Xplorie’s Favorite Destinations for Biking
June 7, 2022
Whether your travel style is an e-bike to zip around the beach boardwalks and attractions, a mountain bike for dirt tracks and ditches, or a cruiser to stretch your legs on a long scenic bike ride, there’s something for everyone on our list of favorite biking destinations.
Exploring a new destination on two wheels is a fun (and healthy) way to soak up the sights, visit the top attractions, and discover hidden gems off the beaten path. Our favorite beach and mountain destinations for biking have truly embraced the cycling culture and offer unique riding experiences for all types of bikers!
30A, Florida
Dreaming of sunshine on your shoulders, salty sea breezes, and miles of blissful coastal cruises? Florida’s scenic 30A is the biking destination for you! Exploring Florida’s scenic 30A is best done on bike with the freedom to stop, absorb the spectacular scenery, spot dolphins frolicking in nature, and refuel at an iconic 30A eatery (or watering hole!) along the way.
Miles of tropical white sand beaches, emerald-green waters, and coastal attractions line the Gulf of Mexico from Destin to Rosemary Beach, all easily explored by bike – no traffic, no hunting for parking, just miles of paved scenic trails along the coastline to get you where you need to go.
Florida’s Scenic Highway 98: Florida’s Scenic Highway 98 (aka Old 98 or Scenic Gulf Drive) offers a 5-mile stretch along the glistening Gulf of Mexico from Henderson State Park through the quaint neighborhood of Crystal Beach to Miramar Beach.
Timpoochee Trail: A few miles east is the trailhead to the Timpoochee Trail, an 18+ mile paved trail tracing Highway 30A along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline from Dune Allen, through Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, and on to Rosemary Beach. This scenic South Walton bike route passes through the vibrant 30A beach towns and lush landscapes dotted with rare coastal dune lakes. A perfect and easy 30A bike ride for the whole family!
Off-Road Biking on 30A: Trailblazers seeking an off-road biking experience will find plenty of opportunity near Florida’s 30A. Traverse miles of unpaved coastal and forest trails at Topsail Preserve State Park, Grayton State Park, and Point Washington State Forest, or ride the Timberlake Mountain Bike Trails near the Eglin Air Force Base, with 20+ miles of adventure for all levels.
Choose the perfect ride with Fun Pug Bike Rentals. Fun Pug Bike Rentals serve the Destin, Miramar Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach neighborhoods with the best bike rentals on the Emerald Coast! Choose from a selection of electric bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, and beach cruisers with no hassle delivery directly to your vacation home, pick up on departure, and free roadside assistance for your 30A bike ride!
Find the best place to stay on 30A with Xplorie and save money too! Our lodging partners Newman Dailey and Sea Star Destin offer a combined selection of 250+ vacation rental homes and condos up and down Florida’s Gulf Coast with premium amenities, personalized concierge services, and daily bike rentals to cruise the 30A bike trails, for free!.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod is a bucket-list biking destination with miles of scenic paved bike paths, off-road mountain biking trails through the forests, and scenic byways and quiet country roads for avid road cyclists. The terrain of Cape Cod is relatively flat making it the perfect destination for beginner cyclists and families traveling with small kids. Two-wheel adventures are also the best way to beat the Cape Cod traffic in summer!
Cape Cod Canal Bike Trails: The Cape Cod Canal bike trail winds along the canal from Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards Bay, between the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges in the Upper Cape. The wide, paved trail follows the canal on both sides of the Cape Cod bridges with park benches to rest, soak up the scenery, and watch the working barges, boat traffic, and yachts cruising by. The trail offers an uninterrupted ride with no cross streets, perfect for little bike riders ready to lose their training wheels!
Shining Sea Bikeway: Staying in the Upper Cape, the 11-mile Shining Sea Bikeway follows the Old Colony rail line from North Falmouth Village to the ferry terminal in the charming village of Woods Hole. The Shining Sea Bikeway is the only Cape Cod trail along the ocean with historic farms, cranberry bogs, bird sanctuaries, beautiful beaches, and plenty of scenic stops along the bike route.
Cape Cod Rail Trail: This classic Cape Cod bike ride follows the old railroad and encompasses all of the Lower Cape from South Dennis to Wellfleet. The paved 25-mile bike trail runs through Harwich, Brewster, the Nickerson State Forest, Rock Harbor in Orleans, the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham, and onto Le Count Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. It’s the ultimate Cape Cod biking adventure for the whole family with lakes and beaches for a dip, lots of food and ice cream spots along the way, and gorgeous scenery of Cape Cod’s diverse landscapes.
