The route covers approximately 86 miles through Polk, Pasco and Hillsborough counties, traveling from nearly untouched rural landscapes into some of the most heavily populated suburbs of the Tampa metropolitan area. The ride follows the Hillsborough River through natural preserves, historic military corridors, old railroad communities and vast urban sectors shaped by the explosive growth of the Tampa Bay region. Communities visited along the way include Richland, Zephyrhills South, Thonotosassa, Temple Terrace, Sulphur Springs, Egypt Lake-Leto, Carrollwood and Town 'N' Country.
The journey begins in the rural area surrounding Lumberton and Richland near the border between Polk and Pasco counties. Much of the landscape still resembles the agricultural and cattle ranching environment that dominated the region more than a century ago. Richland, one of the oldest communities in Pasco County, developed around pioneer families who arrived during the 1840s and later prospered after the railroad expansion led by Henry B. Plant. Along the route appear old farms, barns and remnants of railroad corridors that once connected the area with Tampa and the rest of Florida.
Farther ahead the route crosses Zephyrhills South and wooded areas near the Hillsborough River. This section also reveals unfinished developments left behind after the housing market collapse of 2008, with fully paved but abandoned streets disappearing into the woods. Upon entering Hillsborough County, the ride crosses Itchepackesassa Creek and reaches the Fort Foster State Historic Site, a reconstruction of a military fort used during the Second Seminole War in the 1830s. Nearby lie Hillsborough River State Park and the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, two of the most important protected natural areas in west central Florida.
The route continues along historic military roads such as the Fort King Trail and passes communities historically tied to cattle ranching and railroad expansion. In Thonotosassa, a settlement beside the lake of the same name, traces of the former Tampa Thonotosassa Railroad still survive. The area preserves massive oak trees, older businesses and lakeside homes that contrast sharply with the suburban expansion dominating much of the greater Tampa region.
Beyond Interstate 75 the landscape changes dramatically as the route enters the outer neighborhoods of Tampa. In Temple Terrace, founded during the citrus boom of the 1920s, the ride passes areas historically connected to the Hillsborough River and the early Spanish expeditions that explored the region during the eighteenth century. Nearby stands Busch Gardens, originally conceived as a botanical garden associated with the Anheuser-Busch brewery before becoming one of Florida’s best known theme parks.
The final section crosses Sulphur Springs, Egypt Lake-Leto, Carrollwood and Town 'N' Country, suburban communities largely developed during the second half of the twentieth century. Sulphur Springs became one of Tampa’s earliest major tourist destinations thanks to its sulfur springs and recreational attractions. Farther west, massive residential developments, highways and shopping centers completely dominate the landscape until reaching the shores of Old Tampa Bay. The route clearly reflects the transformation of west central Florida from military trails and agricultural settlements into one of the state’s largest and most developed metropolitan regions.
