6-Day Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail Bike Tour

Your trip begins by gathering with greetings and an orientation meeting. Afterward, shuttle a short distance to Sand Key, where you are fitted on your bike. Dip your tires in the Gulf of Mexico, ride across the Clearwater Causeway, and then join the Pinellas Trail, where you pedal your first official miles of the Coast-to-Coast route. Cycle through the picturesque coastal towns of Dunedin and Tarpon Springs before heading inland, where you end your day at Starkey Ranch.

Shuttle to your hotel for the night and wind down the evening with a group dinner at the Thirsty Buffalo Brew Factory. 
Accommodation: Hampton Inn - Odessa Trinity, OdessaView More
Meals: Lunch, Dinner 
 
Biking: 35.4 miles (57 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 458 feet (140 meters) ascent, 431 feet (131 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier 

Today’s ride begins with a relaxing pedal through the Starkey Wilderness Preserve, an 8,300-acre park where you are immersed in a wilderness experience. Keep your eyes and ears open for wildlife as you enjoy a relaxing pedal through pine woods, wetlands, and palmetto scrub. After cycling through the preserve, leaders load up your bike on the trailer and shuttle you to nearby Brooksville. Explore Brooksville — known for its small-town charm — or those who want to cycle extra miles can opt to head north along the Suncoast Trail, where the long, smooth straightaways make for quick biking. Join the group for lunch and then ride along the former Florida Southern Railroad along the Withlacoochee Trail.

At the end of the day’s ride, shuttle to the Home2Suites Hotel in Winter Garden, where you spend the next two nights. Enjoy a nice group meal before settling in for the evening.
Accommodation: Home2 Suites by Hilton, Winter GardenView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
 
Biking: 59.6 miles (95.9 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 873 feet (266 meters) ascent, 819 feet (250 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier to Intermediate 

After a made-to-order breakfast, shuttle to Lake Apopka — the fourth largest lake in Florida and one of the premier spots for bird watching in the country. You experience the popular Wilderness Drive car-free as you view birds and gators in their natural habitat.

Afterward, shuttle to Groveland to pedal along the South Lake Trail, where you pedal by a number of lakes including beautiful Lake Minneola. As you ride along the Central Florida sand ridge, you are riding the highest elevations of any rail-trails in the state! You have lunch in Clermont, which happens to be the midpoint of the Coast-to-Coast trail. At the Killarney Station, you pick up the West Orange Trail, which features numerous stations and charming old towns, including Oakland and Winter Garden.

In the evening, you’re on your own to enjoy a night out on the town. 
Accommodation: Home2 Suites by Hilton, Winter GardenView More
Meals: Breakfast 

Biking: 39.8 miles (64 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 718 feet (219 meters) ascent, 707 feet (215 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier 

The morning starts with a shuttle to De Leon Springs State Park. There, you visit the historic Old Sugar Mill Pancake House, where you cook your own pancakes at a table in the replica of a 100-year-old sugar mill. After breakfast, we'll head out on a boat ride through the captivating De Leon Springs State Park and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, witnessing nature in action, with osprey diving for fish and alligators basking in the sun.

Afterwards, we'll begin the day’s ride heading south on the Spring-to-Spring Trail. About halfway into the ride, meet the group at Blue Springs Park, where endangered manatees seek winter refuge. There, gather for a picnic lunch before continuing along the trail to Osteen.

At the conclusion of today’s ride, shuttle to the hotel and enjoy a group dinner.
Accommodation: Hampton Inn DeBary/Deltona, DeBaryView More
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
 
Biking: 33.9 miles (54.5 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 848 feet (258 meters) ascent, 813 feet (248 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier 

Start early this morning at the same trailhead where you ended yesterday’s ride. Today, you pedal entirely on the East Central Regional Trail as you make your final push across the state. The trail follows an old railroad grade, traversing boardwalks over wetlands and paved trails through wide open vistas. The ride ends on the east side of the state at Titusville — part of Florida’s famous Space Coast. Dip your wheel in the Atlantic Ocean and give each other pats on the back. You did it! 

In the afternoon, we'll head to the Kennedy Space Visitor Complex, where we'll enjoy lunch, and get to explore see the space center.

Celebrate our final evening together with a happy hour and dinner at The Space Bar overlooking the space shuttle launch sites.
Accommodation: Courtyard Titusville Kennedy Space Center, TitusvilleView More
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 
 
Biking: 30.2 miles (48.6 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 96 feet (29 meters) ascent, 143 feet (44 meters) descent
Terrain: Easier