How to Resupply on Long Bikepacking Routes

Resupply Is Route Strategy

On trips longer than 3-4 days, food logistics become as important as the route itself. Carrying a week of food weighs 10+ pounds—impractical for most riders. Strategic resupply keeps daily weight manageable while ensuring you never run short. For first-time trip planning, see our first bikepacking trip guide.

The challenge: resupply options vary dramatically. A route through populated areas offers grocery stores every 50 miles. A remote wilderness route might have a single gas station in 200 miles. Your resupply strategy must match your terrain.

This guide covers everything you need for resupply success: researching options, timing your stops, using mail drops, and handling the unexpected when that "grocery store" turns out to sell only beer and bait.

For food recommendations, see our Complete Bikepacking Food Guide. For meal planning by trip length, check Bikepacking Meal Planning.

Understanding Resupply Options

Tier 1: Full Grocery Stores

What you get: Complete food selection—fresh produce, meat, dairy, full snack aisles, bakery, prepared foods.

Best for: Restocking everything, fresh food boost, variety.

Found in: Towns of 5,000+ population, along major highways.

Strategy: Plan major resupply around these. Stock up for multiple days.

Tier 2: Small-Town Grocery

What you get: Basic selection—staples, some produce, limited variety. Often higher prices.

Best for: Filling gaps, basic resupply.

Found in: Small towns (500-5,000), county seats.

Strategy: Don't count on specialty items. Good for basics like bread, peanut butter, cheese.

Tier 3: Gas Stations / Convenience Stores

What you get: Snacks, candy, jerky, chips, sometimes sandwiches. Very limited nutrition.

Best for: Emergency calories, topping off snacks.

Found in: Along highways, small communities.

Strategy: Backup option only. Don't plan your nutrition around gas station food.

Tier 4: Restaurants / Diners

What you get: Hot prepared meals, real food. No packable provisions.

Best for: Morale boost, calorie loading before a stretch, enjoying the journey.

Found in: Varies widely. More reliable in tourist areas.

Strategy: Budget time for town meals—they matter for morale and nutrition variety.

Tier 5: Mail Drops

What you get: Exactly what you send yourself.

Best for: Remote routes, specialty dietary needs, guaranteed supplies.

Found at: Post offices, hotels, hostels, sometimes outfitters.

Strategy: Requires advance planning. Essential for wilderness routes.

Pre-Trip Research

Good resupply planning happens before you leave home.

Step 1: Map Your Route's Services

For each potential stop:

What's there? Grocery, gas station, restaurant?
Hours? Small-town stores close early; many close Sundays
Seasonal? Tourist-area businesses may close off-season
Still open? Verify—rural businesses close permanently

Research Tools

Google Maps: Shows business locations and often hours. Check recent reviews for current status.

Google Street View: See what the town actually looks like. That "grocery store" might be a tiny market.

Yelp/TripAdvisor: Reviews often mention food availability and hours.

Route-specific resources: Many popular routes (Great Divide, TransAm) have rider forums with current resupply info.

Call ahead: For critical stops, actually call. "Hi, I'm bike touring through next week—can you confirm your hours and that you have basic groceries?"

Step 2: Calculate Food Carries

Based on your research, determine:

Longest stretch between resupply options
Food weight needed for each segment
Backup options if primary resupply fails

Sample route analysis:

Segment	Miles	Days	Resupply Options	Food to Carry
Start → Town A	85	2	Town A: small grocery	2.5 days
Town A → Town B	120	3	Town B: full grocery	3.5 days
Town B → Town C	180	4-5	Town C: gas station only	5.5 days + backup
Town C → Finish	60	1.5	Finish: full services	2 days

Step 3: Plan Mail Drops (If Needed)

For segments with limited resupply, mail yourself food:

Identify post office in town before the gap
Confirm post office hours and General Delivery acceptance
Send package to arrive before you do (allow extra days)

Mail Drop Strategy

When to Use Mail Drops

Good candidates:

Remote routes with 4+ day gaps between towns
Specialty dietary needs (vegan, GF, allergies)
Preference for specific foods unavailable in small towns
Routes through areas with unreliable services

Usually unnecessary:

Routes through populated areas
Trips under a week
Flexible riders comfortable with available food

How to Send Mail Drops

General Delivery: Most US post offices accept packages addressed to:

Your Name
General Delivery
Town Name, State ZIP

Hold time: Usually 10-30 days (ask when calling)

Important: Call ahead to confirm the post office accepts General Delivery and their specific hold time.

