WHAT ARE THE BEST MOTORCYCLE ROADS IN AMERICA FOR 2025?
What are the best motorcycle rides in America? Below is our list for the Top 10 Motorcycle Rides in the US for 2025:
– BACK OF THE DRAGON: VA
– DEALS GAP (THE DRAGON): TN, NC
– GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT: UT
– NEEDLES HIGHWAY: SD
– CHIEF JOSEPH BYWAY: WY
– RIVER ROAD FM 170: TX
– THE LOLO PASS: ID, MT
– MT BLUE SKY SCENIC BYWAY: CO
– CALIFORNIA HWY 1: CA
– NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY: TN, AL, MS
MOTORCYCLE RIDES NEAR ME IN the us
This is our 2025 guide for the top 10 motorcycle rides in the United States. Here you’ll find the best states for motorcycle riding. Your next great motorcycle road trip in 2025 begins here!
WHAT MAKES A GREAT MOTORCYCLE ROAD?
This list for the Top 10 motorcycle rides in America takes into consideration the various components of what makes a motorcycle road truly great. Amazing scenery, adventurousness, road pavement quality and of course, twisting curves!
DON’T SEE YOUR FAVORITE MOTORCYCLE RIDE?
We strive to list new routes every new year. If you don’t see one of your favorite roads on this 2025 list, there’s a good chance it was on our Top 10 for 2024 list. Join us on YouTube for all the best scenic motorcycle rides!
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What kind of motorcycle roads should make it on a Top 10 List for America?
If you’re willing to travel to the other side of the country just to motorcycle a particularly great road, then that makes our list for the best motorcycle rides for 2024.
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BACK OF THE DRAGON
VIRGINIA
DISTANCE: 32 miles
RIDE TIME: 1 hour
If you’ve never heard of the Back of the Dragon, it’s time to discover one of the curviest motorcycle roads in the US. The Back of the Dragon motorcycle ride is located in Virginia on a section of VA-16. The height of motorcycle riding enjoyment can be had on the Back of the Dragon because it’s one of the most technical roads in Virginia. This twisty motorcycle route will take the rider through Virginia’s mountains with curves, switchbacks as well as elevation changes. It’s a beautiful, scenic road, but you’ll probably be spending most of your focus on the technical aspect of this ride. But there are numerous pull-offs with opportunities to properly take in the fantastic views. Motorcycle riders will also appreciate the fact that there’s very little traffic on this route. And while the actual Back of the Dragon motorcycle route is 32 miles in length, the ride from Tazewell to Troutdale is well worth it, and that entire 50 mile route is on our Google maps motorcycle route link below. Find out why VA-16 is one of the top 10 motorcycle rides in the US for 2025!
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best motorcycle rides near me in Virginia
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(photo:
backofthedragon.com)
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT
UTAH
DISTANCE: 124 miles
TIME: 2.5 hours
This scenic byway snakes through two of Utah’s five National Parks, including Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef. There are sensational views to be had on this 124 mile stretch of great motorcycling road, including multicolored slot canyons, sandstone cliffs and vast mesas. One section of this ride includes Scenic Byway 12, which is designated as an All-American Road because it features some of the most iconic Western scenery in the USA. The route south from Boulder to Escalante includes an amazing stretch of road – you’ll ride a high ridge line with cliffs dropping away from the road on both sides. This Utah motorcycle road is truly a winding delight of stunning views, diverse terrain changes and little traffic.
Check out more great motorcycle rides near me in Utah .
Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link
NEEDLES HIGHWAY
SOUTH DAKOTA
DISTANCE: 39 miles
TIME: 1.5 miles
There are more than a few spectacular motorcycle roads in the Black Hills/Custer State Park region, but SD-87 is one of the finest. The highway is named after the high granite “needles” it winds among, and passes through two tunnels blasted through sheer granite walls. It’s an extremely impressive ride that includes sharp turns, narrow tunnels, granite spires and world class views. On one famous section, riders can experience the sensation of threading your motorcycle through the eye of a needle! Needles Eye Tunnel is just 8 feet 4 inches wide and is the most famous of the 3 tunnels on the road. The road pavement quality is excellently maintained here as well, making it one of the top South Dakota motorcycle rides. If you ride this earlier in the morning, you can avoid most of the traffic, especially if you’re riding during the Sturgis bike week.
