Riding an electric bicycle across the United States is one of the most rewarding adventures you can undertake. With a good e-bike, you can cover 50-100 miles per day comfortably, enjoy stunning scenery, and still have energy left to explore towns at night. This guide focuses on the classic coast-to-coast route from the Pacific to the Atlantic (or vice versa), optimized for e-bike range, charging infrastructure, safety, and scenery.
1. Recommended Route: The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail + Modern E-bike Adjustments
The gold standard remains the Adventure Cycling Association’s TransAmerica Trail (a.k.a. Bike Route 76), created in 1976 for the Bikecentennial. It stretches ~4,228 miles from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia (or reverse). It is still the best choice for e-bikes because:
- Almost entirely paved or smooth gravel
- Avoids interstates and big cities
- Passes through small towns every 30-60 miles (perfect for 500-900 Wh batteries)
- Countless motels, Warmshowers hosts, and campgrounds
Key sections:
- Oregon: Astoria → Florence → Eugene → McKenzie Pass (stunning but 4,700 ft climb; use 60-80% assist)
- Idaho & Wyoming: Missoula → Yellowstone (West entrance) → Teton Pass → Dubois
- Colorado: Rawlins → Kremmling → Breckenridge → Pueblo (crosses the Rockies at Hoosier Pass 11,539 ft; expect 25-40 miles on Level 3-5 assist)
- Kansas: The infamous flat 580-mile stretch; perfect for 80-100 mile days with tailwinds
- Missouri & Illinois: Ozark rollers, then flat again
- Kentucky & Virginia: Appalachian climbs (highest point ~3,300 ft near Breaks Interstate Park), then rolling Piedmont to the Chesapeake Bay
Total climbing: ~145,000 ft west-to-east (~170,000 ft east-to-west because you hit the big Rockies first).
2. Best Starting Dates & Direction
West-to-East (Oregon → Virginia)
- Start: late May to mid-June
- Advantages: Prevailing tailwinds across the plains, Rockies before you’re exhausted, finish before hurricane season in Virginia
East-to-West (Virginia → Oregon)
- Start: early May
- Advantages: Slightly easier climbing profile early on, finish with Oregon coast in summer
Avoid starting before early May (high passes in Colorado still closed) or after July 10 (Kansas heat >105 °F / 40 °C).
3. E-bike Specifications You Actually Need
- Battery: Minimum 700 Wh (real-world), ideally dual-battery for extended range
- Range goal: 70-100 miles at 15-18 mph on Level 1-2 assist with 10-15 % battery left
- Motor: 250-1000 W mid-drive (Bosch, Shimano, Bafang are quiet and efficient)
- Tires: 27.5 × 2.4" or 700c × 50 mm with puncture protection
- Gearing: 38T chainring + 11-51 cassette for 20 % grades in Colorado
- Charging: Carry two 4A chargers; many riders add a 1,000 W inverter + folding solar panel (200-400 W) for remote camping
- Others: Waterproof battery protection for weather exposure
Extra charging cables and adapters
Basic e-bike maintenance tools
Extra inner tube and Rechargeable bike pump
4. Daily Charging Strategy
- Breakfast charge at motel / Airbnb (2-4 h)
- Lunch stop at library, café, or RV park (ask to use 110 V outlet; almost never refused)
- Evening full charge
- Emergency: Most small-town fire stations and police departments will let you plug in
5. Alternate & Shorter Routes
If 4,200 miles is too much:
- Northern Tier (Adventure Cycling): ~4,200 mi, Anacortes, WA → Bar Harbor, ME. Flatter overall, more services.
- Western Express + TransAm hybrid: San Francisco → Pueblo, then TransAm (cuts ~800 miles).
- Southern Tier (Adventure Cycling): San Diego → St. Augustine, ~3,050 mi, winter-friendly, but hotter and busier roads.
6. Budget Estimate (60-70 days)
- Food & lodging: $60-120/day (mix camping $20 + motels $90)
- Charging: almost free
- Replacement tires, chains, brake pads: $400-600
- Shipping bike/box home: $200-400
Total realistic budget: $4,500-8,000 (excluding the e-bike itself).
7. Essential Apps & Resources
- RideWithGPS + Adventure Cycling digital maps (offline)
- PlugShare + ChargePoint (filter 110 V outlets)
- Warmshowers.org (free hosting by cyclists)
- Windy.com (check Kansas/Colorado wind direction daily)
- What3Words (emergency location in remote areas)
8. Sample 65-Day Itinerary (West-to-East)
Days 1-8 Astoria → Missoula, MT
Days 9-18 Missoula → Pueblo, CO (Rockies)
Days 19-30 Pueblo → Girard, KS
Days 31-43 Girard → Berea, KY
Days 44-55 Berea → Christiansburg, VA
Days 56-65 Christiansburg → Yorktown, VA (+ Colonial Parkway victory ride)
9. Final Tips
- Register with Adventure Cycling; their paper maps are still the gold standard.
- Carry paper backups; cell service disappears for days in Wyoming and eastern Oregon.
- Train for 5-6 hours in the saddle before you leave.
- Embrace “Type 2 fun” — the Rockies and Kansas will test you, but every rider says the same thing when they dip a wheel in the Atlantic: “I can’t believe I just did that on an e-bike.”
With modern 800-1,200 Wh batteries and vastly improved rural charging, crossing America on an e-bike is no longer a survival epic — it’s an achievable, life-changing road trip that still feels like the ultimate adventure.
Wheel dipped. Ocean to ocean. You got this.
