The Adventure Cycling Association is a national cycling association in the United States which provides services for cycle-tourists, publishes maps and campaigns for better cycling facilities. Its headquarters are in Missoula, Montana. Its origins are in a mass cross-country ride from the Pacific to the Atlantic in 1976, celebrating the bicentennial of the United States.

Origins

The Adventure Cycling Association was founded in 1973 under the name of Bikecentennial

Bikecentennial

Bikecentennial '76 was a bicycle tour across the United States in the summer of 1976, in commemoration of the bicentennial of America's Declaration of Independence. The route crossed ten states and 112 counties in either direction between Reedsport, OR, and Yorktown, VA, a distance of about...

by Dan and Lys Burden and Greg and June Siple. They planned a cross-country bicycle event to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States. More than 4,000 cyclists took part in the 1976 inaugural tours. Once the event was completed, the organization lived on and became Adventure Cycling, a non-profit member organization. Adventure Cycling's mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle for fun, fitness, and self-discovery. Adventure Cycling calls itself America's bicycle

Bicycle

A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....

 travel inspiration and resource, offering many programs for cyclists, including a national network of bicycle touring

Bicycle touring

Bicycle touring is cycling over long distances – prioritizing pleasure and endurance over utility or speed. Touring can range from single day 'supported' rides — e.g., rides to benefit charities — where provisions are available to riders at stops along the route, to multi-day...

 routes and organized trips. Its most popular route is the TransAmerica Trail (formerly the Bikecentennial

Bikecentennial

Bikecentennial '76 was a bicycle tour across the United States in the summer of 1976, in commemoration of the bicentennial of America's Declaration of Independence. The route crossed ten states and 112 counties in either direction between Reedsport, OR, and Yorktown, VA, a distance of about...

 Trail) which runs between Astoria, Oregon

Astoria, Oregon

Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...

 and Yorktown, Virginia

Yorktown, Virginia

Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....

. The route network contains more than 38,000 miles of road and mountain bike routes.

Adventure Cycling has also developed the Pedal Pioneers Guide, a manual for planning and leading youth bicycle tours. The guide is a detailed how-to for adults who want to plan and execute youth bicycle touring projects, whether a weekend tour of local roads or a cross-country adventure that takes an entire summer.

Adventure Cycling's headquarters are located in Missoula, Montana

Missoula, Montana

Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...

 in the northern Rocky Mountains. Many cyclists make a point of riding through Missoula. Cyclists who come during business hours or on Saturday mornings in summer enjoy free ice cream, catch up on email, ask advice, and may be photographed for the association's collection..

ACA bicycle routes

• Adirondack Park Loop Bicycle Route
• Allegeny Mountains Loop Bicycle Route
• Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route
  Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route
  The Adventure Cycling Association Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route is divided into two segments. The route is a total of 2535 miles that hugs the Atlantic coast of the United States for roughly 60% of its length, heading inland to avoid major metropolitan areas and where cycling conditions along the...
  
  
• Florida Connector Bicycle Route
• Grand Canyon Connector Bicycle Route
  Grand Canyon Connector Bicycle Route
  The Adventure Cycling Association Grand Canyon Connector Bicycle Route is the connector route between the Western Express Bicycle Route and the Southern Tier Bicycle Route. It also connects the Zion National Park and both sides of Grand Canyon National Park. From the Western Express Route, it...
  
  
• Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
  Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
  The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is a continuous long distance cycling route from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA. As of 2010, the route is 2745 miles long; its length is likely to change over time as the GDMBR is continually being refined to improve it...
  
  
• Great Parks Bicycle Route
  Great Parks Bicycle Route
  The Great Parks Bicycle Route is a 2455 mile bicycle touring route that extends from Jasper, Alberta, to Durango, Colorado. The route passes through Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park, and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada...
  
  
• Great Rivers Bicycle Route
• Green Mountains Loop Bicycle Route
• Lake Erie Connector Bicycle Route
• Lewis & Clark Trail Bicycle Route
  Lewis & Clark Trail Bicycle Route
  The Adventure Cycling Association Lewis & Clark Trail Bicycle Route is a US Cycle route divided into multiple route segments/side routes. The route is a total of...
  
  
• North Lakes Bicycle Route
• Northern Tier Bicycle Route
• Pacific Coast Bicycle Route
• Southern Tier Bicycle Route
• Tidewater Potomac Heritage Bicycle Route
• TransAmerica Trail Bicycle Route
• Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
• Utah Cliffs Loop Bicycle Route
• Washington Parks Bicycle Route
• Western Express Bicycle Route
  Western Express Bicycle Route
  The Western Express Bicycle Route is a 1579 mile bicycle touring route that connects San Francisco, California, to the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail in Pueblo, Colorado, traveling through California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. The route is mapped by the Adventure Cycling Association...