1. Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway, stretching 469 miles from Virginia's Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, offers riders a scenic escape with stunning views of the Appalachian Highlands. The road is well-maintained, ensuring a smooth journey for motorcyclists.
The Parkway encourages frequent stops at pull-offs to appreciate the dense forests, flowering meadows, and panoramic viewpoints. Riders can also explore the region's rich musical heritage at the Blue Ridge Music Center, which features live performances and exhibitions on the history of mountain music.
It's important to prepare for varied weather conditions along this route, as the high elevations can bring cooler temperatures and sudden weather changes. Having the right gear can greatly impact comfort and safety during the journey.
Riding the Blue Ridge Parkway embodies the spirit of motorcycle touring, combining freedom, adventure, and a deep connection with nature. Take your time, respect the road, and enjoy the beauty at every turn.
2. Pacific Coast Highway
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in California offers a stunning motorcycle ride with unparalleled ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and picturesque coastal towns. The 123-mile journey from Monterey to Morro Bay showcases some of California's most beautiful natural wonders.
Starting in Monterey, riders can explore attractions like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row before hitting the road. As you head south, the PCH alternates between twisting cliff-hugging stretches and more relaxed, straight sections with expansive ocean views.
A must-stop is the enchanting town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, known for its:
- Fairytale cottages
- White sandy beaches
- Gourmet restaurants
- Art galleries
It's a perfect place to take a break from the ride and soak in the tranquil atmosphere.
As the route progresses to Big Sur, riders will encounter dramatically steep cliffs and lush forests. Riding along the cliff edges provides a sense of freedom while commanding respect for the power of nature.
The journey concludes at Morro Bay, where riders can unwind near the ancient volcanic mound known as Morro Rock. The town offers quaint shops, seafood restaurants, and serene views of fishing boats at sunset.
Traveling the Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to Morro Bay is an unforgettable experience that combines coastal magnificence with the intimate charm of seaside towns. This quintessential motorcycle journey will leave riders with lasting memories of freedom and beauty.
3. The Tail of the Dragon
The Tail of the Dragon, officially known as US Route 129, is a legendary 11-mile stretch that winds through the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. With 318 challenging curves, it offers some of the most technically demanding riding in the Eastern United States.1
Starting at Deals Gap on the North Carolina side, riders encounter one sharp bend after another, each turn demanding respect and skill. The route weaves past lush woodland scenery set against the backdrop of the Appalachian mountains.
Rider camaraderie at both ends of the Dragon enhances the journey's appeal, as most gather to share stories, troubleshoot issues, or admire each other's skills. The nearby Tree of Shame, decorated with motorcycle parts from less fortunate adventures, serves as a reminder of the respect due to these curves.
An early start can help riders avoid heavier traffic that accumulates throughout the day. The route's numerous sharp curves have been named by locals, such as Copperhead Corner, Wheelie Hell, and Gravity Cavity, emphasizing the concentration and skill required to navigate them.
Completing the Tail of the Dragon confers a badge of honor among motorcycle enthusiasts. Those who conquer this legendary route often return with tales of excitement and newfound respect for the road. Riding the Dragon is less about conquering the asphalt and more about dancing with a legendary partner forged from challenge and lore.
4. Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana's Glacier National Park provides an epic journey characterized by awe-inspiring landscapes and rugged terrains. This 50-mile engineering marvel cuts through the park, offering riders a unique experience amidst the spectacular Rocky Mountains.
Starting from West Glacier, the ascent is set against a backdrop of lush valleys that gradually transform into imposing, glacier-scoured peaks. Each curve and switchback reveals stunning vistas, with waterfalls cascading down rock faces and wildflowers adding vibrant color to the rugged landscape.
As the road climbs to Logan Pass at 6,646 feet, riders find themselves in an otherworldly tundra zone where mountain goats and bighorn sheep roam freely.2 This high point serves as a moment of reflection, allowing riders to pause and appreciate the path traveled and the descending road ahead.
The descent to St. Mary's side of the park offers less twisting roads but compensates with expansive views of lower valleys and the vast prairie stretching eastward.
A journey along Going-to-the-Sun Road is not merely a trip through a national park but a pilgrimage through space and time. The road beckons riders to immerse themselves in nature's varied artistic expressions, creating an unforgettable experience that resonates long after the ride has ended.
5. Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway, stretching across Montana and Wyoming, invites motorcyclists to experience the untamed beauty of America's wilderness. With elevations reaching nearly 11,000 feet above sea level, this route pits rider spirit against the rugged terrain.
Starting from Red Lodge, Montana, the journey quickly ascends through changing landscapes, from soothing valleys to windswept vista points and snowy outposts. The route is known for its dramatic twists and cloud-scraping heights, rewarding riders with spectacular views at every turn.
Traversing hairpin turns and switchbacks, riders encounter alpine meadows, glacier-laden peaks, and diverse wildlife, including mountain goats and marmots. The pinnacle of the ride, Beartooth Pass, offers a breathtaking panorama where riders find themselves immersed in the raw beauty of the mountains.
Eastwards to Cooke City, the paths become less winding but offer verdant pastures and tranquil streams. The landscapes transform with every ride, depending on the interplay of light and weather, creating an ever-changing canvas for riders to enjoy.
