Shortest possible route through all 48 States?
 

I know a lot of folks have ridden to all 48 States in various record attempts and personal trips, but has anyone here done research on, or seen website discussion on, the shortest possible route that touches on all 48 'lower' states?

br.

One of the most common questions is "when to hit Kentucky'.

I take it that is a comic reference, but sadly this Scot isn't sufficiently in the loop to get the joke :confused1:

No, a strategic question.

Play with a mapping program.

Aaah, I see -- not comic, but cryptic. Thanks for the tip. I will look at mapping programs' suggestions, but if anyone on the forum has advice they would like to share, I would be delighted to hear from them.


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It's a fun game.

What have you come up with so far?
I assume by 'shortest', you're referring to time.

No, actually not by time -- but simply by miles. I hope for the lowest possible number of miles of route that touches upon all 48 states. Some states will involve hundreds of miles of riding, but others, maybe only a handful of miles.

One route that a friend came up with starts just inside the California/Nevada state line, then from Nevada basically heads due east to Memphis before dipping south to take in Mississippi, Louisiana and touch Florida before a big north-east leg all the way to Maine. From there, a long westerly zig-zag to touch upon all the remaining states until Washington state. That comes out at a bit under 8000 miles.

One possible route is to start near the CA/NV/OR border, going north, then east, finish at 4 Corners (AZ/UT/CO/NM). Just a hair under 7500 miles using highways.

I'll guess that a 'shortest route' could be found at less than 7000.

I found this map online.

I was able to find a route of 6,968 miles.
More can be trimmed.

Wow,

Thanks guys. Thanks John for the graphic, which is very interesting. Could you possibly point me to where you found it on the Web?

Lone Rider: could you share with me some details of the route that came in under 7000 miles -- or point me to the software you used, please?

I apologise for looking for help from other folks in the know -- but I am just researching something at the moment, have zero personal experience of long-distance travel in the USA, and all the help I can get from folks with experience is a big plus that is much appreciated.

br

I used Streets n Trips which works OK, but you still need to tell it your key points.
If you get this program, I can send a file.

There are several good programs that work.

Yes, I know I'm being a presumptuous pain in the whotsit here, but does your program allow you to save a route in a simple document file that would give me an idea what sort of route it predicts? If so, could you possibly email it to me?

I'll look into buying the program -- in fact, for what I have in mind, I might well end up investing in more than one program -- but at the moment, any pointers available would be a lot of help.

My email address is ronmcmillan@gmail.com


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Given some time, I could list the key points (corners) which you would use in the mapping program. I'm not a 'puter person and don't know how to save these files as anything other than what they are.

These programs are inexpensive and you will need one before being able to properly plan this type of thing/game.

OK, thanks for your help. I'll pick up a program or two and do the research. I appreciate the advice here.

Does anyone else have experience of these programs and would recommend a particular program?

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DeLorme has some popular mapping programs (used several of them), also there's a Rand McNally branded program(never used), in addition to the Streets & Trips from MS that I mentioned.

You're probably talking $30usd or so....

This is the site that had the map I posted.
Planning

Thanks John. I'm on the lookout now for the best possible route planning software; it might be that the most useful software comes packaged with different brands of SatNav equipment -- does anyone recommend any SatNav/software packages that are particularly good for planning complex trips?

Or are there any particularly good computer softwares for this purpose that anyone can recommend?

Thanks again to everyone for all the help.

br

There are some maps at this link,
The Motorcycle Tourer's Forum
They are in the details, east, west and central.
The map program I like the best is the Microsoft Streets & Trips.
I have a Garmin 76csx GPS and for that I have to use the Garmin MapSource.

I would have suggested I 10 through the southern states, but this one is a little better. It follows I 40 (old Route 66) for a bit, then cuts up through the Navajo Reservation on Arizona 160 (I think its the 160), this route hits the 4 corners allowing Colorado and Utah, at least for a literal step or two; but still counts!

Iron Butt Association 48-10
 

You may get some good information from the Iron Butt Association web site.

Look under 48-10 which is 48 states in 10 days to receive an official certificate.

I beleive the record for 48 states is 7 days, 0 hours, 20 minutes held by Ron Ayres. Not sure about his milage or route but it may be on the site somewhere or they may have a forum.

Ron went on to include Alaska and I believe he also holds this record which they call 48 plus.

IIRC, Ron's record has been broken several times over the years, and by a good margin. All records are cool, and all records are meant to be broken....eventually.

I take my hat off to the Iron Butt guys -- they show grit and determination that I can't even begin to aspire to.

I have a trip planned to touch on all 48 states, but with the key control factor of fuel efficiency. I want to do it on as little fuel as possible. Not on a step-through 90cc or a 50cc scooter, but on a 'real' motorcycle.

So any tips on the shortest route that connects all 48 states in terms of miles travelled, will be much appreciated.

br

Shortest miles doesn't always equal best fuel ecomony, as you probably know.

Do you have rules set for this game?

There's a bike (not sure how many others) that runs on E85; should net you some excellent mileage if you just count the 15% gasoline part!

Edit:
Jumped the gun re:E85, but this is supposedly going to be released...some day!

Tank Sports, Inc. - News - 03/21/2007

If you want to make an attempt on the 48 state record you should get in touch with the Iron Butt Association. I think this is how things stand.

Mike Kneebone and Fran Crane established the record with a time of 7 days and a estimated mileage of 7350 miles.
Ron Ayres held the record with a time of 6 days and an estimated mileage of 7600 miles.
Rick Morrison held the record of 5 days, 12 hours with a estimated mileage of 7200 miles.
Morris Kruemcke has the existing record at 5 days, 8 hours and 42 minutes with an estimated mileage of 7000 miles.

Steve

My thanks to everyone for the pointers. My project has a fuel efficiency control factor rather than a 'fastest time' goal, so although lowest number of miles doesn't always mean least fuel used, the sorting out of the shortest route possible would be a good starting point.

Thank you Steve for the details on estimated mileage of the recent IBA record holders. I'll look into those.


br