support for North America), Komoot doesn’t offer coverage in Canada, and BikeMaps.org features more reports in Canada than in any other country. Cyclers Navigation’s maps also don’t function offline.

Finally, Bikemap’s ability to differentiate between road and mountain routes could come in especially handy if you frequently ride mixed terrain.

Which route-building and mapping apps work best for you when cycling? Is there anything important we missed above? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

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Derek Lakin

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Ralph Berens

Hi Derek, trust all is well and safe. I sent a more detailed note along the 'Contest' route, so this is simply a f/u to alert you to that. We're off, my wife and I, this coming Saturday, moving out of the shallow end into deeper waters so to speak. We're good with 25-35 km regularly on the weekends so 70ish on fairly flat roads/trails should be manageable. My question was really with respect to some sort of 'secondary' clarification source, to fully understand why google has moved us off Lakeshore Blvd for instance, and onto busier, ostensibly, roadways. Another factor with a new trip as this one is for us, is the number of route instructions listed-like 80! Impossible to check your phone for every Turn right-Turn Left. Need a mental "Trip-Tik" from bygone days with CAA. Pretty sure something is in the works for cyclists re GPS at your 'bud' disposal. Anyway, appreciate anything you can throw our way that might be helpful. Stay safe and stay solid, Rose & Ralph

I am a completely inexperienced biker, but I want to ride from Brookhaven, MS to San Diego. Which of these apps would build a safe route for me to ride? You mention Google Maps, but I don't see an option to select a bicycle. Would Google Maps build an acceptable route for me to follow?

Hi Derek , maybe you can help me choose the best cycling map for the east coast, planning a bike ride from NYC to Holly wood FL in April-May. I have mapped it out, taking a ferry to Sand Hook. NJ, then riding south to Cape May, then Delaware Cape Charles to Virgina beach. basically staying near the coast so looking for a site that can help me with each leg of the trip.Google maps is so so , do you have any recommendations , Thanks Dan

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Cycling route planning: your essential guide

Dead ends, thundering traffic and road surfaces that resemble the surface of the moon. It’s no exaggeration to say that your cycling route planning can make or break an enjoyable ride.

When you’re on holiday it’s really important to have a cycle route plan before pedalling off for the day. There’s nothing worse than wasting your precious holiday time getting lost, constantly having to check your directions or unwittingly cruising the less enjoyable roads of the area.

Even when close to home it’s worth taking the time to plan a cycling route that maximises your smiles per mile!

A little time invested in cycling route planning goes a long way. This article will share the lessons we’ve learnt the hard way and help you find your perfect route, with quiet, spectacular roads where you can get the best out of your riding.

A big thank you to the Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona for sponsoring this article. 

They want to make sure cyclists get the most out of any ride, particularly when it’s in the world-class cycling destination that is Girona and the Costa Brava.

Want to know more about cycling in Girona/Costa Brava? Check out our guides  and the Tourist Board’s sites on cycling  and training camps .

Don’t fancy planning your route/want some local help? Check out Girona’s local tour operators.

Part 1: How to plan a cycle route

Map v cycling route planner app.

For most of us, the days of spreading out a 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey map on the kitchen table are long gone.

But picking up an old-school physical map can give you the perspective and detail that is more difficult to discern when you plan a bike route using an app or website.

Physical maps have a number of key advantages when trying to piece together the best routes.

A good map will clearly differentiate between the different classes of roads. The narrower are lost lanes/very minor roads – too narrow to allow two cars to pass each other, meaning that will cars avoid them or (hopefully!) travel slowly.

Your eye will also more quickly be drawn to points of interest – viewpoints, historic buildings and great places to stop for a coffee or bite to eat. These are all important components of a well-planned ride!

For Girona Costa Brava, we particularly like the Road Cycling Map by GeoNomada, 1:110,000 of Girona, Pirineus and Costa Brava.

Route planner websites/apps

On the other side of the equation, route planning websites and apps have the obvious advantage of speed and doing a lot of the legwork for you.

It can be as simple as plugging in your start and end points and the route planning app will draw an optimised route that you can review, tweak and add stopping points to.

You’ll get accurate distance information and can even get an idea of how long it will take to complete the route, based on an average speed. You can then optimise to find shortest routes, add in more hills, viewpoints etc…

If you’re going to Girona Costa Brava, you’ll find the Tourist Board’s tried and tested pre-plotted routes a really useful starting point (more on that below ).

Looking for the best cycling apps? This article shares our favourites.

A happy medium?

If you’re really meticulous and can’t bear to bin the physical map, you could use a cycling route planner app to create a first draft of the route, then finesse it using an old-school map…

In reality, it’s likely most of us are wedded to our planner apps/websites and can’t imagine life without them these days!

Comparison of the best cycling route apps

Many apps allow you to plot and/or follow cycling routes. There is a bewildering array and all come with a diverse selection of route planning features. Examples include:

Bikely.com, Bikehike, Cycle.travel, EasyRoute, GPSies, Garmin Connect, Google Maps, MapMyRide, MAPS.ME, PlotaRoute, Ride with GPS, Strava and Wikiloc.

The million-dollar question is – which is the best cycling route planner app to use?!

Ride with GPS

Our personal favourite is Ride with GPS, which offers a very clear and intuitive interface for plotting routes.

• We find the route profile/elevation profile information really useful, as it gives you a graph showing your route, complete with gradients, that’s really useful for giving you an idea of how tough your ride is going to be (and where). 
• There’s estimated ride time information, though we tend not to pay too much attention to that as it’s very dependent on fitness and how much you stop. 
• There are lots of other nice little features – for example, you can choose the map type you want to use as the base map, whether you see the metrics in Imperial or Metric measurements and you can also save your favourite routes to re-use later.
• Ride with GPS has also got great connectivity with Wahoo and Garmin bike computers, which makes uploading the route to your computer really easy. The phone compatibility isn’t bad either! 
• In terms of route plotting, we’ve found it pretty reliable, though we prefer to use the ‘car setting’ most of the time when plotting as in the ‘cycling setting’, we find it is a very firm advocate of cycle paths, even when they’re not suitable for road bikes!

Google Maps

We also find that Google Maps (with the cycling setting) is good for a spot check or if you have a smart phone mount. The fact it’s free, easy to use and works in 200+ countries makes it very convenient. Bear in mind:

• There’s no route building option – you’re given the route and the most you can do is add a few interim stops.
• It sometimes won’t let you use a road, for example because it’s closed in winter when you’re searching.
• The estimated time of arrival might not always be accurate.
• Google Maps is a canvas for mapping search results and advertising results, which may be a benefit to you or may annoy you, depending on your view on life!