Riding the Beartooth Highway is more than just a technical challenge; it is an opportunity to forge a deep connection with the untouched wilderness. This sky-high road invites riders to defy everyday perceptions of possibility and experience a truly celestial journey on two wheels.
6. Highway 12
Highway 12 is a picturesque route that connects Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks in Utah. This 124-mile journey traverses diverse terrains, from red rock formations to verdant woodlands. The road weaves through narrow canyons and open vistas, offering riders a chance to immerse themselves in the stunning natural beauty of the region.
As you ride through Capitol Reef National Park, you'll be treated to a vibrant palette of colors, from ochre-stained rocks to the varied green hues of aspen trees. The highway becomes more than just a means of travel; it invites introspection and allows riders to connect with the environment.
Approaching Bryce Canyon, the landscape intensifies with towering hoodoos, uniquely eroded rock spires that resemble watchful titans. These marvels create an amphitheater-like enclosure that challenges the limits of the imagination.
The allure of Highway 12 lies not only in the distance covered but also in the moments of pause. Photo opportunities abound, with each crest and hill revealing another masterpiece designed by nature. Layovers at designated overlooks offer reflective moments where both camera and mind must tread carefully, acknowledging the profound depth of beauty before them.
Navigating through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the route concludes with vast stages of picturesque slot canyons. Here, the desert exerts its influence, reflecting back an immensity that transcends momentary concerns.
Riding Highway 12 is an experience that leaves indelible impressions, inviting motorcyclists to reconsider roads as more than just distances between coordinates. It is a journey through Earth's splendid episodes, each mile narrated quietly in the language of unhindered landscapes.
7. The Twisted Sisters
The Twisted Sisters, comprising Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337, form a challenging and charming circuit in the Texas Hill Country. This route is not merely about accelerating into blind turns; it's a gateway to immersive geographical storytelling. The roads weave through isolated settings and rustic charm, with tales etched into rocky escarpments and echoed in sparse, hardy brushwood.
RR 337 in Medina kicks off the journey with winding ascents and hairpin turns that test even seasoned riders' courage. As you ascend further on RR 335, you'll find yourself surrounded by cliff faces and resilient Hill Country oaks. Lonely cattle guards serve as checkpoints, to be approached with caution and a spirit nudged by speed.
Turning onto RR 336, the route opens up to vast views, with fields dipping and rolling into valleys nestled against daring ridges. The landscape seems to croon old country ballads, with stories of hard rock, hidden waters, and ancestral lands simmering beneath the surface.
Every twist and turn in these arteries pushes motorcycle engines and riders' resolve, drawing them into a symbiotic dance with the landscape and machine. The surroundings soar, creating a terrestrial symphony that is both haunting and absorbing.
After completing this circular route, riders emerge ruffled but enriched, intertwined tightly with the feral womb of this microcosm. Scattered diners and biker-friendly stops offer respite, inviting frazzled sliders to enjoy a cup of coffee or a bite of down-home Texan fare.
The Twisted Sisters offer an experience that goes beyond merely shifting gears beneath star-dusted dusks. It's a spell conjured in aerodynamic communion with the meditative spirit of unbridled feasting on the feral asphalt serenades.
8. Coastal Route 1
Maine's Coastal Route 1 stretches along the northeast Atlantic coastline from Brunswick to Machias, offering a journey into the genteel charm of coastal Maine. The road invites riders to slip into a tranquil pace, with vistas peeking through breaks in lush pine and fir trees, revealing the vast Atlantic.
Towns like Bath, known for its shipbuilding history, offer insight into Maine's proud maritime heritage. The streets are lined with artisan shops and seafood eateries that hold the secrets of the sea in every scrumptious bite. A lobster roll is an unmissable treat, ideal for fueling the miles ahead.
Rockland beckons with its quaint boutiques and compelling art galleries, representing the local scene and keeping Maine's cultural spirit alive. Beyond Rockland, Road 1 serpentines gently, revealing quiet coves and weatherworn lighthouses guarding towns that time seems too respectful to bother.
Camden, with Mount Battie offering an awe-inspiring overlook, allows riders to relish in the panorama of Penobscot Bay. Every curve along the coastal road knits deeper into the fabric of contemplation, each stretch a lyrical note in the ballad of the journey.
As the miles stack and wind toward Machias, the natural envelope ebbs wider, with the boundless canopy overhead and side roads tatting into underdiscovered niches of viridescent staging. Towns like Belfast, Searsport, and Machias present days-to-stay, inviting riders to retreat into micro-moments of celebration.
- Walks by harbors where moored boats bob, sharing sea fables with each dock sway
- Inhaling air thickened with brine and pine
- Local catches served beside roaring Pacific waves
- Antique shops housing centuries of local lore tightly packed between mahogany and maritime artifacts
Completing your road passage in Machias spells out not an end but an interlude, where feelings paused at sojourning crescents invite pondering returns. Coastal Route 1 isn't just traversed but intimately felt, a coherent run of road strung delicately under cloud-laced skies, parading robust stories awaiting ventures bound in Brazilian leather saddles.
In conclusion, each motorcycle route offers an opportunity to connect deeply with both nature and oneself. The most profound aspect of these journeys is found in the quiet moments they offer riders to engage with their environment and reflect on their experiences. Motorcycle touring provides a unique way to explore landscapes, cultures, and oneself, leaving riders with unforgettable memories and a newfound appreciation for the world around them.1-3
