Epic Drives Across the USA Made by Gately Williams

While looking for new topics to cover after finishing our Scenic Driven of America blog post series, we came across an article by National Geographic. This article told us about one man’s epic journey across the country, on which he embarked multiple times.

Gately Williams is a photographer who has made the trip 18 times using various transportation methods. He is an avid bike rider and has participated in the Trans Am Bike Race before. His vehicles ranged from his dirt bike to a rental truck.

Today we will take a look at eight of his most epic drives across the U.S., selected by National Geographic. The list is divided by the transportation he used for the particular journey.

1. Bicycle

Williams took part in the fifth-annual Trans Am Bike Race in June, 2018. This 30 day trip started in Astoria, Oregon, and for 4,300 miles the photographer rode his bike in this self-supported road race along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail to Yorktown, Virginia.

Antler’s Saloon in Wisdom, Montana was the highlight of this trip. Williams fell off his bike near this small town and was met with hospitality, help and cold beer from the townspeople.

2. Dirt Bike

In 2016, Williams and a group of his friends took to travelling the TransAmerica Trail. The journey lasted for 30 days as they rode the trail, which is mainly made up of off-road paths. They started the trip in Charleston, South Carolina and drove 5,000 miles to reach Port Orford, Oregon.

The highlight of this journey, according to Williams, was Idaho. The beautiful scenery of Antelope Pass and its isolation from civilization gives it a serene feel.

3. Sedan

In 2016 made the trip from Seattle, Washington to Charleston, South Carolina. On this fast journey, he helped his friend move from one side of the continent to the other. They drove for 4,543 miles in just 5 days, as their goal was to reach their destination as fast as possible.

According to Williams, the highlight of this route was the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries near Amarillo, Texas. He states that the 190-foot-tall cross has an impactful size as it towers above the plains.

4. Convertible

In 2015, Williams went on an annual trip with a friend, for which they rented a Ford Mustang convertible. They started out in San Francisco and made their way to Los Angeles, making sure to stop at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur for a dip in the hot springs. Compared to the other journeys, this was a smaller one as it only took 5 days and 450 miles to complete.

The highlight of this trip was the Big Sur and the Bixby Creek Bridge, which is one of the most photographed bridges in the country.

5. Station Wagon

With the old station wagon that he bought, in April 2014 Williams started his journey to photograph all of the 50 US states. His trip started in Charleston and zigzagged across states to be as close to his aim as possible. His trip lasted for 210 days and he put 25,000 miles on the wagon. Williams even flew to Alaska and Hawaii to fulfill his goal.

The highlight of this trip, according to Williams, was the Rainbow Pools in Groveland, California. This natural swimming hole, located off Highway 120 near Yosemite National Park, offers a breathtaking scenery with its rocky ledges, which also provide great elevations for cannonballing into the water.

6. Jeep

For 10 days Williams travelled from San Francisco, California to Jackson, Wyoming and back. This looping journey lasted for 2,478 miles and the photographer started on it before beginning a job in San Francisco in 2014. The trip took him through 6 western states in a jeep.

The Loneliest Road in America was the highlight of this road trip. Nevada’s Route 50 offers breathtaking scenes at night with the vintage neon signs.

7. Pickup Truck

From Charleston, South Carolina to Houston, Texas and then to Sandpoint, Montana Williams used his Ford pickup. He took the long way to Montana (to where he was called for a job) and then looped the drive back home. This journey lasted for 30 days, along with a stop in Houston where he purchased his Ducati motorcycle. On this 2015 trip, the photographer drove for 6,262 miles.

This trip’s highlight was the Pikes Peaks Highway in Colorado. This route has been the home of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race, or Race to the Clouds, every year since 1916, where both cars and motorcycles race to the summit along the 13 mile trail.

8. Moving Van

The first time Williams helps someone move was in 2009. They rented a moving van and embarked on a 7-day trip from Charleston, South Carolina to San Diego, California. They drove for 2,700 miles to reach their destination.

According to Williams, the highlight of the trip was New Orleans, Louisiana. The East Riverside neighborhood of the city is the home of good restaurants with fewer people. During longer trips, it is worth it to stop occasionally for a day off and enjoy what the city – whichever one you’ve stopped in – offers.