If you’re riding around the Girona Costa Brava region, it’s worth taking a look at Wikiloc. It’s one of the most popular apps in Spain for route planning and covers all sorts of outdoor activities. It’s worth knowing:

• You can use the app to create a route or record your own routes on a map, add waypoints, take pictures along the itinerary and upload them to your Wikiloc account from your phone.
• There are millions of routes on this site. A great way to find the high quality ones is to search for the tourist board for the region you want to visit, as they’re likely to have a profiles where they share their routes (inc GPX files you can download). These can be an excellent source of route inspiration.
• Girona Costa Brava’s profile is here – you can filter by road cycling to see their route suggestions.
• Note that use of some of Wikiloc’s enhanced features require you to pay for the premium version.

Every cyclist knows about Strava – but to plan a route on Strava, you need Strava Premium.

However, a search of Strava’s heatmaps can be useful for identifying popular routes with cyclists (though again, you’ll need a Premium plan to access your own heatmap). And, of course, the Strava segments are good to incorporate – if you’re into that kind of thing.

How route planner cycling apps pick their route

For those that like geeky detail, it might be useful to know how the cycling route creator apps come up with their routes.

The basic position is that each app scores every path and road for its suitability for cycling.

So when you plan a multi-stop bike route, the cycle planner optimises the route between specified points to achieve the best score. They take data from:

• Map data source: There are only four widely used global data sources, with Google Maps and Open Streetmap being the most widely used for cycling.
• Traffic counts:  The more sophisticated apps will overlay the map data with data on traffic levels. For example, a rural road in the Girona Pyrenees may be wonderful to ride (despite being marked as a major road), but a busy commuter B road in central Girona might be much less fun. So a planner that takes into account traffic data (where it’s available) will try to avoid the more trafficked roads to maximize your safety and enjoyment.

This is why choice of route varies between planners and why, depending on the route planner used, there can be a number of key differences in the route that’s suggested.

Tips for planning a route by bike

It’s safe to say we’ve planned many, many routes. Here are our top route planning tips:

Desktop not mobile

We’d suggest using a computer to plan your route. If you’ve ever tried to use a route planner for cycling on a smartphone, you will find that even the deftest fingers and largest iPhone screen can’t compare to using a full-sized computer screen and mouse or trackpad!

Use the right route planner

Before investing loads of time in planning a bike route, make sure you think about how you’re going to use it. Are you using the best cycling route app for how you want to use it? For example, can you easily access the route in the correct format for free on the device you want to use or will you have to pay for a premium option?

Common glitches

Apps and websites can help you create a cycling route quickly and efficiently. By all means make use of this, but like in any good sci-fi film, the human needs to keep a firm hand on the machine.

While the functionality and flexibility of bike route planners is improving, there are some things to look out for before you finalise your route and transfer it to your bike computer:

• Unpleasant sections: A quick scan of the suggested route should reveal whether there are avoidable sections on major roads that may get too close to cities, have heavy traffic, or intimidating traffic junctions that can de detoured.
• Crazy gradients:  Mapping software may not pay much attention to steep gradients (uphill or downhill) that you might want to avoid (or perhaps hunt out for extra challenge!). When you map a cycling route, the profile and statistics allow you to easily identify and adjust your route to allow for climbs.
• Town centres: When you plan a bicycle route, you probably want to go through the centre of some villages/towns rather than around the edge, which the route planner may favour.
• Stopping points: Bear in mind that cycle route planner apps won’t consider incorporating the best cafés, viewpoints and food/drink stops into the route.
• Bike trails:  Selecting to use bike route overlays can favour routing via bike lanes and sometimes unpaved roads over paved roads. Many routes identified as bike lanes in mapping tools are off-road trails that are okay for mountain bikes or leisure cycling but are not suitable for skinny-tyred road bikes.

Cross-referencing

If you’re planning a particularly important route, it might be worth taking these extra steps:

• Compare the route with reality:  If you’re testing a new ride planner, you could see what you think of it by plotting a journey you regularly do and know. You could then look at what the planner has suggested and see how it corresponds. What the route planner has come up with could be better than what you normally do! Or it could reveal the biases of the bike route planner app.
• Google Street View: it’s a fantastic tool for figuring out whether a road is a suitable road route – is the surface good and is it suitable for cycling? Likewise, we’ve heard great things about geograph.org.uk – though bear in mind that it’s only for Great Britain and Ireland. We’ve not used it much ourselves, as it’s most useful for those wanting to go off-road and hasn’t got the nicest interface in the world.
• Perfect your ride:  Every now and again you can find that your routing didn’t quite work out. Make a note to go back and adjust your GPX file for next time – before you forget about it!

Part 2: Shortcuts + hacks for cycling route planning

We spoke at the start about how important it is to plan a great cycling route. But, let’s be honest, all that plotting, checking and cross-referencing is not everyone’s idea of a fun way to spend a few hours! Especially if you’re looking for routes to ride while on holiday.

So, how can you avoid having to spend time on route planning?!

Find a (good quality) pre-plotted route online

As you know, here at epicroadrides.com we’ve made it our mission to curate the best rides that are available to download for free. The site covers many of the world’s best cycling destinations, but don’t expect the same coverage as one of the websites like Strava or Komoot that collate user-generated rides. Ours is a curated collection of rides we’ve ridden and loved (for example on Girona, here ).

Over on Strava, Wikiloc, Bikely (and other apps and websites) riders upload their rides – and you can then download and use these. This means that you can find rides from pretty much every corner of the world.

But of course, just because some or many riders have taken a route, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best! It’s often difficult to get much information about the ride from these platforms – and we’ve often found routes that might be outdated, use unpaved roads or suffer from bad plotting or dodgy GPS data.

Anyone else found themselves wondering a Strava route is someone’s commute rather than the best there is of the region?!

Finding someone you trust on one of the sites is important: as mentioned above, Girona Costa Brava’s Wikiloc profile is a great resource if you’re riding here.

Check and adapt the route

Remember that on many apps (e.g. Ride with GPS) you can upload a route to your profile and then make some tweaks. So have a good check of the route before you blindly follow it – and remember you can easily change the starting point or end point for example.

This is useful to know if you need to adapt a route to fit where you live/are staying.

Local tourist information

Depending on where you are, the local tourist information may be a good source of information. We’ve sometimes been happily surprised to find wonderful pamphlets with a treasure trove of graded routes and helpful statistics.

Girona Costa Brava’s road cycling map is an excellent example – check it out here (it’s best to download it so you can then zoom in to read it).

Local bike shops

Nothing beats getting inside and up-to-date tips from a friendly local bike shop as you stock up on energy bars and spares (bike rental stations are also a good bet). So, whether you’re at home or on holiday, it’s worth dropping into the local shop and getting their tips and the most up-to-date information. Many bike shops also have (free!) organised rides that are a sociable way of discovering an area.

