After fifteen years of cycling across three continents, I have learned that the difference between a memorable ride and a miserable one often comes down to route planning. My first long-distance cycling trip was a disaster of wrong turns, unexpected gravel roads, and a harrowing stretch along a highway with no shoulder. Since then, I have refined my approach to route planning, and I want to share everything I have learned to help you create cycling routes that match your goals and keep you safe.
Whether you are planning your first 20-mile weekend ride or mapping out an epic multi-day adventure, this guide covers the essential steps, tools, and considerations that separate a great route from a problematic one.
Understanding Your Cycling Goals Before You Start
Before opening any mapping app or drawing a single line on a route planner, take time to honestly assess what you want from your ride. This fundamental step shapes every decision that follows.
Fitness and Training Objectives
Are you building endurance for a century ride, working on climbing strength, or simply maintaining fitness with manageable weekly miles? Your training goals directly influence route selection. Recovery rides demand flat, low-traffic roads where you can spin easily. Interval training requires safe stretches where you can push hard without intersection interruptions. Hill training obviously needs elevation, but the gradient matters too. Sustained 4-percent grades build different adaptations than punchy 12-percent walls.
Scenic vs. Efficient
Some rides are about covering ground efficiently for training purposes. Others exist purely for the experience of beautiful landscapes. Be honest about which type of ride you are planning. A scenic coastal route might add 30 percent more distance than a direct inland path, but if ocean views are your goal, that extra mileage is worthwhile. Conversely, if you are time-crunched and need training miles, efficiency trumps aesthetics.
Time Available
Calculate your available riding time realistically. Factor in travel to the starting point, post-ride stretching, and the inevitable coffee stop. Then estimate your average speed honestly. Most recreational cyclists maintain 12 to 16 miles per hour on varied terrain. Add significant climbing, and that number drops. Headwinds can slash your speed by 2 to 4 miles per hour. Plan conservatively, especially for unfamiliar routes.
Essential Tools and Apps for Route Planning
Modern route planning tools have transformed cycling. Here are the platforms I rely on most, each with distinct strengths.
Ride with GPS
This remains my primary route planning tool. The premium version offers outstanding features including road surface indicators, detailed elevation profiles, and the ability to see popularity heat maps showing where other cyclists actually ride. The turn-by-turn navigation works reliably with most cycling computers. I particularly value its ability to reroute on the fly when I encounter unexpected road closures.
Komoot
Komoot excels at matching routes to your cycling style. Its sport-specific routing considers whether you are on a road bike, gravel bike, or mountain bike. The surface type predictions are remarkably accurate, and the community-generated highlights help identify scenic viewpoints and interesting stops along your route. The free tier offers excellent functionality for casual planners.
Strava Routes
If you already use Strava for ride tracking, its route builder leverages the massive database of rides from its community. The popularity-based routing tends to suggest roads that cyclists actually use, which usually means safer, more pleasant riding. The integration with your existing Strava data makes uploading routes to your device seamless.
Google Maps
Never underestimate Google Maps for initial research. Street View lets you virtually scout road conditions, shoulder widths, and potential hazards. Satellite view reveals gravel sections, construction, and road quality issues that other platforms might miss. I use Google Maps for reconnaissance before finalizing any unfamiliar route.
Critical Factors to Evaluate
With tools selected, focus on these essential considerations that determine whether your planned route works in practice.
Traffic Patterns and Road Selection
Traffic assessment goes beyond simply avoiding highways. Time of day matters enormously. A road that feels safe at 7 AM on Sunday becomes dangerous during Monday rush hour. School zones create predictable traffic spikes. Industrial areas see heavy truck traffic during shift changes. When possible, scout potential routes by car at the same time you plan to ride. Use Strava’s heat maps to identify roads that experienced cyclists prefer, as these often reveal alternatives you would not find on your own.
Road Surface Conditions
Road surfaces vary dramatically and can make or break a route. Fresh chip seal shreds tire rubber and rattles your skeleton. Frost heaves create dangerous bumps. Painted lane markers become slippery when wet. Drainage grates oriented parallel to your travel direction can swallow a wheel. Satellite imagery helps identify unpaved sections, but nothing replaces local knowledge for surface quality assessment. Check recent Strava or Ride with GPS segments for comments about road conditions.
Elevation and Gradient
Total elevation gain tells only part of the story. A 3,000-foot climbing day spread across gentle rollers differs vastly from the same gain concentrated in three brutal climbs. Study the elevation profile carefully. Identify where major climbs occur relative to your planned stops and overall distance. Placing the hardest climbing in the first half of your ride, when legs are fresh, often makes more sense than saving it for the end.
