About the TransVirginia Bike Route
Ride from DC to Damascus, VA in 565 miles of mostly (61%) unpaved country and forest roads, double track and rail trails (18%). Traverse Virginia’s best backcountry riding on this new gravelpacking (gravel, bikepacking, and touring) route focused on rideable, non-technical, unpaved terrain intended for multi-day trips carrying overnight gear.
Why ride the TransVA?
The concept of the TransVirginia Bike Route (TransVA) was homegrown in the Harrisonburg, VA bike community, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, which has been transforming the valley into a cycling destination for all types of riders. The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition has supported the initiative along with a variety of local businesses, bike shops, and tourism offices. The route is inspired by the many miles of dirt and gravel roads in the National Forests and beautiful countryside of the Shenandoah Valley, and extends that experience to encompass the diverse landscapes and communities of Virginia, with its fascinating natural and historical sites.
The route aims to be an accessible travel experience for motivated cyclists in the style of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, filling a unique space between pavement-only road touring and technical singletrack trail bikepacking. Get out into nature, crossing the great state of Virginia, without worrying about cars for some of the best riding on the East Coast. The route is not technical; no need to be a hotshot superhero mountain biker or have top-of-the-line bikes and gear! The TransVirginia is poised to become an iconic East Coast bicycle adventure setting the stage for the fast-growing sector of gravel bikepacking.
Logistics are straightforward with plenty of water, country stores, camping options, as well as hotel/B&B options for those who prefer to ride more comfortably. Only 1-2 miles of true hike-a-bike out of 550. There’s plenty of elevation change, but reasonable grades are rideable with multi-day gear on the proper setup.
Multiple TransVirginia route options to match your style and goals were created after the original in 2018 (now known as the “Mountain 565“): the less rugged the Valley 535 (2020) and DC-Hburg 400 Loop (2023) routes.
A great website at Transvirginia.org will motivate and equip potential riders to put the TransVirginia on their bucket list and gain the info and confidence to get themselves on the route. GPX and digital maps are available for free, as well as amenity listings of services along the way, itineraries for various riding styles, and trip reports from other cyclists.
Ridden and Tested: The route has based on popular routes from local cycling communities, and has been tested and ridden multiple times, gaining rider support, stakeholder buy-in and enthusiastic followers on social media ahead of its larger-scale launch. Grand Departs have been taking place annually since 2018.
Concept, route development, publishing and marketing initiated and managed by David Landis of Village to Village Press, LLC / V2V Trails from Harrisonburg, VA in coordination with local organizations and businesses across Virginia.
A grant from the VTC Marketing Leverage Program helped to boost the TransVA from 2018-2020 as part of the statewide strategic #LoveVA tourism campaign by matching marketing costs invested in the route, in partnership with the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and Harrisonburg Tourism.