It’s even worth asking about local groups – cyclists are a sociable bunch and who knows, you may make some lifelong friends!

Nowhere is this more true than in Girona, as many of the bike shops organise weekly rides that are free to take part in. They’re a great way to discover the area!

• Eat Sleep Cycle – Monday at 10am
• Bike Breaks – Thursday at 10am
• Cicloturisme Tours – Friday at 10am

Note: if you’re travelling while Covid is still a problem, just check in with the shops beforehand to ensure the ride is on that week.

Get a local guide

There is a growing market for expert local guides that know the area intimately and pedal alongside you on the best routes the area has to offer. A good guide will transform your experience with the type of local knowledge that will enrich your riding. They can help you find the cyclist-friendly routes with the minimum of planning effort from you.

Girona’s local tour operators

As a popular cycling destination, Girona has a number of excellent local businesses that will be delighted to provide you with a guide and help you plan your cycling routes and tours in and around Girona:

Catalonia Bike Tours, +24 608 57 68 21, cataloniabiketours.com

Cicloturisme Tours, +34 972 221 047, cicloturisme.com

Eat Sleep Cycle, +34 972 649 131, eatsleepcycle.com

Girona Pro Sport, +34 690 248 632, gironaprosport.com

Trek and Ride, +34 972 28 00 94, cicloturisme.com

Zona BTT Pirineu Girona, +34 605 227 978, zonabtt.com

Part 3: Using the bike route while riding

So, once you’ve got your perfect GPX bike route files, how do you actually use it/them while riding?!

Unless you’ve taken the opportunity to hire a guide or are on take part in a guided tour, and therefore bypass the need to follow a route, these tips should come in handy.

Printed map v GPS device v smartphone

A neatly folded paper map, suitably waterproofed and tucked into your jersey pocket certainly has a certain retro cool. But fumbling with maps with cold fingers while battling the wind and rain (or even sweaty fingers due to a warm sun!) means that your paper maps are probably best left at home. Stopping to unfold a map also eats up valuable riding time.

Using apps like Google Maps or Ride with GPS on your smartphone can be a practical and cost-effective way of making use of the amazing technology of your smart phone. To get the best navigation experience, you’ll need a good mount, waterproofing and protection. Remember though that using GPS and having your screen on will eat your battery life, so you might want to consider having the screen turned off and only switching on for turn by turn instructions.

A cycling computer mounted on your handlebar (or stem) is of course the most stylish and practical way to follow a route. It’s designed for exposure to weather and is much less likely to smash if you inadvertently drop it (we speak from experience!)… While even the latest top-of-the range bike computers have limited ability to create and evolve routes ‘on the fly’, most GPS devices allow you to easily upload a route to follow.

Following the route

We find that a large visual display of the route is the easiest.

Turn by turn instructions

You can either choose to follow turn by turn instructions or just display your location as a dot, with a coloured line showing the route you need to follow. We prefer the turn by turn instructions, because it means you don’t need to think about which turn to take – the app will flag it at the junctions.

Voice navigation

In our experience cycling while listening to audio instructions is extremely difficult (even when you can hear the instructions) and potentially dangerous. We don’t recommend wearing earphones while cycling, even to listen to route instructions.

Helpful navigation tips

Some apps and devices allow you to specify how far in advance you want turn instructions. A distance of at least 50 metres will give you plenty of reaction time.

A good level of zoom on your device will mean you’re not turning off early or getting the wrong exit at the roundabout.

Needless to say, safety is a priority. Make sure your cycling computer or smartphone is mounted where it is clearly visible. Do not be tempted to fiddle or spend too long looking at your iphone while riding. Many a cycling accident has been caused by cyclists distracted by their computer.

And on that note, it’s time to say stay safe and have a fantastic next ride!

Big thanks to Patronat de Turisme Costa Brava Girona for making this article possible.

Remember that Girona is a brilliant cycling destination with cycling routes for all levels and kinds of cyclist. Check our guides to Girona , and the articles below, for more info!

What are your top tips for cycle route planning?

Have we forgotten anything? What are your top tips? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to know more about cycling in Girona?

Don’t miss our tips for easy routes and beginner cycling challenges in Girona .

Also check out our in-depth guide to Girona , which contains route guides, tips for riding in/around Girona and much more!

Photo credits:

Footnote 1:  Cap de Creus. Costa Brava. Cycling Tips. Brazo de Hierro. CBGTB Image Archive.

Footnote 2:  Costa Brava. The Col Collective. CBGTB Image Archive.

Footnote 3:  Santuari dels Àngels. Facu Aguirre. CBGTB Image Archive.

Footnote 4:  Banyoles. Facu Aguirre. CBGTB Image Archive.

Footnote 5:  Girona. La Fabrica. Jase Wilson. CBGTB Image Archive.

Footnote 6:  Girona. Tristan Cardew. CBGTB Image Archive.

Footnote 7: Ripoll. The Col Collective. CBGTB Image Archive.

Footnote 8: Bike Breaks Girona.

Footnote 9:  Costa Brava.   The Col Collective. CBGTB Image Archive.

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Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels – and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they’re there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.

The contents of this website are provided for general information purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on it. You should carry out your own due diligence and take professional advice. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our website is accurate, complete or up to date. If you use any information or content on this website, download from, or otherwise obtain content or services through our website, it is entirely at your own discretion and risk. Epic Road Rides Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the information and content on this website. Find out more here .

2 Responses to “Cycling route planning: your essential guide”

What about Komoot? Great for road surface & road type checking. Cross referenced to Google Maps at the right zoom level shows clearly the best quieter roads to select, then street view to double check. In the end, the most important footnote is that time invested in planning, leads to a ride spent enjoying it, not stressing it.

Yep, Komoot is another option! We prefer RWGPS, but each to their own! And agree, it’s all about the planning!

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The Complete Route Planning Guide: Out of the Ether

Thanks to the wealth of online information, applications and digital maps that are now at our disposal, we’ve entered a golden age of backcountry bike route inception. Here’s our methodology, recommended tools, and a guide to resources…

One of the great joys of bikepacking is exploring new territory and finding adventure in the unknown. There’s always an appeal to ride for exploration’s sake; but setting out without a plan can result in bad situations, or at the very least, wasted effort. While paper maps and a compass open up new avenues for adventure—and help us get out of trouble when we need it—their digital counterparts take this to a whole new level.

Devising a good bikepacking route is one part art, one part elbow grease, and two parts R&D. In regards to the latter—given the ever-improving clarity of satellite imagery and the burgeoning range of mapping applications—the outdoor community is enjoying something of a beta boom. By virtue of the sheer volume of user generated GPX tracks that can be followed on any GPS device or smartphone , and the fact that mapping apps are more powerful than ever, there’s never been a better time to research and plan a bikepacking trip.

