Diamond

I’m probably dreaming about this but I thought I’d ask to see if anyone had any great ideas. I would like to do a 4-6 day road tour in Arizona over Spring break. It is a pretty mixed group with two teenagers, mom and grandma along (and she’s 80!). We are looking at 30-50 miles per day and overnight in hotels. They have vetoed camping. Any suggestions for a nice loop tour? BTW, I’ve seen some commercial tour outfits but they are typically > $1500/person and I can’t afford that much.

If we decided it was impractical to do a loop and instead we wanted to stay in a town and do day tours would Tucson be the best town to base from?

Thanks for all input.

-Scott

jeepseahawk

Try a search on Grand Canyon tour, think there is a loop there. I don't know if there is a base nearby though.

valygrl

Grand Canyon is pretty high elevation, check temps and when services open before committing.

I would base out of Tucson or Sierra Vista. The loop with that crew sounds complicated, unless there was a car and several potential drivers or a non-riding driver.

Cyclebum

Sierra Vista would be good for out/back. Put you in easy riding distance of Tombstone. Lots to see/do there.

Diamond

Thanks for all who have provided input so far. I had not heard of Sierra Vista but have been researchng the town. It looks like a great base camp if we decide to go that way. It sounds like the ride to Bisbee is pretty popular and we should look into that. I'm thinking now of 2 days road riding, 2 days mountain biking plus hiking, plus sitting by poolside, plus drinking margaritas, ...

BWF

Based on what you've said so far, you might like this ACA route...

https://www.adventurecycling.org/reso...ona_OGrady.pdf

Also, here are some handy bike maps for Arizona...

https://www.azbikeped.org/images/Map2...0409_side1.pdf
https://www.azbikeped.org/images/Map2...0409_side2.pdf

And more here...

https://www.azbikeped.org/maps.htm

Shifty

If you are thinking this way, think about Moab, UT. You can stay in the same hotel for a week, there are several great road rides from town, two of them into national parks. Mountain biking is legendary, rental bikes available all over town. There are nice cafes, a couple brew pubs, hiking, rafting and sitting by the pool. What's not to love about Moab, I go there every March for sun and fun.

Yumadons

I just Mapquested you a 5 day loop out of the east side of Tucson. This puts you in the southern (warm) part of AZ. Enter these towns into Mapquest and choose the bicycle option to see:

Starting point:
Hacienda del Desierto B & B
11770 E Rambling Trail, Tucson
(no affiliation, just trying to find you the shortest ride to Benson

Day 1:
51 miles to Benson, AZ

Day 2:
24 miles to Tombstone, AZ

Day 3:
19 miles to Sierra Vista, AZ

Day 4:
33 miles to Sonoita, AZ

Day 5:
42 miles back to Hacienda del Desierto

Haven't done this myself but would love to!

Suzanne

valygrl

+1,000,000. My team goes to Moab for spring break every year. The hiking is unreal, scenery way more spectacular than Tuscon. Can be cooler, though. Watch out for Jeep Week (google it) - the town fills up and it's less fun.

Diamond

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all who have provided suggestions. Very intriguing and I will have to study all of them. This might just work.

Regarding Moab/Utah. That is also on our list but we were thinking of doing that 4th of July week. It is difficult to decide. If we do Moab for Spring break then for 4th of July maybe cycling around Oregon and save Arizona for next year…not sure this will take a family vote.

valygrl

4th of july in moab sounds too hot.

simplygib

4th of july in Oregon sounds just right. :-)

WingSuit

What would Moab be like in Feb? Too cold?

valygrl

Moab is february is a crap shoot. Could be good, could be snowing. If hiking in the rain or snow is ok with you, you won't be bored. The scenery is just unreal.

Shifty

Agree, coming from Portland, you'll roast in Moab in July. Also agree with simplygib that July is prime riding time in Oregon.