The math -
If you only have 28 days - two of which are needed for travel -
(With zero leeway for weather, repair, sickness, etc.?)
26 times 120 miles equals 3120 using "Old Math".
That would be your outside range - with everything else going perfectly.
Including perfectly sited stops every night.
You also mentioned "later" this summer - but you didn't mention exactly when -
nor did you mention the direction.
If it is only 28 days - then it doesn't matter as much which direction when -
but the later it is the better it is to go West to East.
There's another advantage of West to East on your tight schedule.
Flying West will allow you to get to the airport and make connections to the coast all in one day.
It would be more difficult to do that returning East because of the time difference.
If you leave from the east coast - it would be easier getting started -
Friends could drive you to the starting point, for example -
But getting back could be tougher - maybe the red-eye?
Also - there's the issue of non-stop vs connections with the possibility of missed connections.
On your tight schedule you really have to think non-stop.
Also, it sounds like you will be crossing the Great Plains in the Dog Days -
so the further north you are - the cooler - at least by a couple of degrees.
I don't think the Western Express combo with the Eastern TransAm is good for your situation.
There are shorter - more northerly routes - which would make your daily mileage more reasonable.
Also, you simply cannot get motels where you need them with such a rigid mileage schedule -
esp in Nevada and Utah.
<<<>>>
It's possible to do a route from the Oregon Coast to the Jersey Shore in a little over 3000 miles.
But there is only one evening non-stop to PDX - Seattle has more non-stops.
From Tillamook, Oregon to Highlands, New Jersey -
Oregon - 470 mi
Idaho - 400 mi
Wyoming - 450 mi
Nebraska - 430 mi
Iowa - 350 mi
Ill/Ind - 400 mi
Ohio - 250 mi
Penna - 400 mi
New Jersey - 80 mi
Total - 3230 miles
That's about as short as you are going to get it on bikeable roads.
The route is roughly US 20 or US 26 in the West -
(With sections of the TransAm in Oregon and Wyoming)
Then diagonally on state roads across Iowa -
Ten the Northern Tier in Illinois and Indiana -
The Old Lincoln Highway in Ohio -
Bike Route "V" in Penna.
<<<>>>
Still, it looks like you would really be pushing it.
Anything that went slightly wrong would muck up your entire trip.
Not to mention breaking in a new saddle?
Last edited by jamawani; 06-16-10 at 12:37 PM.