Climate Ride Philadelphia to DC spans 280 miles and explores the heart of Pennsylvania’s Amish Country on and off quiet roads and bike trails. From the exciting trip start in Philadelphia to the triumphant arrival at the US Capitol, this Climate Ride will challenge, inspire, and surprise as you pedal and connect with thought leaders, advocates, and like-minded people dedicated to advancing sustainability.
On Climate Ride Philadelphia to DC, you’ll spend four days cycling on a scenic journey that explores the back roads of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. We’ll see inspiring scenery, stay at comfortable retreats and classic summer camps, visit several well-known historic sites, and experience the thrill of touring by bicycle with a community united by their passion for sustainability, renewable energy, and bicycles – the ultimate carbon-free form of transportation.
During the trip, we’ll ride past historic buildings, family farms, quaint villages, and verdant forests. Evening programs and dynamic speakers combine with world-class cycling to make this charitable event exciting, informative, and fun.
Our professional Climate Ride volunteer staff takes care of all the details, so you can focus on riding the 40-100 miles per day of carefully-planned routes on scenic roads. It’s challenging yet achievable, and you have all day to make it to the next rest stop. Meals, snacks, bike support, luggage transport, and all of the logistics are included when you reach the fundraising commitment. On the road, the Climate Ride support team is always nearby to assist you, keep you happy and healthy, and make your ride worry-free and memorable. Bike rental options are available in Philadelphia.
You can choose from our full list of beneficiaries and proceeds will be distributed to the Climate Ride grants program based on your beneficiary selection. You will have access to our superb personal fundraising software and the full support of our team. Participants may select their beneficiaries from our list of more than 100 extraordinary non-profit organizations. If you’re ready to sign up and ride, click above to register! Space is limited.
We will be staying in cabins and dorm-style rooms at full-service summer camps on this trip with dining halls and conference facilities. At the first two camps, tent camping is optional, and we also have on-your-own hotel and hotel-style options available at our overnight locations. On the third night, camping is available with the option to upgrade to cabins for an additional cost.
Amenities at our overnight locations include hot showers, a first-aid station with 24/7 ice, clean restrooms, and shared rooms with vinyl mattresses. You should bring a sleeping bag and a fitted sheet. If you would like to stay in hotels, please email info(at)climateride.org for the hotel list. You are responsible for making your reservations.
All dietary restrictions will be accommodated on this trip by our staff and caterers. There will be a variety of hot breakfasts, picnic lunches, hearty dinners and plenty of snacks in between to fuel you for multiple days of riding.
On Climate Ride, we bring together a dynamic community. Each evening after dinner, we’ll gather for our Evening Program which features speakers, roundtable discussions, and other events.
We recommend arriving in Philadelphia the night before the ride or Amtrak has multiple early morning trains from East Coast locations like New York and Washington DC the morning of the ride.
TRAIN/BUS
The train is probably the most convenient option if you live on the East Coast. Visit the Amtrak website for general information and reservations, or click here for how to bring your bicycle on Amtrak trains. You may also call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Greyhound has bus terminals located in Philadelphia.They accept bicycles as luggage. Visit the Greyhound website for more information.
TAXI
Taxis are an easy way to get around Philadelphia. Many companies said that their cabs can usually accommodate bicycles as long as you mention it when you book the cab. Request a minivan or SUV, and know that you may need to take the front wheel off to make it fit.
PLANE
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the closest airport to the Ride Start and offers many airline options. It is conveniently located 20 minutes from downtown Philadelphia and within easy access of the I-95 freeway. To get to downtown Philadelphia from PHL, you can take a taxi or check out this link for ground transportation options: https://www.phl.org/about/accessibility/ground-transportation
If you’re traveling to Philadelphia for the ride, there are bicycle rental options as well as the possibility of shipping your bike straight to a local bike shop and having it assembled for you. More information will be available in the Ride Guide.
If you are traveling to the ride with Amtrak, you may be able to bring your bike onboard! Learn more here.
Climate Ride will end in Southeast Washington DC at approximately 4:30 pm after the finale event at the US Capitol. There, we’ll pick up our luggage/gear and depart.
The day after the ride, on Monday, September 14, 2020, we encourage you to meet with your Member(s) of Congress in Washington as part of Advocacy Day. Many past riders report this was a highlight of their Climate Ride experience. The Climate Ride office will be scheduling meetings with both House Representatives and Senators (or their staff) for Climate Riders. It’s an amazing feeling making your voice heard on Capitol Hill, so don’t miss it! We do our best to schedule meetings before 2 pm, so if you’re staying an extra day in DC, we suggest not making travel plans until after 3 pm. More information will be available in the Ride Guide.
Cyclists can choose from the more than 100 incredible beneficiary organizations in our network! One of the things that make Climate Ride such an effective charitable event is that you can select the organization(s) you wish to benefit through the Climate Ride grants program. Our beneficiaries were selected for their work on the environment, conservation, sustainability, climate education, and active transportation advocacy. At the end of the year, Climate Ride grants the proceeds from our events to these hard-working organizations.
Fundraising Deadlines:
Transfer Deadline: TBD
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
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