Originally published in MSN New Zealand April 6, 2024
By Frances Carruthers
Hot wheels
E-bikes are surging in popularity and for good reason: they allow you to travel further and faster without having to break much of a sweat. They’re an ideal and accessible way to see more of America – and these brilliant tours are a great place to start. From small-group adventure trips to guided city tours, here are our favorite e-bike tours throughout the US.
Small-Group E-Bike Adventure Tour through Hidden Santa Fe, New Mexico
A treasure trove of Indigenous artifacts, desert-like southwestern landscapes and fascinating Spanish forts await you on this three-and-a-half hour guided tour. Run by Heritage Inspirations, the trip aims to uncover lesser-known gems in the New Mexico capital, all with the ease of battery-assisted bikes – which come in an aesthetically pleasing mint green color.
17-Mile Drive Tour, Big Sur, California
Although it’s better known as a road trip destination, California’s wild and windswept Big Sur coastline is perfect for exploring by e-bike. This well-planned tour, which takes you along an ultra-scenic 17-mile section of the road in around two and a half hours, is a great way to experience some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes along this storied route.
Beginning at Asilomar State Beach, you’ll learn the history of this beautiful surfing beach before hopping onto your e-bike and cycling along the rugged coastline towards the start of 17-Mile Drive. Memorable stops along the way include Lone Cypress (pictured) – a starkly beautiful Monterey cypress set on its own headland jutting out to sea – as well as the pristine stretch of sand at Carmel Bay and Bird Rock point, where you’ll get to watch sea lions frolicking in the water.
3-hour Guided Wine Country Tour in Sonoma on Electric Trike, California
Although they offer something a little different from the conventional e-biking experience, the e-trikes provided by Pushpak Motors are a fun and environmentally friendly way to explore California’s wine country. With space for two riders apiece, these three-wheeled electric trikes will whizz you past scenic vineyards in no time – with plenty of stops along the way.
And it’s not just sightseeing you’ll get to do on this no-holds-barred tour. Over the course of three hours, guests can enjoy stops for wine and cheese tasting at prized local wineries. If you want a little more time to relax and enjoy the views (and wine), book onto the more elaborate five-hour tour, which includes an additional winery visit and plenty more time to explore lesser-known roads.
Fat Tire E-Bike Tour through Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Covering more than 500 square miles of Hawaii’s Big Island, including two active volcanoes (Kīlauea and Mauna Loa), Volcanoes National Park is jam-packed with awe-inspiring landscapes. And what better way to take them in than on an electric bike? Volcano Ohana offers a three-hour experience on its trademark fat tire e-bikes, which are just the thing for navigating the region’s challenging volcanic terrain.
During the highly rated tour, you’ll learn about the park’s various craters, see an active volcano up close and you’ll even get to walk through a lava tube – an underground passageway carved by hot magma. It’s worth noting that the operator recommends you’re an intermediate-level cyclist to take part in this tour.
Asheville Historic Downtown Guided Electric Bike Tour, North Carolina
Surrounded by the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains and full of historic attractions, Asheville is a great city to discover by e-bike. The Flying Bike offers a three-hour tour of downtown, allowing you to learn about the city’s inspiring architecture, discover its fast-changing arts and cultural scene and pick up some brilliant recommendations from local guides.
Along the way, you’ll pause to admire the 100-year-old Basilica of St Lawrence, take in the tranquil streets of the Historic Montford Neighborhood and stop at Pack Square (pictured), where the city was founded. The tour moves at a leisurely pace, covering 8.75 miles (14km) in three hours, so it’s accessible for cyclists of all abilities.
Half-Day Electric Bike Tour of Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada
You don’t need to travel far from the bright lights of Las Vegas to reach awe-inspiring landscapes, such as Red Rock Canyon. In fact this natural landmark can be reached via an easy 13-mile route, taking in rugged cliffs, desert plants and plenty of wide-open roads along the way.
With the option to take either a guided or self-guided tour via e-bike, Escape Adventures’ half-day experience is an ideal way to see this National Conservation Area. Recent Tripadvisor reviewers have praised the tours’ organization and the quality of the bikes, with many reporting that the added help of an e-bike was necessary to manage the hills along the route.
Guided E-bike tour of downtown St Petersburg, Florida
Tucked between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, St Petersburg is one of Florida’s most charming cities and it’s perfect for some pedal-powered adventures. With Bay E-Bikes’ downtown tour, a local expert will take you around the city’s most noteworthy attractions, including colorful murals, waterfront parks and St Pete Pier.
The family-friendly three-hour tour, which has received rave reviews on Tripadvisor, includes bike, helmet and lock rental, as well as drop-off and pick-up. Bay E-Bikes also offers a wildlife and history tour around Fort De Soto Park, located just southwest of the city, during which you’ll get to explore these gorgeous offshore keys and learn about the plants and wildlife they support.
San Juan Islands biking tour, Washington
If you’re after a full-blown, multi-day adventure, this incredibly beautiful bike tour through Washington’s San Juan Islands is well worth considering. The seven-day adventure covers a total of 134 miles by either regular or e-bike, including ferry trips across the Salish Sea, six nights of accommodation at boutique inns and a tried-and-tested, detailed itinerary.
There’s plenty of stunning scenery along the route: think old-growth forests teeming with wildlife, tiny hidden coves, rural farmland and epic mountains. In fact, you’ll even summit Mount Constitution, which at 2,400 feet is the highest point in the whole archipelago. Needless to say, with lots of heart-pumping hills like this one, plus up to 37 miles of cycling per day, it’s necessary to have a reasonable level of fitness before undertaking this trip.
Ketchikan Electric Bike and Rainforest Hike Ecotour, Alaska
For an intrinsically Alaskan tour experience, look no further than this highly rated excursion from the Ketchikan Kayak Company. Taking visitors around the most scenic parts of Ketchikan – famously the entrance to the Inside Passage – it includes a journey down the so-called ‘Road to Nowhere’ and a guided hike through the Tongass National Forest.
You’ll get the chance to spot some incredible wildlife, including porpoises, seals and sea lions, along the coastal section of the route. Meanwhile, the journey through the rainforest gives you the chance to see an active salmon-spawning stream, a waterfall and plenty of native Alaskan flora and fauna. The trip includes a smoked salmon meal (or vegan option) and beverages, plus round-trip transportation from Ketchikan downtown.
Boston City View Bike Tour, Massachusetts
The historic city of Boston can be explored on foot, of course – but a little pedal power will allow you to see many of its most important sights in a shorter amount of time. Urban AdvenTours’ flagship e-bike tour, which takes around two and a half to three hours, takes you through Fenway Park, Boston University Campus, Boston Common and past plenty of attractive brownstones.
As well as exploring the city’s best-known neighborhoods, you’ll get to visit some great viewpoints, including the Long Wharf and the Charles River Esplanade. The tour is typically conducted on regular bikes, but you can pay an extra supplement for an e-bike (although these are only for guests over the age of 16 and over five feet tall.
Original Electric Cruiser Fat Tire Bike Tour, Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is a great city for cycling, with more than 300 miles of bikeways, including designated cycle-only paths, bike lanes and multi-use routes. And the fat-tire, electric-assisted cruiser bikes offered by Electric Cruiser Bike Tours are a great way for all the family to get out and explore the city.
During a two-hour trip you’ll get to see some of the city’s best-loved neighborhoods, including the University of Colorado, the historic downtown, Chautauqua and along Boulder Creek. According to recent Tripadvisor reviews, the tours are well-paced, guides are knowledgeable and there are a good number of stops at interesting locations along the way.
