The 7 Best Motorcycle Rides You Can Take in America
There’s nothing more liberating than riding a motorcycle through a scenic area. To help you pick your next motorcycle adventure, here are 7 of the best motorcycle rides you can take in America!
What are you doing on your next vacation? Road trips account for 22% of vacations these days.
Why not take your motorcycle for a ride someplace new on your time off?
Not only is driving budget friendly, you have the chance to make lasting memories and experiences. Check out the best motorcycle rides for a unique road trip on your next vacation.
7 Best Motorcycle Rides
Some motorcycle roads are considered great because they have back to back heart-stopping hairpin turns. They are designed to test your focus, balance, skill, and agility. Other roads are great because they are long, winding, and all about the experiences along the way.
These roads take you through the countryside to towns you never knew existed. Finally, some roads made this list of greats because they let you experience nature in a whole new and up close way.
1. Pacific Coast Highway
Hop on your bike and take a cruise down the coast of California on the Pacific Coast Highway.
For 120 miles travel by Big Sur and enjoy cliff-hugging curves and plenty of stops for pictures.
If you’re feeling more adventurous you can do the entire highway from Oregon to Malibu. You’ll have views of the redwood forests and beaches with seals, making it one of the most scenic motorcycle rides in the country.
Be sure to plan for the change in weather as it can be quite damp and cool in Oregon. The weather will change to warm and sunny by the time you reach the end of the Highway in Malibu.
2. Peak to Peak Highway
You’ll marvel at the views of the southwestern border of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado as you cruise the sixty miles of the Peak to Peak Highway. Wildlife is abundant with plenty of moose and elk.
Even though it’s one of the shortest highways, you will see thick forests, alpine meadows, and glacier-cut valleys. Plan to bring your camping or hiking equipment to enjoy the state parks you start and end in.
Head out in spring to take in the blooming wildflowers. You could also go in fall and catch the aspens. Going during the middle of summer will guarantee all of the snow is gone.
3. Blue Ridge Parkway
Take a cruise along the Blue Ridge Parkway and pass by historic Civil War sites, sweeping countrysides, and the mountains the Parkway gets its name from. It will take you about two days to cruise the 469 miles at about 45 miles per hour.
Start in Virginia and end your ride with a stay at the Biltmore Village Lodge in Asheville, North Carolina. You’ll have plenty of places to pull off and take a break while you enjoy the photogenic views.
If you want to make the trip even longer include the Skyline Drive. This 105-mile drive takes you through the Shenandoah National Park and will connect you back to the Parkway.
4. Tail of the Dragon
If you are looking for hair-raising twisties, Tail of the Dragon is one of the best motorcycle routes.
There are 318 curves in a short 11 miles of road.
Touring and sports bikes alike make a pilgrimage here to test their skills. The best part is your free to corner without the worry of trucks sharing the road.
Vehicles longer than 30 feet were banned by North Carolina in 2012 and by Tennessee in 2015.
This will give you the freedom to enjoy the ride without the fear of a truck being stuck in the road up ahead.
Other roads on this list are the entire experience, traveling for hundreds of miles. The Dragon is more of a day’s experience or thing to do while traveling along your journey.
5. Beartooth Highway
If you’re looking for hairpin turns and switchbacks you need to take a ride down the Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming. This 68-mile stretch travels through Beartooth pass at 10,000 feet.
You’ll have views of meadows full of blooms and mountains capped with snow. Just be aware that this route is closed from October through May due to snow.
6. Coastal Route One
Travel north to Maine and take Route One for 167 miles on two-lane quaint asphalt roads. You’ll travel through small seaside towns and enjoy views of historic lighthouses.
These sweeping roads are more about the cruise and sightseeing than racing around tight turns.
Plan to make multiple stops along the way to check out the local towns full of restaurants and shops.
Just be careful in summer when the tourists will be clogging up the roads. It will put a serious damper on your cruising to be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.
7. Grand Staircase
Take in the beauty of nature on this 124-mile ride through the eroded Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef National Park, and Petrified Forest. You will start in Panguitch and travel through multi-colored rock formations.
Be sure to plan for two days so you can catch the brilliant colors of the sunsets and sunrises.
While taking a break from your ride stop and learn about the local Native American people who have called the area home for centuries.
You should be an experienced rider before taking this ride. You will contend with narrow twisty roads at high altitudes and no guard rails. There can be gusting winds, sand on the road, and tourist RV traffic.
Go Riding!
What are you waiting for? Load up your motorcycle trailer and get out there. Turn this list of the best motorcycle rides into your bucket list.
If you’re really adventurous you could plan a single trip to experience all of these top seven rides. It will be a cross-country tour of the best motorcycle riding America has to offer.
Start in Maine with Route One, travel down the Blue Ridge Parkway, then to the Tail of the Dragon. Travel West for the Grand Staircase, Beartooth, and Peek to Peek Highways. Finish your tour with a ride down the Pacific Coast Highway.
Check out these other great tips for making the most of your trip.
