I took my maiden bike ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway on a motorbike that was not big enough for my trip. I was on a 250 cc bike, which I was convinced was good enough to take me on my journey. More than the quality of the bike, I still remember that ride. This is what makes the Naye motorcycle road trips in the USA interesting. It is neither the bike nor the distance that matters. It is the road, the turns, and the places where you stop for some time during the trip.
This isn’t a list of every road a motorcycle can technically ride, because that list would be endless and mostly useless. It is these routes that keep being mentioned repeatedly by people who have ridden them. These are the routes that people will plan their entire journey around, instead of just passing through while heading to another place.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, to North Carolina
This route is practically everywhere as a scenic ride, and rightly so. About 469 miles of sheer goodness driving through the Appalachian Mountains at a leisurely speed. Autumn is peak season because of the leaves, but the late spring and summer give you almost the same sights with a lot less commotion.
Make sure to fuel up before you hit the road because the stations are few and far between along the parkway. And plan for slower average speeds. This is a road built for looking around, not covering ground fast.
Pacific Coast Highway, California
California is home to Highway 1, which is truly one of those sights that cannot be captured by any picture. On one side of the road, one sees mountains, while the sea is on the other side. Big Sur happens to be the headline of this area, and it’s justified. But the stretch further south past Malibu deserves more credit than it usually gets.
Check road conditions before you go. This route experiences more landslides and closings than the average traveler would expect. A simple phone call can save a traveler from the inconvenience of planning an entire journey around a closed-off stretch of road.
Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee and North Carolina
An eleven-mile road with 318 curves, this particular stretch has gained notoriety among motorcyclists everywhere. This isn’t a road for cruising. It’s a road for actually riding, tight and technical in a way that rewards someone who knows their bike well. Not exactly a road for everyone. Honestly, that’s kind of the point of it.
Get there early if you can. Weekends fill up fast with riders and photographers both. The road is a lot more fun with fewer people crowding the same curves you’re trying to enjoy.
Route 66, Illinois to California
The original cross-country motorcycle trip, more or less, at least in spirit. Route 66 isn’t one continuous highway anymore. The journey proceeds through sections of blazing highways, exit lanes, roadways, and different places where you’ll have to hop onto the highway to merge with long stretches. The path makes up for the infrequency of curves in the area with the presence of small towns along the way and road sign stalls, all of which together create a mix of historical locations that you won’t find on many interstate travels.
Plan for more time than anticipated. This is a route people spend two or three weeks on, not a weekend, if they actually want to stop and see what’s along it.
Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming
This may very well be the most dramatic road of our listWith an elevation greater than 10,000 feet and numerous curves and bends in the road, the Beartooth Highway is one that will require you to pull over every once in a while. The Beartooth Highway also does a great job connecting with Yellowstone; therefore, most people combine the two.
Pack layers no matter what the weather looks like down at the bottom. Temperature swings hard once you’re up in the altitude, and snow isn’t unusual even in summer months at the higher stretches.
What Actually Makes These Motorcycle Touring Routes Worth It
The best motorcycle touring routes tend to share a few things in common. Good pavement, obviously, since a beautiful road with terrible surface conditions gets old fast, no matter how nice the view is. A mix of curves and straightaways too, since nonstop tight turns wear a rider out just as much as flat, boring highway does, maybe more. And stops worth actually making, whether that’s food, a view, or somewhere to stretch and reset before the next stretch.
The America’s Byways program run by the Federal Highway Administration keeps an official list of scenic and historic routes across the country. Decent starting point if you’re building your own trip beyond what’s on this list.
Best Roads for Motorcycles Depend on What You’re Riding
The best roads for motorcycle shifts are quite a bit depending on the bike underneath you. A big touring bike handles long interstate stretches and gentle curves just fine. But it’s going to feel heavy and awkward on something like the Tail of the Dragon. A nimble sport bike works well on technical roads but gets exhausting on a lengthy straight stretch. Be aware of the strengths of your motorcycle before choosing a route to ride on or else you’ll be battling the road rather than riding on it.
If you’re still deciding what to ride these routes on, our guide on choosing a motorcycle for long-distance touring breaks down what actually matters for comfort over long days in the saddle. And our motorcycle packing checklist for road trips covers what to actually bring, since packing for a bike is nothing like packing for a car.
Motorcycle Road Trip Planning Basics
Proper motorcycle road trip planning should begin weeks in advance, not the night before departure like many people tend to do. Before making the trip, give your tires, chain, and fluids a good check in time to fix them if need be. Plan for fuel stops during long stretches because certain roads can go long distances without filling stations. Weather must be checked during the whole route, not just at the starting point, because mountain roads can have completely different weather conditions than those in the valley where you are departing from. Even a short trip can turn into a long one fast if something small breaks down thirty miles from the nearest town. The AAA’s motorcycle trip planning resources are worth a look too, especially for route mapping and roadside assistance if you’re heading somewhere unfamiliar.
The Bottom Line
The best motorcycle road trips in the USA aren’t really about checking a famous road off some list. It’s concerning choosing ways that definitely correlate with the choice of driving style. Therefore, do not hurry to complete your trip. Whether you are tackling the sharp twists of the Dragon or taking the long and leisurely way of Route 66, the ideal expedition is the one when the chosen road satisfies both the biker’s needs and wishes and the time that each particular person has to spend.
FAQ
What’s the best time of year to ride these routes?
Late spring through early fall covers most of them well, though it really depends on the specific road. Beartooth Highway can still have snow into June some years. The Blue Ridge Parkway gets packed in October for leaf season. Shoulder months usually mean better roads with fewer crowds.
Will I need a special motorcycle for the journey?
The answer is no since having the right kind of motorcycle will not only make your journey much more enjoyable but also fun. For instance, touring motorcycles are ideal for long routes such as Route 66 since they are made for comfort. Lighter motorcycles are also much better on narrow and technical roads, such as the famous Tail of the Dragon.
How long should I plan for a full cross-country motorcycle trip?
Most riders spend two to four weeks if they actually want to enjoy the stops along the way, not just ride through them. A rushed version can technically happen in under two weeks, sure. But you’ll miss most of what makes the trip worth doing.
Are these roads safe for a first long motorcycle trip?
Some are more beginner-friendly than others, honestly.Since the Blue Ridge Parkway has a reduced speed limit as compared to normal US roads, this makes the journey easier in many ways. However, the other side of it is the Tail of the Dragon, where it gets really challenging as it is better suited for those who are conversant with driving on sharp curves.
What are the necessary things I need to check on my motorcycle before starting on a long trip?
At the least, make sure to inspect your tires and tire pressure, chain tension, fluids, and brakes at around one to two weeks prior to your journey to leave some time to fix any problems that might be encountered. Even though it is smart to carry out final checks just before leaving, it must not be the very first time you have done any of these things in the month.