Nonetheless, with this blitz of data comes the eyes closed, finger on a map effect. Combing through such a mass of information can make distinguishing a well designed route all the more difficult. Anyone can follow a GPX plucked from one of the countless map-share websites these days — but who knows how that will turn out? We think it’s far more rewarding to travel a route that’s been crafted with thought, contemplation and experience. Or even better, to build one of your own. We’ve touched on route planning before; view the article here for an overview. In this post, we’ll be delving into the mechanics of it all.

1. Start somewhere.

The most important step is undoubtedly the first… figuring out where on the map to begin. Options are almost endless, governed only by one’s wanderlust, time, and pocketbook.

The marrow of a great bikepacking route is a healthy network of dirt roads, gravel and/or singletrack, depending on your interests. If you are new to bikepacking, consider trails you are already familiar with. Perhaps your favorite local rides could be developed into an overnighter, a multi-day ride, or more.

At this point, paper maps and state atlases – like Delorme’s Atlas and Gazetteer series – can also be a helpful in gaining an overview of the land, locating the main backroads in an area, and gleaning a sense of scale for your endeavour. National Geographic Trails Illustrated Maps are another great resource for this, as is the Benchmark Atlas series, albeit more specific to the American West. In addition, regionally specific singletrack and mountain bike maps are often helpful.

Alternatively, there are countless online resources for finding such networks and getting inspired — public and federal resources, non-profit initiatives, mapping applications, references to historic tracks, and the burgeoning world of trail sharing sites. Here are few approaches:

1.1. Begin with an existing singletrack system.

Two of our favorite resources for singletrack trails are MTBproject and TrailForks . Although the lesser known of the two, TrailForks is touted as having the largest database of mountain bike trails in the world. Not only does it feature an impressive map search , trails can be browsed by state and trail network. In addition, TrailForks has a smartphone app that allows offline GPS navigation. All the content, including photos, video and reviews, is user contributed. With an audience volume backed by Pinkbike, the popular mountain biking portal, it should only grow and mature.

In addition, OpenCycleMaps (which is available as a viewable layer on most planning apps, such as RideWithGPS) is quickly gaining may singltrack trails and networks…

MTBProject is a similar project developed by the IMBA in the US. The system is a little more clunky to browse, but it does have quick access to the Best Of trails , as well as IMBA Epics and BLM Treasures . It also has loops and full rides submitted; some of which can be easily segmented into overnighters, such as our Pisgah Long Tour .

1.2. Discover Forest Service Roads.

Some of the most reliable off-tarmac networks, both here in the US and abroad, are forest service roads. FSRs were typically created for logging exploits and fire prevention. They can be range from rugged, rocky and rutted dirt roads, to well-maintained gravel surface, to long forgotten tracks that have devolved to singletrack. In the US, we’re blessed with a high concentration of FSRs throughout our National Forests. There are around 150 National Forests boasting almost 190 million acres of land throughout the United States — an area about the size of Texas, or around 8.5% of our total land mass. To help make sense of it all, the Forest Service has this nice locator map .

1.3. Base it on an IMBA Epic.

The IMBA’s (International Mountain Biking Association) Model Trail ‘Epic’ designation is their own class of bucket list worthy trails. Although this program is currently in flux, their list of Epics provide a good skeleton network for a range of bikepacking routes. Most Epics run anywhere from 20-80 miles and usually involve a fair amount of elevation gain. In fact, there are several classic routes that are based on IMBA Epics (or vice versa). The Huracan 300 uses the old Santos Epic. The Virginia Mountain Bike Trail incorporates Douthat State Park and a portion of the Southern Traverse. The Stagecoach 400 incorporates Cuyamaca Noble Canyon. And the Trans North Georgia incorporates the Pinhoti Trails. Similarly, IMBA created an Epic from the southern section of the Colorado Trail . And last year the Black Canyon Trail became an Epic.

1.4. Dig in to a trail share site.

WikiLoc is growing resource internationally, boasting almost five million trails for hiking, cycling and many other activities. We’ve tapped into it for routefinding all around the world. In Uganda, we used it to unearth a wealth of MTB routes from a local cycling club. We were able to download several GPX files and stitch them into our larger Trans-Uganda route . Although WikiLoc is big and a little cumbersome to navigate, they are improving it regularly, so we expect it to grow into an even greater resource.

Another of our favourite trail share sites is RideWithGPS , which is an excellent resource both here in the U.S. and abroad. RideWithGPS offers a social share approach to trail sharing and is becoming a good resource for finding rides and routes. And as we’ll discuss more in section 3, RWGPS has its own navigational app and highly functional planning tools.

BikeMap.net is another growing entity with a well designed search funtionality. We’ve used it to research rides around the world, though we’ve found much of the route data on the site is of the on-road variety.

1.5. Follow footpaths and bridleways

While this isn’t as relevant to U.S. based travel, there are countless networks of footpaths and bridleways throughout the world. In England and Wales, a rich vein of bridleways offer access through private land, while Scotland has some of the most bike-favourable land access laws in the world. Traditionally, information for these has been gleaned through incredibly detailed Ordnance Survey maps , all of which are now available online, via the likes of their own mobile app.

In continental Europe, especially Spain and France, there is an incredible network of GR Footpaths, walking routes which use an ancient network of trails, dirt tracks and roads. The ‘GR’ stands for Gran Recorrido in Spanish; in French it translates to Grande Ranndonée, which sounds a bit more inviting for bike travel. By way of example, when designing the Altravesur , we based it on the GR7 and tied in a half dozen more GRs. The European Rambler’s Association (ERA) has developed a long-distance trail system of footpaths with numbered routes from E1-E12 (each currently in various phases of completion). In addition, The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) is coordinating the development of a network of high-quality cycling routes that connect the whole continent, although these are mostly paved.

In most developing countries where walking and cycling are still a primary means of transportation, there are plenty of opportunities for bikepacking. Scour Google Earth’s satellite imagery (see below) to find potential paths. Throughout Uganda we followed footpaths that weaved in and out through villages. In South America, we’ve connected mule trails and senderos. Most were found through OpenCycleMaps or via satellite maps.

1.6. Take in a Rail Trail, Towpath, or historical trail.

All over the world, abandoned rail lines are being converted to trails. In the U.S. the Rail-to-Trails conservancy supports over 30,000 miles of rail trail nationwide. In Spain, the Via Verde system has many great trails. Even developing countries such as Uganda and Bolivia have abandoned rail lines that are used as trails. Another resource is RailTrail.com , a directory to world rail trails.

