Summary: US 50 Six State Motorcycle Trip

The US 50 Highway, Six State Motorcycle Trip
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Summary

We really enjoyed motorcycle trip on US 50. Even with the rain. And it rained...a lot.

Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado were an absolute blast to motorcycle through on this historic road. Indiana and Illinois were not the best, but still better than a major interstate.

My recommendation is that if you have time, do US 50 the whole way on your motorcycle. If you're really pressed for time, burn miles on an Interstate and then pick up US 50 in Missouri.

Also, for the motorcycle campers out there, plan on some extra time for camping. Campsites were pretty hard to find along US 50, especially in Kansas. Once you get to Colorado, the camping is outstanding.

Finally, we did this trip in early September which I would highly recommend. It gets a little cold on some of the high mountain passes, but the rest of the time its extremely pleasant. I would not do anything through the mountains later than September without a lot of warm gear!

So, if you're looking for a great cross country motorcycle trip on one of the last remaining transcontinental highways, US 50 is definitely going to fit the bill for you.

One day, I'm hoping we get to ride our motorcycle across the whole country on US 50 from Maryland to California, or at the very least the parts that we didn't do on this motorcycle trip.

Keep ridin'

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COMMENTS

Posted By: biskitdg on 1/11/2007 8:52:29 PM

Great pictures! You need a map of the trip.

Posted By: hotshoetom on 5/5/2007 5:58:50 AM

Erik...

Great story and thanks for the advice about raingear...I have been planning a multi-day trip from Lynchburg, VA down the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the end of the parkway in North Carolina. Its about 500 miles of twisties, mountain passes and so on. The one thing I hadnt really though very hard about was raingear and I realized after reading your story I had best get something better than I have for this trip. While I am down there, I'll be riding the Dragon's tail. I plan to take some notes and photos and write something to post here when I get back.
If you have any other advice for a first-time multi-day traveler, I am all ears.
Cheers!

Tom

Posted By: finkamatombo on 6/17/2007 10:45:24 AM

Great story! I grew up in Colorado unitl I joined the Navy which brought me out to Maryland. I think I might be riding US 50 back to Colorado to see the folks because of your story. Thanks!

Posted By: Chachi on 8/3/2007 11:33:42 AM

How light did you pack ??? Any problems with wind in Colorado ??

Posted By: OpenRoadRider on 8/27/2007 9:52:16 AM

Hi Chachi - we packed pretty light - you're forced to when riding two-up for over a week. Bare essentials only plus a laundry stop. No problems whatsoever with the wind in Colorado - riding was smooth and easy. It was a little gusty in Kansas, but still not bad if you are expecting it.

Posted By: hawgbodys on 9/26/2007 10:39:05 AM

Oh no...you were so close. My favorite road in the whole U.S.is just west of there. It's hwy 92 through the Black Canyon. just west of Gunnison is Blue Mesa Resevior and at the Dam,(which is a sight in itself)is hyw 92 it goes to Crawford,where Joe Cocker has his "Mad Dog Restaraunt" bikers riding in get a free bandana. All his gold and platinum awards are hanging on the wall. He lives on a ranch not far from there.anyway it is a beautiful ride you can ride the whole Canyon or cut back to Delta to get back on hwy 50.I have traveled thousands of miles on my harley all through the states and Canada many times and anytime I am anywhere near colorado, I will go out of my way to ride this stretch of road,sometimes twice in one trip,especially in the fall. Oh well... I guess you will just have to take another road trip. RIDE SAFE...Scott

Posted By: redimix on 7/15/2008 7:32:22 PM

Poker Alice in Lake City opened the 2008 season with new owners. Best to pass it by until matters get sorted out.

Plan your trip to ride 149 during daylight hours. Ride at night and you will miss some of the best Colorado has to offer.

Posted By: amtrak on 9/26/2008 6:36:46 PM

Totally enjoyed it, better than a RT.66 trip.Would like to do the RT.50 from beginning to end one day.......

Bill..Amtrak

Posted By: buckykatt on 7/28/2009 12:04:05 AM

i'm planning a coast to coast trip on hwy 50 on my restored/modified honda 750 four in spring of 2010. was going to do it this year but the restore ran longer than expected and i still want to get the bugs out.

Posted By: Track65 on 10/17/2009 11:00:28 AM

I took a nine day trip from East Tennessee to Vermont in September. Trip was great,we had only two days with any rain (first and last). Vermont has some great areas to see and to ride.
I am planning on a Highway 50 ride next summer. Your log and pictures have given me some great ideas.
Other than the gravel, it sounds like most of the road surfaces were in good shape.

Posted By: NC_En4cer on 8/27/2011 12:02:52 AM

Great ride brutha. I rode for 2 weeks with some friends from NC to out West, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, S Dakota and circling back around to NC. It was a great ride. Loved your story and pics. Thanks for sharing. Dave

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