Top Ten US Motorcycle Roads

Top 10 US Motorcycle Roads

Nothing compares to the thrill of sitting astride the leather seat of your cruiser, chopper, Harley or any other motorcycle, hitting the highway and becoming one with your bike as it hugs the asphalt and rules the road. Luckily, this country has a lot to offer in terms of fantastic routes that you can explore with your motorcycle. There are winding and seemingly endless coastal roads and even roads that fit a little too close against the sides of tall mountains.

The roads that run along plateaus can invite you just as much as the ones that higher altitudes do. Very simply, for a die-hard motorcycle fan, the journey and adventure can just go on and on. Take a look at our list of Top 10 US Motorcycle Roads:

#10. Natchez Trace Parkway (Tennessee)

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a highly arresting route that covers 444 miles and offers almost endless expanses of scenery.Its 10,000 years of history are the icing on the cake, so to speak. In days gone by, this footpath was tread by Native Americans out to hunt bison. There is a speed limit of 50 mph and as you whiz past ghost towns and Civil War grounds, you know that you will come back for more.

Location- Detour in Lewis County, Tennessee

#9. San Juan Skyway (Colorado)

This is a mesmerizingly beautiful All-American Road. It stretches 23 miles southwest of Colorado and cuts through the San Juan Mountains. While the route itself is sensational enough, you will find the historic mining camps and national parks vying for attention too. Even as the road climbs higher and higher to 11,000 feet towards the top of the Red Mountain Pass, the numerous ghost towns are hard to miss.

Location- Southwest Colorado

#8. Pig Trail Scenic Byway (Arkansas)

This road stretches 19-miles and is part of Arkansas Highway 23. Apart of Ozark National Forest, it’s an amalgamation of undulating hills and a number of drop-offs too. With the densely wooded Boston Mountains as a backdrop, you will find access to a number of recreational activities including camping, kayaking and whitewater rafting (if you choose to break the thrill of the ride).

Location- Arkansas Highway 23

#7. Skyline Drive

The Skyline Drive is a stunningly scenic 105 mile-long route that has 75 overlooks along the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont. It’s not surprising why the road sees over 2 million visitors annually. The wildlife, traffic and its curves have caused the speed limit here to be set at 35mph. It’s the only public road that runs through Shenandoah National Park.

#6 Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia & North Carolina)

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile-long road that makes its way through Virginia and North Carolina. As you go through the twists and turns on these routes and its ups and downs, you realize why the speed limit here has been set at 45mph. There aren’t any gas stations on the route itself and if you do need a fill-up, you’d have to exit the highway.

Location- Across Virginia & North Carolina (Blue Ridge Mountains)

#5. Twisted Sisters (Texas)

As the name suggests, this isn’t just one road but a weave of Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337 in Texas. While these roads are nowhere close to the Tail of the Dragon in terms of their level of difficulty, they provide a unique thrill, but amateur riders shouldn’t venture here. The Twisted Sisters are essentially a 100-mile long loop that winds its way through the hills and ranches of Texas. You will find attractions such as Lost Maples State Natural Area, Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop, Stonehenge II and Lone Star Motorcycle Museum sprinkled along this route.

Location- Texas Hill Country

#4. Cherohala Skyway (Tennessee and North Carolina)

This 43 miles of National Scenic Byway is also called Overhill Skyway and runs through Nantahala National Forest as well as Cherokee National Forest. It’s riddled with luxurious curves and reaches an elevation of more than 5,400 feet. You won’t find too much traffic along this route after dark and the road is particularly treacherous in the winter. You will find a number of vistas, recreational areas and some stunning views as you cruise along.

Location- Tellico Plains to Robinville

#3. Tail of the Dragon (Tennessee)

This is an 11 mile-long stretch that’s also popularly called Deal’s gap. Many motorcyclists will tell you that it’s one of the best motorcycling roads in the country. It has over 300 curves, some of which are so sharp that you can actually see the grains in the roads surface as you countersteer your wheels. There is a particularly challenging 2-lane stretch of blacktop highway that takes you through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Location- This route is on US Route 129

#2. Pacific Coast Highway (California)

Also called California State Route 1, Pacific Coast Highway is undoubtedly one of the most scenic motorcycle roads in the United States. What’s notable about it is that the road runs through Big Sur. A large stretch of this road hugs the coastline and has hairpin twists and turns, and sudden sharp drop-offs. It can be quite a challenge to ignore the foaming waves and the stunning redwoods and keep your eyes glued to the road.

Location- From Orange County to Mendocino County

#1. Beartooth Highway: Wyoming

Beartooth Highway is nothing less than the ultimate adventure. It’s at an elevation of almost 11,000 feet and you can traverse switchbacks and sweeping corners even as you spot wildlife along the way. This is one road and trip you have to prepare for and it can never be an impromptu spin on your wheels that brings you here. These roads are off-limits in the winter months, but even in the summer, the weather can be quite unpredictable.

Location- Along the upper-left corner of Wyoming