1.7. Use OpenCycleMaps.

Last but certainly not least… In development since 2007, OpenCycleMap is a base layer global cycling map project that’s based on data from the OpenStreetMap project. At low zoom levels it is intended for overviews of national cycling networks, which it does well. But it also harbors information and tracks for a lot of singletrack networks, greenways, existing bike routes, and all the gravel and dirt roads that are in OpenStreetMaps. So not only is this map good for research, it also makes a fine base layer for drawing your route (which we’ll get to in section 3). A variety of mobile apps use it in one form or another.

2. Pin down points.

Before you get to far down the trail, there are a couple basic requirements for planning a bikepacking route:

2.1. Plan a place to sleep.

While it’s debatable whether this should be number one or two in the process, an important step should be to identify a campsite or a general area to camp within. Without a reasonably permissible and safe place to pitch your tent, it’s pretty tough to build a route. Of course the parameters change based on the country where you’ll be bikepacking, but the same general rules apply.

Here in the US we have several types of public land. National Forests are the most common, but there is also BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land , state public land, game reserves, National Parks, and various other designations. They all have varying rules regarding backcountry camping. National Forests are probably the most lenient and typically have designated sites as well as generous provisions for backcountry camping. BLM land is also generally a safe bet and often has camping opportunities. The rules for state-owned lands differ widely. And of course there are Wilderness Areas which have far stricter rules and prohibit bicycles completely ( although this may evolve ). It’s best to identify where you intend to camp, and research that entity independently. Needless to say, as with all backcountry travel, follow the Leave No Trace principles .

Another option is to simply find an established campground. This doesn’t have to mean you pony your tent up next to a bunch of RV campers. There are plenty of lesser used National Park campgrounds, backcountry camps, State Park campgrounds, game reserve camps, etc. In addition, look for hiker huts, shelters, or gites. The GR247 has a series of ‘refugio’ hiker huts and can be ridden without a tent. These are often noted in various basemaps, including the OSM Outdoors layer included with RideWithGPS. And of course for folks who want to pamper themselves a little bit, there are also hotels, hostels, and WarmShowers hosts.

And then there is good ole stealth camping . This doesn’t always mean ‘illegal’ camping. Sometimes there simply aren’t laws or rules for camping. In this case it may be acceptable to find a hidden spot, camp, and leave it just as you found it. There are also cases where there is no public land. Ask a landowner if you can camp discreetly on their farmland. Nine times out of ten, they’ll appreciate you asking, and may even invite you for dinner. In many countries overseas, stealth camping can also take the form of abandoned buildings or empty animal shelters — bike-shacking, as it were — though these tend to be discovered ad hoc, rather than planned in advance…

2.2. Stage, start and Finish.

Considering the logistics of getting to and from your ride should also be part of your route planning recipe.

For routes ranging from 24 hours to a couple of weeks, a loop is always a good approach. It reduces logistical challenges — having the same point to start and end is always ideal for parking and staging the trip. This spot should not only be safe, but be well thought out to make your route flow well.

Conversely, many big routes or ‘trans’ routes are linear. Shuttling, public transport, or even hitching is required. Using a shuttle or the buddy system with two cars is pretty straightforward. Hitching depends on both luck and the area you’re in… Logan once found himself stranded after the VMBT. It seems no one wants to pick up a dirty bearded person in Virginia…

2.3 Public Transport

For bigger routes, public transportation usually comes into play. Here are some aspects to consider:

Trains are a primary means of getting to the route start — or getting back from the finish — for many European bikepacking routes. The Altravesur uses Spain’s Media Distancia lines to get from Madrid (which has an international airport) to the route start and then back to Madrid at the end. These and other such lines often allow bikes to be rolled on and off, and stowed in the luggage area in your compartment. Always check the bike policy — some require bikes to be bagged or boxed, while others have restricted access on certain lines or at particular times.

Amtrak has taken notice of the bike community and has recently expanded it’s offerings to include several ways of transporting your bicycle on many of their routes. All Amtrak lines allow boxed bikes to be checked, granted that particular train handles check baggage. With with regards to route planning, on select trains they offer two additional services for assembled bicycles. Walk-Up or Checked Bicycle Service allows standard full-size bicycles to be transported in bicycle racks located in the baggage car. Passengers are not allowed in baggage cars, so Amtrak personnel will store and secure your bike in the bike racks. This service is only available at select stations. Advance reservations are required. Walk-On Bicycle Service allows standard full-size bicycles to be carried on and stored on board in bicycle racks on these select certain trains.

Buses can be a fantastic option, depending on where you are. Unfortunately, they all differ for rules and regulations. Outside of the States and Europe, most tend to be pretty lax in terms of regulations, though we’ve been on busses in South Africa that required bikes to be boxed. Others have racks on the outside. Or they simply toss them in cavernous luggage compartments underneath. In Latin America and Asia, buses reach every nook and cranny in the backcountry. In such continents, there’s a great economical option if your route dictates a long ride back to the start.

Flying with a bike is often necessary for extended trips. There’s a wealth of info out there on flying with a bike. And while it’s not usually part of the route, unless it’s a long, linear journey, there’s a chance you’ll do it if your route is faraway from home. Stay tuned for a detailed guide that we have in the works.

Public ferries and boat systems are another way to create an interesting aspect to the route and sometimes allow for a return trip or a complete loop. For the Congo Nile Trail the ferry at Cyangugu brings you along lake Kivu back to the route start. Ferries also can play a major role in routes in the Pacific Northwest, as well as many other coastal regions.

2.4. Don’t forget water and resupply.

Planning water and resupply points is not always necessary, especially for shorter routes, or routes that often pass through urban areas. However, when considering a 3+ day bikepacking trip, water and food replenishment is absolutely necessary. Lakes and ponds are one thing, but it’s often difficult to identify legitimate water sources (springs, streams, etc) via map or satellite imagery. In dry climates look for patches of green to help locate streams and springs. Some form of water filtration system is generally recommended. Animal watering fountains are another last resort.

As for food, gas stations are generally a safe bet for basic sustenance, even if it tends to be on the highly processed side. If resupply points are few and far between, consider carrying dehydrated food, both sold commercially in camping stores or made in a domestic dehydrator.

3. Make it extraordinary.

While it’s more than possible to have an incredible experience on great trails and terrain alone, sometimes routes beg to encompass something more. Often the theme is what started the route in the first place, such as tour of a collection of peaks, the most interesting way to cross a specific region, or a route that takes in the best trails and breweries of an area. Other times it’s a matter of peppering in punctuation to give the route some flow. Here are some points reiterated.

3.1. Design it around places of interest.

Basing routes on particular sites or stops is a good approach. How about breweries, historical landmarks, hot springs, swimming holes, or scenic viewpoints? In addition, sometimes the crown jewel of a good route is a campsite with a view, fishing hole, or interesting natural feature.

