TOP 10 MOTORCYCLE ROADS IN AMERICA
What Are The Best Motorcycle Roads In America for 2024?
- North Cascades Hwy: WA
- Pig Trail Scenic Byway: AR
- Grand Staircase-Escalante: UT
- The Lolo Pass: ID, MT
- Mad River Loop: VT
- Natchez Trace Parkway: TN, AL, MS
- River Rd FM 170: TX
- Deals Gap: TN, NC
- Peak to Peak Highway: CO
- CA Hwy 36: CA
This is our 2024 guide for the top ten best motorcycle rides in the United States. This list takes into consideration the various components of what makes a motorcycle road truly great - scenery, adventurousness, road pavement quality, and of course twisting curves! We even offer the free Google maps link for each route. Here you'll find the best states for motorcycle riding. Your next motorcycle trip adventure in 2024 starts here! If you don't see one of your favorite roads on this 2024 list, there's a good chance it was on our Top 10 for 2023 list.
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NORTH CASCADES HWY
WASHINGTON
LENGTH: 172 miles
RIDE TIME: 4 hours
Motorcyclists will thoroughly enjoy this beautiful and relaxing ride through the North Cascades National Park, especially ascending up Washington Pass at around 7,000ft elevation. Twist along this great motorcycle ride in Washington with scenery of the majestic national park mountains, glacier views and crystal turquoise waters from the river canyons. This great motorcycle road features astounding variety. Be sure to check out the nearby Diablo Dam Road, which is a short detour just off the route.
Be sure to check out more of the best motorcycle rides near me in Washington.
PIG TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY
ARKANSAS
LENGTH: 26 miles
RIDE TIME: 40 min
The Pig Trail Scenic Byway is one of the most well-known motorcycle rides in Arkansas, and carves through Ozark National Forest. The byway follows Arkansas Highway 23 from the Interstate 40 exit, and travels north through the national forest to the town of Brashears, AR. The rugged and forested Boston Mountains region of the Ozark Mountains provides the setting for this ride. You'll often be riding under a canopy of trees, making for a nice, shady ride during the hot summer months. 'The Pig' has curves, hairpins, elevation changes, and great scenery - all of which makes this one of the best motorcycle rides in Arkansas!
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in Arkansas.
GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE
UTAH
LENGTH: 124 miles
RIDE TIME: 2.5 hours
This scenic byway snakes through two of Utah's five National Parks, including Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef. There are sensational views to be had on this 124 mile stretch of great motorcycling road, including multicolored slot canyons, sandstone cliffs and vast mesas. One section of this ride includes Scenic Byway 12, which is designated as an All-American Road because it features some of the most iconic Western scenery in the USA. The route south from Boulder to Escalante includes an amazing stretch of road - you'll ride a high ridge line with cliffs dropping away from the road on both sides. This Utah motorcycle road is truly a winding delight of stunning views, diverse terrain changes and little traffic.
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in Utah.
THE LOLO PASS
IDAHO, MONTANA
LENGTH: 205 miles
RIDE TIME: 4.5 hours
This portion of the Lewis & Clark Trail takes you through the Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana. US-12 winds through excellent scenery and well marked curves. The views of the Lochsa River are wonderful. The pavement quality is also very good. Riding up to Lolo Pass is a unique, awe-inspiring experience. From the pass, you can see beautiful views of the Montana mountain scenery. However, the ride itself is also enjoyable, featuring the smooth twisties and narrow roads many motorcyclists love. Although this is not one of the more well-known motorcycle roads in the country, many riders say this one surpasses them all for continuous curves, beauty, distance, quality of road and overall riding quality. If you're looking for a motorcycle road with never-ending twisties, straightaways and scenery, don't miss this great motorcycle ride in 2024!
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in Idaho and Montana.
MAD RIVER LOOP
VERMONT
LENGTH: 66 miles
RIDE TIME: 1.5 Hours
This loop is one of the best you can ride in New England, as it features all the types of riding you could ask for. The loop includes the VT Scenic 100 Byway, which is a gorgeous road with the Green Mountains in view, as well as scenic farm land. VT-17 is especially technical as you ride through the southern tip of Camel's Hump State Forest with hills and dramatic elevation changes. The mountain scenery provides a beautiful backdrop as you navigate the turns and twisting curves. Ride this with caution and enjoy the mountain scenery on this great Vermont motorcycle road!
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in Vermont.
NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY
TENNESSEE, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI
LENGTH: 444 miles
RIDE TIME: 10 hours
While most of the rides on this list are exciting challenges, sometimes you just need a relaxing cruise to clear the mind. That's where the Natchez Trace Parkway comes in. This national parkway is a two-lane road that extends 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. The National Park's website calls it "A Drive through 10,000 Years of History". It roughly follows the "Old Natchez Trace" a historic travel corridor used by American Indians, "Kaintucks," European settlers, slave traders, soldiers, and future presidents.
There's a few reasons why this motorcycle road is so unique and should be on a top 10 list for America. Firstly, commercial traffic is prohibited, so traffic is generally light. The parkway is clean, smooth and relaxing. You wont be dealing with bumpy roads. Another benefit is the scenery. While there may not be epic mountainside views, the scenery is unique, because instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and countryside vistas. And best of all? There's no stop signs or stop lights! Just cruise among the beautiful scenery and historic sites.
