40 Tips For Riding Your Motorcycle Across The USA (On a Budget!)

I travelled around the US for 6 months on my small (but proud) Kawasaki Ninja 250 motorcycle (2014/2015), so here is a random list of tips I came up with, which I hope will help you and inspire you. Enjoy!

Me and my Ninja 250 in the Ozark Mountains.

1.  Just do it as soon as you have the opportunity! If you keep putting it off because the timing isn’t perfect, it may never happen.

2. Don’t be afraid to ride alone. There are many reasons why solo road trips are better!

3. Wake up with the sunrise! Don’t waste precious daylight hours snoring away.

4. Check the weather throughout the day, you’ll be glad you did! Get a good weather radar app too.

5. If you’re on a budget and planning to hit big cities, try Couchsurfing or AirBnB to help save on costs.

6. Download an app like this to help you find cheap or free campgrounds (yes, free, but you’ll be peeing in the bushes).

7. Don’t under-plan or over-plan! Both will be detrimental to your trip in their own ways.

8. Be prepared to get approached by strangers, so try to make the most of it and have fun!

9. Keep a record of everything! Take lots of pictures, videos, and even notes.

10. Invest in a good pair of tires, especially if your trip isn’t going to be short.

11. Most truck/rest stops or even gas stations will allow you to camp in a tent overnight for free! Just ask.

12. If you’re a female, maybeee avoid remote truck stops, because you may get mistaken for a..er..uhm.. hooker (awkward, and potentially dangerous).

13. Pack as light as possible. If you really need something, you can just buy it on the road.

14. If you overpack, you can just dump what you don’t need, or even mail it home.

15. No motorcycle is too small. There is a guy riding a 90cc motorcycle around the world.

16. With the right app, your smartphone can easily be used as a GPS, even when you lose service.

17. Download eBooks onto a tablet, Kindle, or smartphone, since you need to pack light!

18. If you’re taking a lot of photos, make sure you have some sort of online backup like Crashplan.

19. Keep track of all the places you’ve been! You’d be surprised at what you might forget.

20. Avoid major highways, as they sort of defeat the purpose of a road trip!

21. This cannot be stressed enough… BRING A HEATED VEST. Ooh, and a neck warmer.

22. Eat well, and eat your vegetables. You don’t want to be fatigued or constipated on your motorcycle trip 😛

23. You will get no cell service in many areas, so be well prepared.

24. Don’t ride too much in one day. It’s not a race; you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself.

25. Don’t ride if you’re not feeling 100%. Take a break if needed; it could save your life.

26. You miss out on many opportunities for adventure when you rush or overthink things.

27. Plan meals, and pack enough food for a few days at a time. Eating out gets very expensive.

28. DON’T DRINK AND RIDE. If your trip is that boring, then you’re probably doing it wrong.

29. Talk to people who have travelled by motorcycle before. They will likely inspire and encourage you!

30. “Map out your future, but use a pencil” 🙂 Be prepared for detours!

31. Visit ADVRider, Horizons Unlimited, and Jupiter’s Travellers for information and inspiration.

32. Some areas (Texas?) don’t have a lot of gas stations. Plan accordingly.

33. Prepare a road trip playlist for your ride! It can change the whole mood of your trip.

34. Use ziplock bags when you’re packing to keep things condensed, organized, and quasi-waterproof.

35. When you get lost, you find amazing things that you weren’t looking for 😀

36. Get AAA if you’re very worried about breaking down on the side of the road, so that it won’t be on your mind.

37. Get used to packing and loading your motorcycle before you go on your trip. Time it as well!

38. If you see something interesting while you’re riding, just pull over. You may never see it again!

39. You don’t need to ride every day. Take a day off and do nothing. Travelling can be exhausting.

40. Warning: In very scenic areas, your route may take you a lot longer than you planned 😉

Have any questions or tips you’d like to add?

Please leave it in the comments below!

Also, here are 37 More Tips For Your Epic US Motorcycle Road Trip

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