3.2. Add historical intrigue.

Bikepacking is a chance to dig deeper into the lands across which we ride, so sharing their past can be as interesting as experiencing them in the present. A historical context to the ride you plan can imbue it with a rich, textual depth that goes beyond the simple thrill of a physical adventure. Take this historical New Mexico bikepacking route for example.

3.3. Watch the geography.

Sometimes what attracts one to a specific place is its land and natural wonder. Other times, it’s gazing at a topographical map and finding an anomaly that beckons for some reason or the other. Prior to our last segment of the Altravesur , the time spent studying an interesting geographic formation — the canyon of Rio Mocar — paid off in spades. The canyon stood out on the terrain map like a sore thumb. It was obviously a deep trench that snaked towards the sea. Upon riding it we found an amazing stretch of singletrack.

3.4. Timing is everything.

Obviously weather is a major factor for any bikepack. Other times it controls it. Snow routes require a good winter, and some places are impassible during monsoon season. In addition, consider events, such as the Solstice. Swift Industries based their Campout on it. The extra long days allow for more exploration, longer days in the saddle and more relaxing time. Also, time your trips based on natural occurrences, such as the spring show of flowers in the desert.

4. Draw the Map.

Now it all comes down to putting it together. At this point some may choose to go ride armed with maps and notes, and record the GPS route along the way. And that’s a fine process. Our’s is a little different though. With the right tools it’s feasible to never record a GPS track. Of course this isn’t always possible, so it’s a good practice to record either way. But, using one or more of the online applications below you can create a route, load it on your smartphone and set off.

RideWithGPS

RideWithGPS is our favorite amongst this grouping. It not only has a great toolset for planning a route, it has a well chosen set of basemap layers, including our favorite, OpenCycleMap. As mentioned above in section 1.7, OSM Cycle displays a significant number of singletrack networks, hiking paths, cycle routes, rail trails and more. RWGPS’ Plan a Route mode enables you to click points on the map to draw a route, and with the Follow Roads tool, it actually traces these paths, including singletrack. It then compiles an elevation profile and provides a suite of tools to further refine your route. Another function that’s ideal for bikepacking routes is the ability to add POIs (Points of Interest). With this feature you can add waypoints by category, such as Convenience Store, Camping, and many other options. Each is represented by a relevant icon.

The program also allows multiple tracks to be stitched together. You can start with a downloaded GPX or KML file, upload it and build from there. You can also add additional GPS paths into a route. For example, the Trans-Uganda is a compilation of over 6 GPX tracks from a local cycling club as well as a lot of other custom drawn and planned tracks.

Once you finish your route, simply download the GPX and add it to your GPS or smartphone app. Furthermore, there is a RWGPS mobile app that also allows offline navigation by downloading map tiles. With this app, you can browse your routes and download them to use as navigation.

Granted the RWGPS Plan a Route application takes some practice, it’s truly a great tool. RWGPS offers a detailed help area which includes a few how-to videos on general topics such as Route Planning or more specific advanced techniques such as Combining and Splitting Routes . In addition, based on a lot of use and head scratching, here are a few tips we put together.

• The distinction between Rides and Routes can be a bit confusing. Sometimes when you upload a track, it saves it as a Ride. Make sure to ‘Copy To My Routes’ and work on it as a Route for further planning.
• When in Plan or Edit mode , use the OSM Cycle base map from the dropdown in the upper right; this provides access to many singletrack networks, rail trails, cycle routes, and more.
• Also while planning, switch between basemaps to get different perspectives. Sometimes forest roads are missing from OSM layers, and conversely the Map layer is missing a lot of trails and paths. Also, the satellite layer is indispensable for identifying unpaved tracks.
• Make sure the OPTIMIZE FOR setting is set to Cycling or Walking. This ensures the Follow Roads tool traces singletrack.
• Sometimes when going between trails and roads , or other tracks, the FOLLOW ROADS tool won’t complete the line and instead reroutes around. Simply click UNDO, and then use the DRAW LINES tool to manually bridge the gap. This often occurs at water crossings as well.
• When joining multiple tracks , there’s a delay when you can add recently uploaded GPX/KML tracks to an existing route. Give it :30 and it should show up under ‘Load an Existing Route’ in the upper left.

Google Earth

Big Brother to Googlemaps, Google Earth is an incredibly powerful tool for planning – and dreaming up – off grid adventures. With its incredibly sharp, interactive imagery, use it to research a proposed area, checking out the lay of the land and expected terrain. Depending on the area in which you’re digging around, it even includes a POV perspective – handy for finding out if you the ride you’re creating is dirt or paved.

We often use Google Earth to quickly create a rough KML file of an intended journey, before uploading it to our devices. If you’re worried about it taking the fun out of exploration… don’t be. Google Earth opens up parts of the world where reliable maps are few and far between, and can really help with those ‘I wonder if there’s a way through there’ moments.

BikeMap.net is another elegantly designed planning tool. The application’s basemaps are good and include OSM Cycle. They also have a very simple tool set that’s easy to use. It does not, however, allow multiple track stitching like RWGPS. And the POI icon selection, while nicely designed, is limited (with only hotel, water, shop or photo).

TopoFusion is GPS Mapping software developed by Scott Morris, a longtime bikepacker and founder of Bikepacking.net. It’s a good planning tool and allows drawing, cutting and splicing. A big bonus is that you can easily switch between multiple sources of topo and aerial maps, allowing you to verify existence of a trail/road from different maps, increasing confidence and cross-referencing. As most of us know, just because a route shows up on one map or aerial doesn’t mean it’s actually there or is viable. It’s great for elevation/grade estimation, of course, too. Unfortunately, it’s only available for Windows, so being Mac users, we haven’t had the opportunity to try it.

MapMyRide.com is another application purpose built for route planning. However, it doesn’t include OpenCycleMap base layer and the tools and functionality aren’t up to par with RWGPS.

As discussed in our Using a Smart Phone as a GPS feature, Gaia is one our favourite navigational apps. Those who use it can also access a web version that features all the same basemaps. As a planning tool, Gaia’s interface isn’t nearly as developed as RWGPS. But it’s still very useful, especially as any files you create are automatically synced to your mobile device – and visa versa. Note that if you need to do so on the fly, you can also plan routes in the mobile app itself. Although a little fiddly – depending on the size of your phone – this can be a great way of sketching out an intended route and estimating its distance, while you’re out in the field.

5. Ride, camp, tweak.

Incontestably, the ride is where the meaningful magic happens. This is the proof of concept and a chance to validate the research — not to mention enjoy the ride. It’s sometimes surprising how research can pay off. On our simple Croatan Gravel Vanish overnighter , the National Forest roads coupled with a stretch of singletrack bridged two networks and made for a most interesting overnighter trip. This was a prime example of finding a national forest, digging into the tracks in and around it, and using several of these tools to devise an interesting bikepaking route out of thin air.

