How to Plan a Cycling Route: Navigation, Maps, and Distance

I followed a GPS route into a 4-mile dirt road with 2,000 feet of climbing and no water sources. That mistake cost me 3 hours, a ruined shoe, and $18 in bottled water at the first town I reached. Since then, I have planned over 200 cycling routes across 6 countries and learned that route planning is the single most important skill for a touring cyclist. A well-planned route saves time, money, and energy. A poorly planned one turns a dream trip into a survival exercise.

turning your route plan into an actual trip

matching route difficulty to your fitness level

This guide covers how to plan cycling routes using digital tools, physical maps, and on-the-ground research. I break down the process from initial destination selection to daily mile targets, elevation management, and emergency backup planning.

What Apps and Tools Do You Need for Route Planning?

Three apps handle 95 percent of route planning needs: Komoot ($10/month) for turn-by-turn navigation with offline maps, RideWithGPS ($15/year) for detailed elevation profiles and route sharing, and Gaia GPS ($40/year) for backcountry and off-road routing. Each app uses different map data sources, so cross-referencing two apps prevents routing errors that send you onto highways or closed roads.

I use Komoot as my primary navigation app because its surface-type classification flags gravel and dirt sections before I commit to a route. RideWithGPS serves as my elevation analysis tool — its profile graphs show gradient percentages that Komoot omits. Gaia GPS is my backup for remote regions where neither Komoot nor RideWithGPS has updated map data.

How Many Miles Should You Plan Per Day on a Tour?

Beginner touring cyclists average 30 to 40 miles per day. Experienced riders cover 50 to 70 miles per day. The difference comes down to fitness, terrain, and loaded weight. A fully loaded touring bike with 30 pounds of gear requires 25 to 30 percent more effort than an unloaded bike on the same route.

Plan your daily targets based on elevation gain, not just distance. A 40-mile route with 2,000 feet of climbing takes the same time as a 60-mile flat route. Use RideWithGPS’s elevation profile to calculate total climbing before finalizing a day’s stage. If a route exceeds 3,000 feet of climbing, reduce your distance target by 20 percent to account for the extra effort on steep gradients.

How Do You Find Reliable Water Sources on a Touring Route?

Carry at least 2 liters of water capacity on every touring ride. Plan your route to include a water refill point every 15 to 20 miles in temperate climates and every 10 miles in hot weather. Use the Thirsty Camel app ($5) to locate public water fountains, cafe stops, and hostel facilities along your route. In rural areas, plan through towns with grocery stores where you can buy bottled water for $1 to $2.

I always carry a collapsible 2-liter water bladder (Sea to Summit AtosLock bottle at $25) as backup capacity. This doubles my water carrying ability from 2 liters to 4 liters without adding significant weight. On routes through remote areas with no water sources for 30+ miles, I carry 4 liters and plan my riding schedule to arrive at the next water point before my supply runs below 1 liter.

How Do You Handle Route Changes Due to Weather or Road Closures?

Always have a backup route ready before you start riding. Download offline maps for your entire touring region so you can navigate without cellular service. The Komoot offline map feature costs $10 per region and includes turn-by-turn guidance for 500+ miles of routes.

When road closures or weather force a route change, use your backup offline map to identify parallel roads within 5 miles of your original route. Avoid routing through unfamiliar neighborhoods or poorly lit streets at dusk. If you cannot find a safe alternate route, stop at the nearest town, find accommodation, and plan a new route the next morning. Rushing a bad routing decision causes more problems than a single rest day.

What Physical Maps Should You Carry as Backup?

A paper map costs $10 to $25 and weighs 2 ounces. It works when your phone dies, your GPS app crashes, and you need to consult a route with someone else. DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer maps cover US state highways and backroads in detail. Michelin cycling maps cover European routes with cyclist-specific road classifications.

I keep a folded paper map of my entire touring region in the frame bag, separate from my phone. This ensures that even if my phone is stolen, damaged, or runs out of battery, I can still navigate. The paper map also helps me identify route alternatives that GPS apps may not suggest — such as scenic byways, quiet country roads, and bike-friendly restaurants along the way.

Here’s My Take

Plan 40 miles per day as your baseline target. Add 10 miles for every 1,000 feet of cumulative climbing you are comfortable with. Always carry a paper map backup and download offline GPS maps before departure. The single most valuable planning step is identifying water sources every 15 miles — dehydration ends tours faster than mechanical failures. If a route forces you through a town you do not plan to visit, reconsider it. Detours cost time and energy that you cannot recover.

References

• Komoot — Route Planning Platform Specifications — komoot.com
• RideWithGPS — Elevation Profile Data — ridewithgps.com
• DeLorme — Atlas Gazetteer Map Series — delorme.com