Province Lands Trail: If you’re up for a challenge, the Province Lands Trail is a 7-mile hilly loop through the dunes of Provincetown and the Cape Cod National Seashore. The paved trail meanders through 4,000 acres of wild and breathtaking scenery with kettle ponds, cranberry bogs, beech and oak forests, and a vast dune system with coastal scenery. Your final destination is worth the pedal – the calm waters, beautiful beaches and stunning Cape Cod sunsets at Herring Cove or Race Point Beach at the mouth of Cape Cod Bay.
Pack your bikes and helmets for your vacation to Cape Cod or stay with our Xplorie lodging partner Kinlin Grover and enjoy complimentary bike rentals for every day of your stay. If you’re vacationing in the Upper Cape, the Dennis Cycle Center is located on the Cape Rod Rail Trail with rental options for the whole family. If the vibe of Provincetown is more your style, Xplorie partners with Ptown Bikes to get you on the Lower Cape Cod biking trails in no time!
Bend, Oregon
From coastal cruises to bucket-list mountain bike trails in the Pacific Northwest. Nestled at the base of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, the charming town of Bend is known as one of the top mountain biking destinations in the US. Bend, Oregon boasts a vast network of over 300 miles of epic biking trails easily accessible right from downtown – that’s hard to beat!
Bend’s famous trail network draws bikers of all levels, year-round. You’ll find gentle family-friendly bike rides for kids, fast and wild downhills for pro riders, miles of scenic byways and bikeways through the Cascades for road cyclists, and fat-bike trails for winter bike rides. Or, for something completely different, you can pedal the Bend Ale Trail whilst sipping on Oregon’s finest craft beer!
Bend’s Old Mill District: Bend is a silver level bicycle friendly community with urban cycle lanes so you can cruise around town with ease! The Deschutes River runs right through the heart of town with a bike-friendly paved pathway winding along the riverfront and through Bend’s Old Mill District, a must-do bike ride during your stay in Bend.
The Deschutes River Trail: Take a scenic mountain bike ride along the Deschutes River Trail from Bend all the way to Sunriver! This easy dirt trail follows the path of the river winding through wide open meadows, pine forests, still waters and waterfalls, and volcanic landscapes. The trail is single track, smooth and an epic mountain bike ride for beginners in Bend.
Phil’s Trails: The Deschutes River Trail connects to the iconic Phil’s Trail with hundreds of miles of singletrack trails through old growth forests, downhill dirt jumps and freeride features at The Lair, and classic PNW scenery. The Phil’s Trail Area offers some of the most epic mountain bike riding in Central Oregon from beginner riders through to pros, with easy access right from downtown Bend.
Lift-Served Trails at Mt. Bachelor: As the snow melts, Mt. Bachelor transforms its slopes into a summer playground with over a dozen miles of lift-served mountain bike trails. Bachelor Bike Park offers a walk-up skills park, a beginner lift to smooth flow tracks for newbies, and a chairlift to the top of the mountain for thrilling double-black diamond gravity trails. The Mt. Bachelor Bike Park opens June 11, 2022, so start planning soon!
Whatever the season, 4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters have all the gear to get you on the mountain bike trails in Bend, with the highest quality brands, bikes for the kids, and Burley rentals for the little ones to join in the bike ride.
Upgrade your vacation experience with free bike rentals every day when you stay with iTrip Bend. From quaint historic cottages in bike-friendly Bend neighborhoods to luxurious riverfront retreats on the Deschutes, you’ll find all the comforts of home (and more!) after a day of legendary rides on the best trails in the PNW!
Winter Park, Colorado
If shredding dirt trails is your style of biking, welcome to Winter Park – Mountain Bike Capital USA and Colorado’s top adventure town. Winter Park boasts over 600 miles of diverse Rocky Mountain biking trails, two award-winning downhill bike paths, and a culture of local riders keen to share the mountain bike stoke with visitors!
From beginner-friendly cross-country biking trails in the valley to alpine singletracks in the peaks, there are miles of trails to explore in and around Winter Park. With a base elevation of 9,000 feet and a summit of 12,060 feet, be cautious, stay well hydrated, and breathe in the crisp mountain air as you make memories in our favorite high altitude biking destination, Winter Park.
Rocky Mountain Bike Adventures: Take in the sights and sounds of the remote Rocky Mountains on an amazing downhill ride from the Loveland Ski Area to Idaho Springs. This 26-mile high alpine bike ride winds along a paved, family-friendly path through the historic Georgetown with spectacular scenery and stops along the way. Stay with Xplorie in Winter Park and let AVA Colorado take care of all your outdoor adventures.
Start planning your summer biking adventure with Xplorie today! We know the best places to stay, play, and pedal!