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.
TX FM170
TEXAS (FM170, Ross Maxwell Dr)
LENGTH: 274 miles
RIDE TIME: 6 hours
The Big Bend area in Texas offers spectacular motorcycle riding. From west to east, it's a nice decent into the mountains. FM170 is often referred to as The River Road, as it follows the Rio Grande. From Lajitas follow the route down to the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. It's an incredibly scenic ride, with mountains, valleys, hills and curves to Santa Elena Canyon Overlook. The Chisos Basin area of the park has some winding switchbacks and has monumental rock formations to ride through as well. The route also features rollercoaster-like elevation changes while the Rio Grande is often visible from the roadside. Extend this route to the nearby Big Bend National Park entrance for a longer ride to make it the best motorcycle ride in Texas for 2024!
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in Texas.
DEAL'S GAP (THE DRAGON)
TENNESSEE, N CAROLINA
LENGTH: 11 miles
RIDE TIME: 30 mins
Possibly the most infamous route among motorcyclists is the Tail of the Dragon, also known as Deals Gap. This stretch of U.S. 129 is a beautiful piece of road, perfectly engineered in banking, immaculately paved, and combining a pleasing rhythm of tight turns - the appeal of this adventure is actually just riding it. Tail of the Dragon is one of the most challenging rides as it boasts a whopping 318 curves in just 11 miles. And while there are no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travel, the sheer popularity of this road means there will almost always be many riders in front of you and behind you. There are occasional events and rallies at Deals Gap, so check before you go to make sure the traffic isn't too intense. Remember, Deals Gap is a challenge even for skilled riders. Motorcycle crashes are unfortunately quite common here. This road is on list list because it's truly a once in a lifetime experience by motorcycle. You just don't want it to be an END of life experience!
Still, this road is truly like no other, and is a definite "bucket list" for any accomplished motorcyclist for 2024.
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in North Carolina and Tennessee.
PEAK TO PEAK BYWAY
COLORADO (CO-119, 72, 7)
LENGTH: 61 miles
RIDE TIME: 1.5 hours
The Peak to Peak Byway was established in 1918 and provides spectacular mountain scenery of the Front Range Mountains in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The route has an excellent variety of twisties mixed with long sweeping and tight, quick corners.
From Golden, CO take Hwy 6 through Clear Lake Canyon Park to reach Hwy 119, the beginning of the Peak to Peak. Riders will experience majestic views and terrific scenery on this fine highway. Feel the cool, clear air with elevation over 8000ft in Black Hawk, while the north end in Estes Park is over 7000 ft. May through September will be the best time to ride to the summit due to the less probability of snowfall. Have a great ride, bring your camera, and enjoy one of the best motorcycle rides in the United States for 2024!
Check out more of the best motorcycle rides near me in Colorado.
CA HIGHWAY 36
CALIFORNIA
LENGTH: 141 miles
RIDE TIME: 3 hours
If you're looking for a roller-coaster type of motorcycle ride, this is the road for you! California 36 is a historic road. It begins in Red Bluff and connects Interstate 5 to the Pacific Coast. With 2,000 corners in 140 miles, it's one of the longest twisty roads in California. This route traverses some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes in the state. Ride among rocky mountains and rolling valleys on the amazing Hwy 36 in California. Motorcyclists will thoroughly enjoy the flowing series of twisting curves that seem like they're tailor made for motorcycles!
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in California!
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PLACES TO RIDE MOTORCYCLES NEAR ME
Alabama - Arizona - Arkansas - California - Colorado - Connecticut - Delaware - Florida - Georgia - Idaho - Illinois - Indiana - Iowa - Kansas - Kentucky - Louisiana - Maine - Maryland - Massachusetts - Michigan - Minnesota - Mississippi - Missouri - Montana - Nebraska - Nevada - New Hampshire - New Jersey - New Mexico - New York - North Carolina - North Dakota - Ohio - Oklahoma - Oregon - Pennsylvania - Rhode Island - South Carolina - South Dakota - Tennessee - Texas - Utah - Vermont - Virginia - Washington - West Virginia - Wisconsin - Wyoming
Which state has the best motorcycle riding?
Montana and Tennessee usually score the highest in owning the top motorcycle roads in America. Montana has the Beartooth Highway, Going-To-The-Sun Road, Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, all of which are truly epic. Tennessee boasts the world-famous Tail of the Dragon, as well as the Cherohala Skyway and Natchez Trace Parkway, which make the country's top ten lists every year.
What are the best motorcycle destinations?
The varied national parks in America make for fantastic motorcycle trip destinations. The roads are usually excellently maintained, and the scenery is the best you'll find in the United States. There are 63 National Parks scattered across the country. From Acadia National Park in Maine, to Joshua Tree National Park in California, you'll see a tremendous amount of diversity, and experience the best America has to offer from your motorcycle!
How do I choose the best motorcycle routes across America?
GreatMotorcycleRoads.com is the best place to plan a motorcycle trip across America. We cover the best rides in every state, and include motorcycle map links to the direct Google maps routes. These map links can also be converted into GPX files which you can upload onto your personal GPS unit.
Please note: Any routes and recommendations are based solely on our opinions and are meant for informational purposes only. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. GreatMotorcycleRoads.com is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. We assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. You are completely responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety.