A first-of-its-kind in the South, 'Bike Tennessee' offers breathtaking views from the state's rural towns

For bike enthusiasts craving more paths, climbs and views, Tennessee opened 52 "newly-curated" road cycling routes, dubbed "Bike Tennessee" for cycling enthusiasts of all ages and levels. The development is the "first of its kind in the South," reports Jacob Beckwith of The Tennessean. It aims to encourage more people to vacation in the volunteer state while "bringing cycling to rural communities. . . . The initiative is so new, it's only offered in one other state, Oregon."

Given the state's typography, Tennessee is a great place to ride a bike. The routes' developer, Shannon Burke, is a cycling tourist expert who chose off-the-beaten-path locations that were still safe. He told Beckwith, "The state has every type of mountain, and you can also ride in all seasons. . . . I would ask myself, ‘If I put this on a bike tour, would they get their money’s worth? The result is a mix of escaping civilization, while still making sure people are comfortable.” 

Of course, there's an app for these routes. Tennessee "partnered with Ride with GPS, a navigation platform used daily by thousands of cyclists, for the program," Beckwith explains. "The state's 52 Bike Tennessee routes are accessible to users of the app and are all designed as a loop to simplify parking, while still varying distance and difficulty, officials explained."

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell points to Bike Tennessee as a way for the state to sustainably support smaller rural communities. He told Beckwith, "In 2022 alone, the state welcomed 141 million visitors, who spent a record $29 billion. A big part of that is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is still the most visited national park in America. This initiative gives tourists just another reason to visit our beautiful state."