FAQ About Adventure Cycling Association
What is Adventure Cycling Association?
Adventure Cycling Association is a nonprofit organization that inspires, empowers, and connects people to travel by bicycle. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Missoula, Montana, we are a member-supported cycling organization with more than 17,000 members.
We steward three route networks that serve every kind of cyclist: the Adventure Cycling Route Network, our flagship staff-researched network; the U.S. Bicycle Route System, an official state-by-state network we serve as technical experts for; and Short Routes, a free, cyclist-submitted collection built for shorter trips and beginners.
We also publish Adventure Cyclist, the longest-running magazine dedicated to bicycle touring and bikepacking, included with membership and published multiple times a year.
All proceeds from member dues, donations, and guided tours go back into supporting our mission-impact programs: route development, advocacy, and partnerships.
What does Adventure Cycling Association do?
We create bike-friendly routes throughout North America, currently more than 57,298 miles, with maps designed specifically for cyclists. We run guided bike tours each year, lead advocacy national efforts to improve conditions for bicycle travel and touring, such as the development of an official U.S. Bicycle Route System, and we publish the award-winning bicycle-travel magazine Adventure Cyclist for our community of members.
Learn more about membership.
When was Adventure Cycling Association founded, and how did it start?
Adventure Cycling was founded in 1976, growing out of Bikecentennial ’76, a nationwide bike tour organized to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial. More than 4,000 cyclists rode all or part of the newly created TransAmerica Trail that summer.
The organization traces back to Dan and Lys Burden and Greg and June Siple, who conceived the idea while on a cycling expedition from Alaska to Argentina in the early 1970s. After Bikecentennial’s success, the organization kept mapping long-distance routes and built what became Adventure Cycling Association, purchasing its current Missoula headquarters in 1992. Read our full history.
Why is Adventure Cycling Association based in Missoula, Montana?
Adventure Cycling has been headquartered in Missoula since its founding in 1976, when the organization grew out of the Bikecentennial ’76 bike tour planned by Missoula residents Dan and Lys Burden. Montana’s cycling culture and Missoula’s outdoors-oriented community made it a natural fit, and the organization has stayed rooted there for 50 years.
Today Missoula is considered something of a pilgrimage stop for touring cyclists, many of whom route their trips through town specifically to visit Adventure Cycling’s headquarters.
Is Adventure Cycling Association a nonprofit? Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes. Adventure Cycling Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 23-7427629), and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Visit GuideStar to find out more about our nonprofit status.
We accept one-time gifts, monthly giving, legacy and planned gifts, and gifts of stock. Donate here.
Routes and Bike Travel
How many miles of bike routes has Adventure Cycling mapped?
As of 2026, the Adventure Cycling Route Network, our flagship, staff-researched network, spans more than 57,000 mapped miles across North America, one of the largest bicycle route networks in the world. Routes are researched and field-checked by our cartography team and kept current as roads, services, and conditions change.
We also steward two other networks. The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), an official state-by-state network we serve as technical experts for, spans more than 24,000 miles across 35 states and Washington, D.C. Short Routes, our newest network, is a free, cyclist-submitted collection of one- to five-night routes built to make bike travel more accessible, especially for beginners and people without weeks to spare.
One of our newest additions to the Adventure Cycling Route Network is the Golden Gravel Trail, a 3,804-mile dirt bikepacking route created for our 50th anniversary in 2026 and offered free to all riders, not just members, as an anniversary gift.
I want to bike tour, but I don’t know how to plan a safe route. Where do I start?
This is exactly what our route networks are built for. Start with the Adventure Cycling Route Network, our flagship network researched and ridden by our own cartographers and route researchers. Every route comes with cue sheets, elevation profiles, water and food stops, camping and lodging options, and other logistics you won’t get from a general-purpose mapping app, and it’s the network we update most frequently.
We also steward two other networks: Short Routes, submitted by cyclists in their own communities, and the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), an official state-by-state network we serve as technical experts for. The Adventure Cycling Route Network and Short Routes tend to be the easier starting point if you’re new to bicycle travel, since they come with more built-in resources and points of interest. The USBRS is generally a better fit if you’re already experienced at planning your own trips, since routes carry fewer resources and points of interest.
Why join Adventure Cycling instead of using a free app like Komoot or Strava, or just joining a local club?
Adventure Cycling routes are created by and for cyclists, with cyclist-specific services, riding conditions, and logistical information built in, plus ongoing updates that general mapping apps don’t offer. Every mile of every route is mapped by our cartographers and vetted by real humans researching every stretch of the routes by bike or car.
Membership also connects you to a community of experienced cyclists and future friends through Companions Wanted, to Adventure Cyclist, the longest-running print magazine dedicated to bike touring and bikepacking, and to discounts with hundreds of your favorite brands, a membership that pays for itself.
Guided Tours
Does Adventure Cycling Association offer guided bike tours?
Yes. We offer self-contained, inn-to-inn, fully supported, and van-supported bicycle tours across North America, ranging from short getaways to multi-week trips. In 2026 we’re running 25 group tours traversing the histories, cultures, and landscapes of the U.S.
As a nonprofit tour operator, all proceeds from Adventure Cycling tours go back into program support. Browse guided tours.
Advocacy
What is the U.S. Bicycle Route System, and is Adventure Cycling involved?
The U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is a developing national network of numbered bicycle routes, similar in concept to the U.S. Highway System. Adventure Cycling Association is coordinating the emerging USBRS in partnership with state departments of transportation and AASHTO (the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials).
Beyond the USBRS, we advocate nationally for better bike-travel conditions, including working with Amtrak and national and state parks for better bike access and facilities, and we work with tourism bureaus to promote more active travel and bike tourism. Learn about our advocacy work.
Membership and Community
How do I become a member, and what do members get?
You can join online in a few minutes at adventurecycling.org/join. Membership includes a subscription to Adventure Cyclist Magazine, discounts on maps and guided tours, access to our members-only forums and Companions Wanted, and support for the route mapping and advocacy work Adventure Cycling does year-round.
Become a member.
Is an Adventure Cycling membership worth the cost?
Membership pays for itself through discounts with hundreds of your favorite brands, on top of access to routes, guided tours, and a supportive community. Beyond the practical savings, membership gives you the confidence to take on a significant adventure, the kind of trip you might not attempt on your own.
We’re also in the process of revamping and expanding our member benefits, so the value of joining keeps growing.
What is Adventure Cyclist Magazine?
Adventure Cyclist is Adventure Cycling Association’s award-winning bicycle-travel magazine, covering touring gear, route guides, and rider stories. It’s included with most membership levels and published multiple times a year.
Beyond the magazine, we also produce a blog and Bike Bits newsletter covering route guides, gear reviews, and touring basics for people planning their own trips.
See the magazine. Sign up for Bike Bits newsletter.
Visit or Contact Us
Where is Adventure Cycling Association located, and can I visit?
Adventure Cycling Association is headquartered at 150 East Pine Street in Missoula, Montana. Our office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.
Visitors are welcome to tour the facility and meet staff during visiting hours:
- Off-season Sept 1 – May 25: office closed to walk-in visitors but please make an appointment by calling us at 406-721-1776
- In-season May 26 – Aug 31: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
See our Visit Missoula page for more info.
How do I contact Adventure Cycling Association?
The fastest way to reach us is by phone at (800) 755-2453 or by email at info@adventurecycling.org. For membership status or address changes, log in to your My Adventure Cycling account instead of contacting the office directly.