I'm compiling a list of the top 10 motorcycle touring routes in the USA and I wonder if you would help me? I can't decide, and I don't know ALL of the USA, so thought I would try crowdsourcing! That is, you — many of you are amazingly well-traveled motorcyclists in all parts of the USA and overseas.
So… besides the following obvious (?) contenders, what are your recommendations?
- California to Vancouver, Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
- Smoky Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, Deals Gap Tail of the Dragon
- Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Hwy,/Grand Canyon
- Key West Highway, Florida
I'm looking for decently long stretches of interesting/beautiful riding with interesting stops. Something you would take the trouble to go on vacation to ride… I hope to find something in each general region of the USA, but realize that some areas are just straight, hot, dry, and boring. The Glenn Highway in Alaska, for example, seems to me to be just one long hellish stretch between gas stations, dumpy motels, and mosquito-ridden campsites, for example.
Some ideas I had were to catch some great roads that are pretty close to each other, like:
- Rocky Mountains, Glacier, Zion, Yellowstone Highway
Other ideas:
- New England must have some amazing rides, but I missed that – maybe from Maine to Newfoundland?
- East Oregon, Washington – I have played around there a lot, but can't think of one "great" stretch worth making a special journey for.
So hard to decide. Help!
The Columbia River Gorge is a favorite of mine. It doesn’t hurt that I live there.
Both the Oregon and Washington side of the Columbia river Gorge and surrounding areas have some outstanding motorcycling roads. Plan on spending at least a couple of days poking around. The Gorge runs between 3 volcanoes ,Mt St Helens, Mt Hood & Mt Adams. The scenery is breathtaking and the twisties between Mt Adams and St Helens will satisfy even the most skilled rider.
That’s true, Tim, thank you. I loved riding the gorge. Will consider!
For eastern Oregon, try this: Bend to Ontario via Hwy 26, then Ontario back to Bend via Hwy 20.
Many people from the Dallas area make this a yearly ride.
Talimena Scenic Drive
http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/
The Talimena Scenic drive winds 54 miles along the crest of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain in the Ouachita National Forest. From Talihina OK to Mena AR.
Ride central Arkansas (north/south), especially Push Mountain Road (321, I think). Incredible, unpopulated roads that follow rivers of some of the best paddling in the US. Hugely kept secret that my ride club enjoys every year-many of us travel great distances to gather in Park Hills, MO to start the ride. You won’t regret it.
There are good resources for the type of long distance ride you are asking about in the National Scenic Byway system–many are designated historic highways through small towns, like the Ohio River Scenic Byway that stretches from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois. It’s probably a three-day ride. Or, how about the Great River Road, which is made up of a consortium of the states on either side of the Mississippi River–lots of small towns (and a few big ones) all tied to the Mississippi River culture–river towns. Many states have similar roads. National Geographic puts out a “Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways,” the 275 best drives in the USA. You can order a free map from the Scenic Byways web site, http://byways.org/.
Brent
“The Glenn Highway in Alaska, for example, seems to me to be just one long hellish stretch between gas stations, dumpy motels, and mosquito-ridden campsites, for example.”
Hey now, that’s my back yard you’re talking about! Honestly, that depends upon what part of the Glenn you are talking about. It’s scenic and curvy near the Matanuska Glacier, and along the Matanuska River. However, between the mountains and Glennallen, yeah, your description pretty much sums it up. I’m rather fond of the Denali Highway, however.
As a kid, my family used to drive the Shenanadoah Skyline Drive. I’ve never been there on a motorcycle, but I remember it being very scenic…but that was 20+ years ago.
I’m sorry!!! Hard to get to the good places sometimes without suffering a bit. But it just makes them better though, doesn’t it? That said, getting to the Shenandoah is easy peasy. Thank’s for not being mad 🙂
It’s all good 🙂
I’ve got to figure out how to get my Wee-Strom down to the lower-48 and back on a two-week vacation — especially your neck of the woods. I’d love to explore the PCH, Mojave, the Redwood Forest. That’s why this particular post really caught my interest. I’m curious to see what your readers recommend.
