A great road is a great road, but if you’re riding a motorcycle,
you’re looking for something special: twisties, vistas, turnouts, that
perfect stretch of smooth tarmac, and biker-friendly stops that make
getting there most of the fun. Here are 10 of the best roads across
America for an unforgettable motorcycle journey:
1. Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1): 1700 miles from Astoria, Oregon to San Juan Capistrano, California
This undisputed champion of road trips presents beaches, cliffs,
redwood forests, sleepy seaside towns, hot tub B&Bs, and world-class
dining along a ribbon of winding, undulating road that (between RVs)
can provide thrilling sport riding and contented cruising. Stop at the
frequent turnouts, and don’t miss wild Olympic Peninsula, rustic Big
Sur, Hearst Castle, bikini-clad Malibu, or biker-friendly Seattle, San
Francisco, and San Diego.
2. Appalachian Mountains: 770 miles from Front Royal, Virginia to Deal’s Gap, North Carolina
This four-in-one magic mountain ride begins with Skyline Drive in
Virginia, a 105-mile run along the ridge of the Shenandoah National
Park, conveniently connected with the Blue Ridge Parkway
for 469 miles of smooth roads and sweeping blacktop. Ride east to
Tellico Plains along the Cherohala Skyway (Hwy 28) descending into
Tennessee backcountry. Loop back via Hwys 360 and 72 to Deal’s Gap, and
take on the internationally famous 11 mile Tail of the Dragon and whip
through those 318 curves for some bragging rights.
3. River Road, (FM 170): 120 miles from Terlingua to Candelaria, Big Bend, Texas
Farm to Market 170 is all smooth heavenly pavement along the Rio Grande through the Big Bend’s
Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem with its mountains, canyons, badlands, and
stunted forests, and even grandma’s Buick can handle the 17 mile
off-road loop through the Valley of the Gods. But if you’ve got a
dual-sport, you’re going to be in heaven. Once it reopens (progressing well
at the time of writing), you’ll be able to ride on a boat over the Rio
Grande at the Boquillas Crossing for a short jaunt for lunch on the
Mexican side of the border.
4. Going to the Sun Road: 50 miles in Glacier National Park, Montana
Before this two-hour, 50-mile ride over Logan Pass was completed, it
took visitors several days to get through the park, which speaks of its
height and contortions. Watch out for mountain goats and bighorn sheep,
and pull over at the Jackson Glacier Overlook to take in the most
spectacular scenery in the park.
5. Beartooth Highway, (US 212): 68 Miles in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Squiggle along for a couple of hours over the highest highway in the
Northern Rockies as it twists and turns its way up to 10,947 feet at
Beartooth Pass in Wyoming. Stop to take in views of glacier-laden peaks,
alpine plateaus dotted with lakes, waterfalls, and lush forests in one
of the most rugged areas in the lower 48 states.
6. Highway 12: 124 miles between Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Take a psychedelic sunset ride into fantastical sandstone rock
formations, canyons, deep blue lakes, and pine forests and all the
curves you might expect. Swish along to the Grand Staircase-Escalante
National Monument, Boulder Mountain, and Red Canyon in Dixie National
Forest.
7. Coastal Highway 1: 170 miles from Kittery to Bucksport, Maine
Detours, not twisties, along Maine’s 3478 miles of coastline is the
point here. The oldest highway on the east coast is dotted with over 60
lighthouses, countless cute towns, antique shops, lobster shacks, and
almost 50 peninsulas to explore. The highway connects with many other
scenic routes, including a ferry ride to Nova Scotia.
8. Overseas Highway (Hwy 1), Florida, 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West
Put your sun screen on and cruise out onto a narrow stretch of road
made of bridges atop a living reef in the turquoise Straits of Florida
sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. Join the
margarita-saturated tourists in tropical paradise and enjoy the
biker-friendly atmosphere. Salt air, sea food, and slow speed get you
onto island time in no time flat.
9. Route 66: 2200 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica
On just about everybody’s bucket list is Route 66. Ride all 2200
miles of this history lesson smothered in kitsch, or just grab a slice
or two, like the pies you’ll find in endless supply at the many
biker-friendly stops between Chicago and Santa Monica.
10. The Great River Road (Hwy 61): 2,552 miles from Itasca State Park, Minnesota to Jackson, Louisiana
GRR 61 is a single route created in 1938 to highlight the 10 states
bordering the great Mississippi River from its headwaters in Minnesota
to its termination in Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Local riders from all
10 states flock to ‘their” section of the road, whether it’s lined with
meadows, cypress swamps, thick forests, limestone cliffs, or wildlife
refuges. Industrial areas are easily avoided.
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