Alternative pickup locations:

Hotels/motels (if staying there)
Bike shops (often helpful)
Outfitters (common in trail towns)
Friends/contacts along the route

What to Include

Essential:

Enough food for the upcoming segment
Specific items unavailable in small towns
Any medications or supplements

Nice to have:

Fresh socks or other consumables
Maps for next section
Backup gear (spare tube, chain lube)

Don't include:

More than you need (creates waste if plans change)
Perishables (unless timing is precise)
Items available everywhere (no need to mail peanut butter)

Mail Drop Timing

Send packages: At least 7-10 days before expected arrival Buffer: Better early than late—packages can wait; you can't Tracking: Use tracking numbers for peace of mind

Timing Your Resupply Stops

The Calculation

Daily consumption: 1.5-2 lbs of food Safety margin: +1 day extra food beyond calculated Weight tolerance: How much are you willing to carry?

Example:

3-day segment to next resupply
2 lbs/day × 3 days = 6 lbs food needed
+1 day safety = 8 lbs total
Already carrying: 1 lb remaining
Need to buy: 7 lbs

Resupply Frequency Strategies

Frequent resupply (every 1-2 days):

Pros: Lighter daily weight, fresher food, more flexibility
Cons: More time in towns, harder on remote routes
Best for: Populated routes, riders who enjoy town stops

Moderate resupply (every 3-4 days):

Pros: Balance of weight and independence
Cons: Requires planning, heavier carry days
Best for: Most bikepacking trips

Infrequent resupply (5+ days):

Pros: Maximum wilderness time, fewer stops
Cons: Heavy carries, monotonous food, risk if miscalculated
Best for: Remote routes, experienced riders

Timing Within the Day

Morning resupply:

Pros: Full selection, staff available for questions
Cons: Carrying food weight all day

Afternoon resupply:

Pros: Lighter morning riding, eat some food before buying more
Cons: Limited hours in small towns, stock may be depleted

Evening arrival:

Pros: Fresh food for dinner, lightest carry
Cons: Store may be closed, no backup options

Best practice: Arrive with enough food to survive if the store is closed. Never count on a single option.

What to Buy at Each Stop

Small-Town Grocery Priorities

Limited selection means smart choices. Prioritize:

Calorie-dense items: Peanut butter, nuts, cheese, crackers
Protein sources: Cheese, canned tuna (if no pouches), jerky
Fresh morale foods: Bananas, apples, bread
Resupply staples: Oatmeal, tortillas, snack bars

Skip: Heavy canned goods (unless you'll eat immediately), bulky low-calorie items.

Gas Station Strategy

When it's your only option:

Best bets:

Nuts and trail mix (usually available)
Jerky (protein source)
Peanut butter crackers (surprisingly decent)
Candy and chocolate (calories)
Energy bars (often available)
Bananas (often available)
Sandwiches (if fresh)

Avoid:

Hot dogs and roller food (questionable freshness)
Heavy drinks (water is lighter)
Items you won't eat

Reality check: Gas station resupply is survival mode, not optimization. Get enough calories to reach real food.

Full Grocery Maximization

With good options available (see our budget food guide for affordable options):

Eat fresh first: Salad bar, deli, bakery—eat before leaving
Buy for the segment: Calculate days to next resupply
Include treats: Morale matters on long trips
Fresh for Day 1: Items that won't travel (fresh bread, ripe fruit)

Handling Resupply Failures

When the Store Is Closed

Immediate options:

Find another store (gas station, convenience)
Restaurant meal to load calories
Ask locals (sometimes there's an option you missed)
Ration existing food and push to next stop

Prevention:

Never arrive with zero food
Carry 1+ day emergency beyond calculated needs
Have backup resupply identified

When Selection Is Limited

That "grocery store" has only chips, beer, and canned goods.