Sometimes there are hiccups though. Coming upon a road that’s been thwarted by private land is a common occurrence. It’s also often that a better alternate track is found during the ride. Take notes along the way. With Gaia GPS app it’s easy to make waypoint notes regarding trail quality or where there’s an unexpected twist in the route. From there it’s often easy to retrace the line on the overall route plan with RWGPS or another tool. And of course all of the magical spots you find along the way can be noted too.

Note that this guide is in flux. In the spirit of a lot of the trail sharing and open source maps we mentioned here, we’re considering this an open source guide. If you have resource to share, please let us know. Obviously, we can’t include everything, but if we see anything compelling and relevant, we’ll add it above.

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• Mar 4, 2024 GPS Device vs. Phone for Cycling + Our Favorite GPS Units
• Feb 26, 2024 11 Things I Learned On My First Bikepacking Trip
• Feb 1, 2024 Three Bikepacking Repair Kits (Video)

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How to Create a Bicycling Route with Google Maps

Google Maps is among the best, free online mapping solutions, and it can be a good tool for planning recreational bike rides or commutes. Whether you’re taking a leisurely ride around town, commuting to work or school, or even getting some serious exercise, riding an electric bike is fun and fast. But riding an electric bike is not the same as driving. You don’t necessarily want to use the same roads and you may not be interested in the shortest route. What’s more, riding in unfamiliar places can put you right in the middle of heavy traffic or even get you lost. Here is a scenario. Imagine you are taking an RV trip. You find yourself in Boise, Idaho. You park. And now you want to explore the city on your electric bike. But you don’t know Chindin Boulevard from South Americana. So you could easily end up and Garden City instead of Ann Morrison Park. One solution is to plan your bike route with Google Maps.

Plan Your Bike Ride

Let’s plan a bike route on Google Maps using a laptop or desktop computer. In the end, we will share the directions to a mobile phone.

Set Your Starting Point

Using your favorite web browser, navigate to Google Maps . Please note these instructions may vary depending on your device. These are for computer use - mobile will look different. The first step is to set your starting point. The example uses the Grove Hotel in downtown, Boise, Idaho, but you will enter your address or maybe the spot your RV is parked, etc.

Type the address or name of your starting point into the search field on Google Maps.

Set Waypoints

The bike route will be a round trip, but you will certainly want to see some places along the way, so let’s enter a couple of waypoints. These waypoints will also help us plan the bicycle route. Click the directions icon. This icon is positioned just a little way down from the search bar wherein you entered your starting address.

The directions icon opens up the route planning features in Google Maps. The Google Maps interface will change. You need to do three things. (1) To start, choose the cycling mode for the map.

Click the cycling mode icon. (2) Then switch the position of your starting point so that it is at the top. To do this, click the up-and-down arrow icon.

Click the up-and-down arrow icon to reposition the starting point. You can move waypoints too. This will move your starting location to the top of the list.

Your starting position should now be at the top of the list. (3) Next, type in the address or name of a new waypoint. You can add several waypoints by clicking the “Add Destination” icon or link. The example includes five waypoints. The last waypoint is the starting point. Thus, we have a loop.

Add waypoints to create a loop.

Switch to the Bicycling Map View

Google Maps includes a bicycling view that will add cycling-specific information to the main map. To access this view, first, click on the menu icon.

Click this menu icon to open up some of Google Maps’ features. Next, click on the word “bicycling” to add the aforementioned bicycling information to the main map.

Not surprisingly, selecting bicycling adds biking information. This will fundamentally change the map. You should now see bike-friendly roads, bike lanes, and trails.

Google Maps provides helpful information for riding your electric bike.

Adjust Your Route

Now you can adjust your route. Click and hold any portion of the route to drag it onto a trail or a more bike-friendly road.

Click, hold, and drag to change your route. As you change your route, Google will recalculate the total distance and the amount of elevation change. If you’re riding an electric bike, you will be able to climb the hills like they are not even there.

Google Maps shows you the total distance for your route and how much the elevation will change.

Send the Route to Your Mobile

Once you have a route you like, you can send it to your mobile phone.

Send the route to your phone. If you are signed in to Google on your mobile and on your computer, Google Maps should have your phone available on a list of options. If not, you can email a link to yourself and open that link on your mobile. You could also create a similar route directly in the Google Maps app on your mobile. The steps are the same.

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Hi! I’m Tom, originally from England, but the island was too small.

For 18 years I’ve been pedalling the world... and peddling the word:

Travelling by bicycle is a revolutionary act, and the closest thing to freedom on the open road.

Here at TomsBikeTrip.com I tell original stories, trail-test new ideas, and share hard-earned lessons about cycle touring and bikepacking. A love of adventure has powered my AI-free blog since 2006. Welcome!

Join the community!

Keep in touch with my occasional newletter for fellow adventurous bicycle travellers. Subscribe now and you’ll get an interesting email from me every few months with what’s new. No spam, no ads, always free.

The blog: over half a million words of hard-earned cycle touring & bikepacking advice.

No Stupid Questions: How To Deal With Racial Prejudice While Cycle Touring?

Posted on 

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A reader writes: I’m sorry to be awkward but my question is about race. I’m planning to embark on a cross-Europe cycle tour this spring. I’ve read a lot of people’s blogs on similar journeys but I’ve noticed that they tend to be white travellers. As a North Indian looking guy with a very Southern English […] Continue reading →

No Stupid Questions: What’s The Future Of Cycle Touring Electronics?

A reader writes: [What is] the future of cycle electrics? Dynamos vs power banks. Lights are becoming much more efficient, but there’s more and more requirements for charging eg: mobile phones and navigation. Any thoughts? Thanks for the question! I’ve had a fair few questions about tech and cycle touring, specifically about getting the best […] Continue reading →

No Stupid Questions: How Can I Use My Smartphone As A Bike GPS?

A reader writes: I would like up to date information on integrating my iPhone to my bikes as a GPS. Everything from safe phone mounting through power supply (I have built a usb feed into my elekky bike’s battery shoes) and route planning and following on the phone. I was raised on 1” OS and Bartholomew’s […] Continue reading →

How To Fly With A Touring Bike Without It Getting Trashed (Video)

In this video I demonstrate how – after repeatedly trying all the different methods of flying with a bike – I currently pack and prepare my touring bikes for air travel. Then I actually put it on a plane to prove it works. Otherwise, it’s just theory. I’m here to actually do stuff, not just […] Continue reading →

Introducing Yet Another Cycle Touring & Bikepacking YouTube Channel

So I’ve caved in to demand and rebooted my long-abandoned YouTube channel. Check it out here. This is a long-overdue experiment to see if my obsession with exploring the world by bike will translate into the short, informal video format. I have no more intention of becoming rich and famous on YouTube than I did […] Continue reading →

Books, eBooks & Guides

I’ve written a range of guidebooks and travelogues to read at your leisure, whether you’re preparing for a bike trip, living life on the road, or home and dreaming of the next big ride.