In Washington State ride WA Hwy 20 from Puget Sound all the way to the Idaho border. Also known as the North Cascades Highway, it is closed in the Cascade Mountains from October to April due to snow. It starts in the west at US 101 at the tip of Discovery Bay, then includes a ferry ride from Port Townsend to Keystone on Whidbey Island. Then across Deception Pass to the mainland, and east to the Cascade Mountains. You’ll past through several mountain passes and small towns, and across the Columbia River. Wind your way through Eastern Washington, and Hwy 20 eventually ends in Newport, intersecting US 2 before it crosses into Idaho. A wonderful ride.
Hi Pat. I have done most of that route and agree it’s one of the best rides in the USA.Thanks for reminding me.
Ride from the Pacific Ocean (Ft. Clatsop, OR along US30 to Portland, cross over to Washington and ride WA14 to the Tri-Cities, connect with US12 and ride that to LOLO, MT via Lolo Pass.
For a longer ride, follow the above route and others east to Missouri following the path of the Lewis & Clark Trail.
In Eastern Oregon there are so MANY fine routes. Riding US395 is a treat. OR205 from the California Border to OR78 and then to Burns is another. OR20 and 26 are nice plus riding through the John Day fossil beds can be a real treat on OR19, 207, & 74. Then there’s OR86 from Baker City to Oxbow followed by FS39 to Joseph via the Hells Canyon and then up OR3 to WA129 and the Rattlesnake Grade to Lewiston and then up the Spiral Highway to US195.
Supposedly riding south on Hwy 1 gives better vista b/c the outside lane. I’ve only run it heading north but I can see the sense in the outside lane idea. Might be nice driving towards warmer weather too, if you go for that sort of thing.
Zohar
SF, CA
That’s true, Zohar, I’ve ridden both ways and the view from cliffside is marginally better. However you do have tourists pulling out of the turnouts unexpectely. The other thing is that wind blows south, which is why all the bicyclists start in Washington State and bicycle to Southern California.
Here, what we call at “The End of the World”, Southern Texas… way South, “River Road” along the Rio Grande which is our border with Mexico is 60 miles of sheer heavenly paved road. Round trip is a must… From “Terlingua” to “Presidio”, stopping at “Don Jose Bakery” and back to “Terlingua”.
Then of course, a bit “off road”, good enough though for grand ma’s Buick, is the 17 mile loop through “Valley of the Gods”, then on up “Mokey Dugway”, partially paved and carved in the cliffs, and then on 7 miles left to “Muley Point” where a week of vista with “Monument Valley”, “Mexican Hat”, “The Gooseneck” and “Valley of the Gods” all in panoramic view, well, a week might not be enough!
THOSE are some roads!
Ara, thanks so much – I already included FM170 but I think I’ll add your description of the valley of the gods road. See you soon!
Few know about FM170. That’s great. Big Bend “has” become a destination for sure. Talk soon… Maybe make it “The Best 100 Roads?…”. So hard to get it down to 10! How about from “Boulder” to “Escalante” [Utah!]. That is actually in the… brochures, as an official “Best 10”.
Carla,
I rode in Pocahontas County WV in March (article is posted on motorcycle.com). You can access from Highway 39 or 219 – both amazing riding – then there is more than 1,200 miles of fabuous motorcycle riding. Besides its beauty and the variety of great roads, there’s little RV and truck traffic. And the people are terrific. I’d take it over the Dragon ANY day.
The Enchanted Circle New Mexico
Taos -Questa-Red River-Eagles Nest-Angel Fire-Taos
Try it and you’ll like it.
Great idea Carla,
I live in Williams (Gateway to the Grand Canyon)AZ. My favorite day ride is a 190 mile loop from Williams to Jerome (‘ghost’ town) to Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, Flagstaff, Valle and back to Williams. Sometimes, I add 140 miles to include the “Big Hole” Nat’l Park and the best sopapilla’s ever, at the Cameron Navajo Trading Post. This loop is all on scenic secondary roads, with 20 miles of dirt road leading up to Jerome – (even my Rocket III can make it most of the year). I have a map of the route if I could find out how to send it.
See you at the Overland Expo in a few weeks.
Al