The hashtag might read #OutsideIsFree, but if you’re planning a mountain bike vacation this spring, you better also bring your wallet. Just because you’re heading to a majestic location, however, doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg (though it’s certainly an option).
So invest in a good bike rack or find a suitable airline for cyclists, because we took three trips on three different budgets to learn how to plan the best MTB trip for your price range.
Three Days in Copper Harbor, Michigan: $70 per day
Expenses
Lake Fanny Hooe Campground RV space: $17/night per person for three nights
Groceries for 3 days: $29 (my share)
30-rack of PBR: $18
Splurge: We budgeted for postride beers at the Brickside Brewery one afternoon, then hit the Mariner North restaurant for some fresh-caught, Lake Superior trout. All in all, I spent less than $50 on those stops.
Total: $200
It’s easy to hit up your local state park for a cheap day trip, but I wanted to go somewhere a bit more epic while still spending less than $200. Copper Harbor boasts gorgeous scenery and incredible riding, but there aren’t a ton of nearby entertainment options on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. That makes it the perfect place for a bare-bones bike trip.
All the fun we needed was on the trails: more than 35 miles of rolling, grin-inducing singletrack with breathtaking views of Lake Superior. Although the bulk of the trails are intermediate level, the expert singletrack is as challenging as you can get in the Midwest. We could have shuttled up to the top of the 600-foot mountain with a day pass, but climbing is half the fun, right? That’s what I told myself anyway.
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We stayed in a friend’s RV, which allowed us most creature comforts for much less than a hotel room, but we would have had just as much fun staying in a tent ($17 per night). When we weren’t riding or talking about the ride we just did, I was in a hammock, getting caught up on my pleasure reading.
The closest big cities to Copper Harbor are Duluth, Minnesota, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, both a five-hour drive away—so it definitely takes time and a tank of gas or two to get there. If you’re traveling with family members who may not enjoy the outdoors as much, they may get bored pretty quickly. Lack of strong cell service can also be an issue.
Four Days in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains: $250 per day
Expenses
Canvas tent at Explore Park: $100/night for two nights
Half-day trail guide from Roanoke Mountain Adventures: $85/2 people
Single room at Spring Hill Suites: $93/night for two nights (free breakfast)
Food and Drinks for three days: $174
Total: $645
I arrived in Roanoke just a day or two before a tropical storm rolled in, and with it, the worst flooding the area had seen in more than three decades. With all the storms, staying in a tent with no electricity and cooking all my meals on a propane stove would have been a drag. While it poured outside, I caught up on my Netflix queue inside a hotel room and ate reasonably priced meals at various brewpubs around town. I saved cash by seeking out happy-hour specials at various bars.
No matter how much money you spend, you can’t control the weather. Luckily, I managed to sneak in some riding around the rain. After spending much of the previous day driving, the plan was to wake up the legs at Explore Park with Dan Lucas, a guide with local outfitter Roanoke Mountain Adventures. Park officials have big plans for the site, including a lot more singletrack and camping options, but they’re still a few years away. The current trails are okay, but there are much better options I wish I could have tackled, like the consensus must-ride trail, Carvins Cove, which all the locals raved about.
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But the Mill Mountain trails, located just a short distance from downtown Roanoke via the Roanoke River Greenway, were a fun consolation prize. We rode up Woodthrush, connected to Sidewinder and Ridgeline, and finally made our way to local tourist attraction Mill Mountain Star with its gorgeous views of the region. The whoop-filled descent down Understory and Monument was a fun, albeit way too short, slalom over loose rocks and jumps.
Three Days in Sedona, Arizona: $650 per day
Expenses
Enchantment Resort Suite: $400/night for three nights
All-Inclusive Fee: $250 (an optional daily charge that includes Pivot bike rental, guide service, and all meals and drinks)
Splurge: We didn’t do huge mileage, so my legs weren’t really thrashed, but I felt that I couldn’t leave a world-famous resort without getting a deep-tissue massage at the Mii Amo spa. $200 for 60 minutes
Total: $2,150
Sedona is packed with natural eye candy in every direction: massive red-rock spires rising from the ground, surrounded by the desolate beauty of the Sonora Desert. And while it’s possible to do this as a budget trip by camping or getting an Airbnb outside town, be prepared to shell out some cash.
I was in Sedona to take part in Enchantment Resort’s inaugural Ride the Red Rocks event, where a small group of guests and I were turned loose on the more than 300 miles of singletrack that winds through the area. Pivot supplied the bikes for three days of riding, and my carbon Mach 5.5 trail bike could handle every jagged rock garden or gnarly descent I threw at it.
Guide George Miraval and his compatriots seemed to know every inch of the trails, and at times would give us instructions on cleaning certain sections. Because we all live for social media, they were constantly pointing out the most Instagram-worthy sites:
If you have a significant other who doesn’t mountain bike and wants to enjoy spa time while you conquer the slickrock, this is an ideal spot. The well-appointed villas are set up for romance—fireplaces set a cozy ambiance, while the giant soaker tubs are perfect for a couple sharing a bottle of wine. Unfortunately, it was all lost on me as I was flying solo.
Whether you have $200 or $2,000, there is a rad and wonderful world out there begging to be ridden, so pack up your bike and #GetOutThere.
After spending nearly a decade as a reporter for The Indianapolis Star, Robert Annis finally broke free of the shackles of gainful employment and now freelances full time, specializing in cycling and outdoor-travel journalism. Over the years, Robert's byline has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Outside, National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Bicycling, Men's Journal, Popular Mechanics, Lonely Planet, the Chicago Tribune, and Adventure.com.
