10 of the Best Motorcycle Rides in the United States: Our Top Picks for Scenic and Adventurous Routes

From the moment you first straddle a bike, visions of taking a road trip to experience the best motorcycle rides in the country fill your dreams. With spring weather taking over, motorcycle riding can’t come soon enough.

Before you pack up your gear and hit the road, check out our travel tips about the country’s most adventurous and scenic motorcycle rides.

1. Tail of the Dragon

If you love the tilt of rounding a curve, don’t miss a trip down this unique portion of US-129. There is no getting off as you travel along the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest for 11 miles, maneuvering 318 curves.

If you’re contemplating getting a GoPro for your helmet, pick one up to record this spectacular ride.

2. Tunnel of Trees

If a fall color tour is on your scenic motorcycle rides list, ensure it includes the Tunnel of Trees on M-119 in Michigan.

This narrow 20-mile stretch of highway curves through a canopy of yellow, red, and orange leaves as you round curves offering views of Lake Michigan, log cabins, and more. Take a break along the way to visit the 1880s church at Middle Village.

3. Independence Pass

If you love taking it to the top, then a 32-mile ride through Independence Pass in Colorado is a must. You’ll enjoy cooler temperatures at 12,095 feet above sea level as your cross the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Take a break by visiting the ghost town of Independence, then rise above the tree line before beginning your descent.

4. Pacific Coast Highway

If adventurous motorcycle rides are on your agenda, check out the 850-mile Pacific Coast Highway trail. On one of our longer rides, you travel from Portland, Oregon, to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

You will ride along the Redwood Forest, California beaches, and Pacific Ocean overlooks. If you choose to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, motorcycles must use the carpool lane and use a FasTrak toll tag to receive a toll discount.

5. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a must-see for every vacationer and a road every motorcyclist loves. The breathtaking scenery and 45-mile speed limit make taking the curves along this route a breeze for every level of rider.

Your ride through the Great Smoky Mountains takes you into the clouds, so prepare for a sometimes foggy ride.

6. Beartooth Highway

This 68-mile trail provides you with breathtaking views as you wind your way up to the 11,000-foot summit of Beartooth Pass between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana.

The switchbacks keep you on alert as you navigate through national forests, alpine meadows, and sparkling lakes. If you enjoy motorcycle camping, there are 12 national forest campgrounds in the area.

7. Natchez Trace Parkway

You’ll travel 444 miles on this national scenic byway. Your ride will take you through ghost towns and along civil war scenes, farmland, and swamps.

With no trucks allowed on the route, you can feel comfortable knowing big rigs won’t hinder your view.

8. Route 66

If historic scenic motorcycle rides are your cup of tea, don’t miss taking all or part of the 2,000-mile historic Route 66. This is one of the most historic and famous roads in the United States, running from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California.

You can visit original motels, restaurants, trading posts, and more along the route.

9. Needles Highway

This short, 39-mile road will take about 1-1/2 hours to navigate. Numerous scenic overlooks are along this section of road in Custer State Park in South Dakota.

The name is because of “needles” that form tunnels blasted out of granite you must ride through as you travel the road. This unique adventure includes narrow tunnels, sharp turns, and spectacular views.

10. Three Twisted Sisters

Three Twisted Sisters is a 112-mile Texas version of North Carolina’s Tail of the Dragon. Riding a motorcycle on this route is technically challenging.

Constant switchbacks and curves keep you on a tilt as you pass clear rivers, green hills, and scenic overlooks that include wildflowers in the spring.

Enjoy the Best Motorcycle Rides

Those who enjoy the wind in their face and bugs in their teeth know that the best motorcycle rides combine the open road, fresh air, beautiful scenery, and endless twisty curves.

Before venturing out on a lengthy ride, you need better cushioning for your tushie. Shop our motorcycle seat cushions here so you don’t walk like a cowboy after a long day in the saddle.