Services and Amenities
Map water sources, restrooms, and food options along your route. For rides over 30 miles, I never plan more than 20 miles between resupply points. Convenience stores, coffee shops, and parks with water fountains become waypoints. Note their operating hours since rural stores often close surprisingly early. For remote routes, plan to carry everything you need between reliable services.
Safety Considerations That Matter
Safety planning prevents emergencies and provides solutions when problems occur.
Visibility and Time of Day
Consider sun position throughout your ride. Riding directly into a low sun blinds both you and drivers behind you. Schedule routes so major roads align favorably with sun angle. Plan to finish well before dark, or carry proper lighting. Dawn and dusk rides require reflective gear and aggressive lighting even on familiar routes.
Escape Routes and Bail Points
Every route should include identified bail points where you can safely end a ride early. These might be towns with bike-friendly transit, locations where a support vehicle can meet you, or intersections connecting to shorter return routes. On my longest rides, I identify bail points every 15 to 20 miles. Weather changes, mechanical failures, or bonking can turn any ride into a survival exercise without escape options.
Cell Coverage and Communication
Check cell coverage along your planned route, especially in rural or mountainous terrain. Dead zones are common exactly where you most need help. Inform someone of your planned route and expected return time. For remote rides, consider carrying a satellite communicator device. These have saved lives when cyclists crashed in areas without cell service.
Research Methods for Route Discovery
The best routes often come from human sources rather than algorithms.
Local Cycling Clubs
Join local cycling club group rides or check their published routes. Club members have already identified the safest, most scenic roads. Most clubs welcome newcomers and gladly share route knowledge. Their curated ride libraries represent decades of collective experience with local conditions.
Online Forums and Communities
Reddit cycling communities, Facebook groups, and dedicated cycling forums contain route gold. Search for discussions about cycling in your target area. Ask specific questions about road conditions, traffic patterns, and scenic highlights. Experienced local cyclists often provide detailed recommendations that no app can match.
Specialized Cycling Maps
Dedicated cycling maps, both digital and paper, classify roads by cycling suitability. These maps consider factors that general mapping services ignore: shoulder width, traffic volume, road surface, and speed limits. Many regions publish official bike maps through transportation departments. Adventure Cycling Association offers detailed route maps for popular long-distance routes across North America.
Testing and Refining Your Routes
No route is perfect on the first attempt. Build in a refinement process.
Preview Rides
Before committing to a route for an important event or group ride, test it solo. Ride the entire route or at least the unfamiliar sections. Note problem areas: intersections that need different approaches, road surfaces requiring different tire pressures, or timing issues with services. This reconnaissance prevents unpleasant surprises when the stakes are higher.
Iterative Improvement
After each ride, review what worked and what did not. Keep notes on alternative roads you noticed that might improve the route. Track how traffic patterns change by season or day of week. Your routes should evolve as you gather more information. Some of my favorite routes exist only because a wrong turn revealed a better road than my original plan.
Gear Selection Based on Route Type
Your planned route should inform your gear choices.
Urban Routes
City riding benefits from quick-handling bikes with responsive brakes. Puncture-resistant tires prevent flats from urban debris. Mirrors improve awareness in traffic. Bright daylight-visible lights increase safety at intersections.
Rural and Scenic Routes
Longer rural rides demand endurance-focused equipment. Comfortable saddles matter more than on short urban hops. Larger frame bags carry nutrition and supplies between distant services. Consider wider tires for mixed surfaces common on rural roads.
Climbing Routes
Mountain routes reward lightweight equipment and appropriate gearing. Compact cranksets or cassettes with 32-plus tooth climbing gears prevent grinding up steep grades. Pack extra layers for cold descents following hot climbs. A well-maintained drivetrain becomes essential when every pedal stroke counts.
Explore More Route Ideas
Ready to apply these planning principles? Explore our detailed route guides for inspiration:
- Seattle to Portland Cycling Guide – A classic multi-day route with thorough planning details
- How to Plan Your First Multi-Day Cycling Tour – Extended route planning considerations
- Peak Foliage Rides in Vermont – Scenic route planning at its finest
- Texas Hill Country Loop – Balancing climbing, scenery, and amenities
- Trail Ridge Road Colorado – High-altitude route planning challenges
- Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway Oregon – Century route planning example
Final Thoughts on Route Planning
Great route planning combines art and science. The technical tools provide a foundation, but developing an intuition for good roads takes time and experience. Start conservatively, learn from each ride, and gradually expand your route-building skills. The investment pays dividends in safer, more enjoyable miles for years to come.
Remember that conditions change. Roads you rode last year might be under construction today. Favorite coffee stops close. Traffic patterns shift as areas develop. Treat route planning as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time task. Your routes should grow and adapt alongside your cycling experience.
Planning your first long route? Check out our Complete Beginners Guide to Road Cycling for foundational skills that make every ride better.