Strategy:

Buy the best available (calories are calories)
Look for hidden gems (peanut butter, nuts, crackers often exist)
Supplement with restaurant meal
Adjust expectations and push on

When You're Running Low

If miscalculation or bad luck leaves you short:

Ration: Cut portions by 30-50%, prioritize high-calorie items
Find calories: Gas stations, vending machines, ask at houses
Adjust route: If possible, divert to resupply sooner
Push: Sometimes the answer is harder miles on less food

Preventing this situation:

Always carry extra beyond calculated needs
Don't pass resupply options when food is low
Track consumption vs. remaining supply

Route-Specific Considerations

For beginner-friendly routes with easier resupply, see our best beginner bikepacking routes.

Popular Routes with Established Resupply

Great Divide Mountain Bike Route:

Generally 2-4 days between towns
Well-documented resupply options
A few challenging sections (New Mexico, Montana)
Resources: Adventure Cycling maps, numerous online guides

TransAmerica Trail:

Frequent resupply through most sections
Rural Midwest can have long stretches
Restaurant options more common
Resources: Adventure Cycling maps, warmshowers hosts

Arizona Trail:

Significant wilderness sections
Mail drops essential for through-hikers/bikers
Limited water affects food choices (more dry foods)
Resources: AZT Association, thru-rider journals

International Considerations

Resupply abroad adds complexity:

Research: Food availability varies by country. Research what's common. Language: Learn food-related vocabulary Currency: Some small towns are cash-only Hours: Sunday closures are standard in many countries Mail drops: International mail is slower and less reliable

Tracking and Adjusting

Daily Food Audit

Each evening, quick assessment:

Food remaining
Days to next resupply
Daily consumption rate
Any needed adjustments

When to Adjust

Eat more if:

Behind on calories (feeling depleted)
Next resupply is soon
Weather is cold (need more fuel)

Eat less if:

Running short on food
Resupply is uncertain
Already carrying excess

Learning Your Consumption

After a few days, you'll know your actual consumption rate:

Higher altitude = more calories needed
Harder terrain = more calories needed
Hot weather = less appetite (but still need fuel)
Cold weather = more calories needed

Adjust future planning based on actual experience.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Trusting Google Hours

That "Open until 9pm" listing is from 2019. Hours change, especially seasonally.

Fix: Call critical stops. Check recent reviews for current info.

Mistake 2: Counting on One Option

If your plan depends on a single store being open, it will be closed.

Fix: Identify backup options. Arrive with buffer food.

Mistake 3: Skipping Resupply When Available

"I have enough food, I'll skip this stop" → Murphy's Law activates.

Fix: Top off when you can. You can always eat more later.

Mistake 4: Under-Planning Remote Sections

That 200-mile wilderness section looked manageable on the map.

Fix: Research thoroughly. Calculate conservatively. Use mail drops.

Mistake 5: Over-Packing Food

Carrying 8 days of food when resupply is 3 days away wastes energy.

Fix: Plan precisely. Carry safety margin, not excess.

FAQ

How many days of food should I carry maximum?

Most bikepackers find 5-7 days practical (7-10+ lbs of food). Beyond that, weight significantly impacts riding. Use mail drops for longer gaps.

Should I always use mail drops?

Only for remote routes or special dietary needs. For populated routes, stores are more flexible than fixed mail drops.

What if a mail drop doesn't arrive?

Have a backup plan. Know what local options exist. Allow extra mail transit time.

How do I find resupply info for a specific route?

Start with route-specific resources (Adventure Cycling maps, trail associations). Check forums and rider blogs for recent reports. Call ahead for critical stops.

Is it worth stopping at every possible resupply?

Not necessarily. Balance frequency against time. But never pass resupply when you're getting low on food.

What's the best safety margin?

Carry at least 1 extra day of food beyond calculated needs. In remote areas, consider 2 days extra.

Quick Reference: Resupply Checklist

Before the trip:

Map all resupply options on route
Verify hours and seasonal closures
Calculate food carries for each segment
Arrange mail drops if needed
Identify backup options for critical sections

At each stop:

Buy enough for segment + safety margin
Check hours for next potential stop
Eat fresh food before leaving
Top off water

Daily tracking:

Food remaining vs. days to resupply
Adjust consumption if needed
Note actual consumption rate for future planning

For food recommendations, see our Complete Bikepacking Food Guide. For meal planning strategies, check Bikepacking Meal Planning.

Plan smart. Carry enough. Never bonk.