How To Hit The Road: A Beginner’s Guide To Cycle Touring & Bikepacking

First published in 2017 and updated in 2021, this book is my comprehensive newcomers’ introduction to the art of the bicycle-mounted adventure.

Every aspect of a cycle tour or bikepacking trip is covered in 34 chapters, split over three parts: pre-trip planning, initial execution, and adapting to the long haul.

As well as broad, practical advice, I’ve woven inspiring and reassuring anecdotes throughout the book – because getting away from the starting line isn’t about knowing everything, but having the confidence to begin.

Drawing on my personal experience of almost two decades of adventure cycling, more than 50 veteran riders from diverse backgrounds have also contributed to this guide, making it one of the most well-rounded introductions you’ll find to this radically liberating form of independent travel.

Whatever you’re planning and wherever you’re going, if it involves a bicycle and the spirit of adventure, How To Hit The Road has got you covered.

Janapar: Love, on a Bike

My first travelogue, originally published in 2013 and the subject of a successful crowdfunding campaign , telling the true story of my first 3½ years on the road.

This was far from your typical long-distance bike tour, however. From the cover blurb:

When twenty-three-year-old Tom Allen and his friends set off from their English village to cycle around the world, they were expecting physical hardship, extreme conditions and a serious case of culture shock. But the hours spent poring over maps could never have prepared them for the experience of life on the road: the petty squabbles, the extreme hospitality, the unexpected joys and dangers. And then Tom meets Tenny, a feisty Iranian-Armenian girl with dreams of her own, and hits a crossroad. Should he give up his grand plan for the girl he loves, or cycle off and risk missing out on the greatest adventure of them all?

Temporarily out of print (except in the USA), Janapar is still available as a Kindle ebook from all Amazon portals worldwide.

C&O Canal Trail / Great Allegheny Passage Trip Planner

The 16 Best Road Trip Apps and Planners to Download

Posted Apr 27, 2024

At 7:34 PM UTC

At the moment, it seems Meta’s “AI studio” will let people make private and public bots, tuned for duties like personal shopping, trip-planning, meme generation, and helping users “never miss a romantic connection.” (I assume that last one is designed to trawl Craigslist Missed Connections for you.)

Alessandro Paluzzi posted these screenshots in a thread where he’s been tracking the feature since January.

Razer made a million dollars selling a mask with RGB, and the FTC is not pleased

Fcc fines at&t, sprint, t-mobile, and verizon nearly $200 million for illegally sharing location data, elon musk goes ‘absolutely hard core’ in another round of tesla layoffs, the walls of apple’s garden are tumbling down, mercedes-benz ceo ola källenius on not using apple’s next-gen carplay and why evs are still the future, more from this stream from chatgpt to gemini: how ai is rewriting the internet, zuckerberg says it will take meta years to make money from generative ai, microsoft launches phi-3, its smallest ai model yet, no one’s going to misuse this, right, meta is adding real-time ai image generation to whatsapp.

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How to plan a road trip in the Bavarian Alps

A week-long drive through the mountains of southern Germany takes in a range of architectural wonders.

While not as high or visually dramatic as some other sections of the European range, the Bavarian Alps come with plenty of charm. Cowbells resound across high pastures, wooden huts serve cold beer and turquoise lakes shimmer in the countryside below. There’s also, of course, a famous castle. Schloss Neuschwanstein welcomes huge numbers of visitors every year and fronts many a guidebook — and it has notably just undergone the largest restoration project in its 150-year history. Travelling from west to east, this road trip starts at the landmark before making stops at other impressive structures, notable buildings and feats of engineering across the region.

1. Schloss Neuschwanstein  

Kick things off at one of Germany’s most recognisable locations, the enchanting castle said to have inspired those featured in Disney’s Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. The most extensive makeover to date, including meticulous work on paintings, furniture and a one-tonne chandelier, began in 2017 and is due to be completed this summer. Book onto a guided tour to see the results for yourself, then stroll to nearby Marienbrücke bridge for a view back at the turreted marvel.

2.   The Passion Play Theatre

For a scenic mountain route, drive via Plansee in Austria to reach Oberammergau. The village is adorned with murals known as Lüftlmalerei, including depictions of Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood. But there’s another, different story this place wants to tell. Locals have been putting on a once-a-decade Passion Play, telling the story of the Crucifixion, for almost four centuries — a pledge once made to fend off the plague. The next performance is scheduled for 2030, but you can join a daily tour of the specially built theatre.

3.   Zugspitze Cable Car

Drive south to the island-dotted lake of Eibsee and the Zugspitze cable car. Its construction, which began in 2015 and took two years, was a veritable engineering feat: carrying up to 120 people each, its glass cabins glide smoothly to the 2,962m summit of Germany’s highest mountain in a matter of minutes. Buy a return ticket, allowing plenty of time to take in the panorama: on a clear day, you can see peaks as far as Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

4.   Tegernseer Hütte

Next, head east and get ready for a hike to the Tegernseer Hütte, a mountain hut perched between the peaks of Roßstein and Buchstein. First constructed in 1903, it was rebuilt in 1965 after a lightning strike. The quickest path takes two hours or less from the car park just west of Bayerwald, zig-zagging through forests, meadows and rougher terrain at the end. Alternatively, there’s a gentler three-hour option. Set off early to reach the terrace for lunch or book well in advance for an overnight and time without the crowds.

5.   Wendelstein Cog Railway

Continue along the shores of the Tegernsee and through Bayrischzell until you reach the village of Brannenburg. From here, hop onto one of the yellow carriages that shuttle visitors up and down the Wendelstein mountain. Built between 1910 and 1912, this high-Alpine rack railway was the first of its kind in Germany. Since modernised, it takes you over bridges, through tunnels, under galleries and around rock faces in around 25 minutes.

6.   Eagle’s Nest

Follow the road via Reit im Winkl to the Berchtesgadener Land, where the Kehlsteinhaus (nicknamed the Eagle’s Nest) was built atop a rocky outcrop as a retreat for Nazi leadership in the 1930s. Leave your car in Obersalzberg and take a designated bus up Germany’s highest road; a brass-lined lift inside the hillside will then take you to the site, now maintained as a restaurant. There are guided tours of the area to learn about its turbulent past, then end the trip exploring the wider Berchtesgaden National Park.

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