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Across
Award-Winning Ultra-Cycling-Documentaries By Groox Productions & Das Buero Ohne Namen
The RAAM Route
3,000 Miles Coast to Coast
The Race Across America route spans approximately 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from Oceanside, California on the Pacific Coast to Annapolis, Maryland on the Atlantic. The exact route changes slightly each year but always traverses 12 states and crosses three major mountain ranges: the Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains, and Appalachians.
Interactive Route Map
Hover over states and time stations in the map or tables to see them highlighted
State-by-State Breakdown
| State | Miles | Terrain | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 580 | Desert, Mountains | Mojave Desert |
| Arizona | 380 | Desert | Monument Valley |
| Utah | 425 | High Desert, Mountains | Rocky Mountains |
| Colorado | 470 | Mountains | Wolf Creek Pass (10,850 ft) |
| Kansas | 440 | Plains | Endless wheat fields |
| Missouri | 285 | Rolling Hills | Mississippi River crossing |
| Illinois | 140 | Flatlands | Historic Route 66 |
| Indiana | 150 | Farmland | Amish Country |
| Ohio | 125 | Rolling Hills | Appalachian foothills |
| West Virginia | 45 | Mountains | Appalachian Mountains |
| Pennsylvania | 35 | Mountains | Final climb |
| Maryland | 25 | Coastal | Annapolis finish |
| Total | ~3,000 | ||
Elevation Profile
170,000+
Total Feet of Climbing
10,850
Highest Point (feet)
3
Major Mountain Ranges
Major Climbs:
- • Glass Elevator (California) - 13 miles, 3,000 ft gain
- • Wolf Creek Pass (Colorado) - 10,850 ft elevation
- • Appalachian Mountains (West Virginia) - Multiple steep climbs
Time Stations
TS10 miles
Oceanside, CA
Pacific Ocean Start
TS2464 miles
Congress, AZ
Desert Checkpoint
TS3927 miles
Durango, CO
Mountain Gateway
TS41136 miles
Taos, NM
High Desert
TS51632 miles
Plains, KS
Great Plains
TS62031 miles
Camdenton, MO
Ozark Mountains
TS72259 miles
Effingham, IL
Midwest Crossing
TS82518 miles
Athens, OH
Appalachian Approach
TS93000 miles
Annapolis, MD
Atlantic Ocean Finish
Climate Zones & Challenges
🏜️ Desert (Days 1-3)
- • Temperatures up to 120°F (49°C)
- • Extreme dehydration risk
- • Sand storms possible
- • Dramatic day/night temperature swings
🏔️ Mountains (Days 3-5)
- • Altitude effects above 8,000 ft
- • Freezing temperatures at night
- • Steep grades up to 10%
- • Rapid weather changes
🌾 Plains (Days 5-7)
- • Relentless headwinds
- • Tornado risk in season
- • Mental challenge of flat terrain
- • Limited services/support
🌲 Eastern Hills (Days 7-9)
- • High humidity
- • Short, steep climbs
- • Dense traffic areas
- • Final push exhaustion
The Journey of a Lifetime
From the Pacific to the Atlantic, through deserts, mountains, and plains, RAAM tests every aspect of human endurance.
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