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(photo: M. Mike)
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
CHIEF JOSEPH BYWAY
WYOMING
DISTANCE: 63 miles
TIME: 1.5 hours
This lesser known motorcycle ride is along Wyoming Route 296. Start in Cody, and head 63 miles northwest where it meets with the legendary Beartooth Highway. The road is smooth and has long sweeping turns that climb up and down some of the most beautiful mountain passes Wyoming has to offer. The great thing about this WY motorcycle road is that riding in two different directions feels like two completely different roads. It’s a great option for those who want to try one of the most under-rated motorcycle roads in America!
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motorcycle rides near you in Wyoming
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Google maps motorcycle route link
RIVER ROAD FM 170
TEXAS
DISTANCE: 274 miles
TIME: 6 hours
The Big Bend area in Texas offers spectacular motorcycle riding. From west to east, it’s a nice decent into the mountains. FM170 is often referred to as The River Road, as it follows the Rio Grande. From Lajitas follow the route down to the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. It’s an incredibly scenic ride, with mountains, valleys, hills and curves to Santa Elena Canyon Overlook. The Chisos Basin area of the park has some winding switchbacks and has monumental rock formations to ride through as well. The route also features rollercoaster-like elevation changes while the Rio Grande is often visible from the roadside. Extend this route to the nearby Big Bend National Park entrance for a longer ride to make it the best motorcycle ride in Texas for 2024!
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motorcycle rides near me in Texas
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Google maps motorcycle route link
THE LOLO PASS
IDAHO /
MONTANA
DISTANCE: 205 miles
TIME: 4.5 hours
This portion of the Lewis & Clark Trail takes you through the Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana. US-12 winds through excellent scenery and well marked curves. The views of the Lochsa River are wonderful. The pavement quality is also very good. Riding up to Lolo Pass is a unique, awe-inspiring experience. From the pass, you can see beautiful views of the Montana mountain scenery. However, the ride itself is also enjoyable, featuring the smooth twisties and narrow roads many motorcyclists love. Although this is not one of the more well-known motorcycle roads in the country, many riders say this one surpasses them all for continuous curves, beauty, distance, quality of road and overall riding quality. If you’re looking for a motorcycle road with never-ending twisties, straightaways and scenery, don’t miss this great motorcycle ride in 2024!
Check out more great
motorcycle rides near me in Idaho
and
scenic motorcycle roads in Montana
.
Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link
MT BLUE SKY SCENIC BYWAY
COLORADO
DISTANCE: 28 miles
TIME: 1 hour
What’s a top 10 motorcycle ride in the US that’s also an epic mountain road? That would be the amazing Mt Blue Sky Scenic Byway (previously named the Mt Evans Scenic Byway). The motorcycle road up Mt Blue Sky Scenic Byway is one of the most exciting rides in Colorado. It also happens to be the
highest paved road in North America at 14,130ft in elevation. The Mt Blue Sky Scenic Byway is just west of Denver and can be accessed from Hwy 70. A motorcycle road trip up Mt Blue Sky Scenic Byway will feature groves of pine trees and will gradually give way to awesome views of the surrounding mountains. Consider this: the Mt Blue Sky Scenic Byway is so high, motorcyclists will actually be looking
down at most of Colorado’s mountain peaks! Riders will want to stay focused while traversing this scenic mountain road because of the lack of guardrails, as well as the Bighorn sheep that hang around the roadside. Bring your ‘A Game’ and enjoy one of the most thrilling top 10 motorcycle rides in the US!
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curvy motorcycle routes in Colorado
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Google maps motorcycle route link
CALIFORNIA HWY 1
CALIFORNIA
DISTANCE: 655 miles
TIME: 8 hours
California 1 is an epic motorcycle route runs along most of the Pacific coastline of California, and is about 656 miles. With that much length, there’s a tremendous amount to see. There’s access to beaches, State and National Parks, including Redwoods National Park, and the amazing Big Sur area. This CA motorcycle ride even includes the famous Golden Gate Bridge. From south to north, the famous scenic portions are between Orange County and Mendocino County area. But nearly the entire route has varying degrees of stunning scenery along the glittering Pacific.
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great motorcycle rides near me in California
!
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Google maps motorcycle route link
DEALS GAP (THE DRAGON)
TENNESSEE /
NORTH CAROLINA
DISTANCE: 11 miles
TIME: 30 mins
Possibly the most infamous route among motorcyclists boasts a whopping 318 curves in just 11 miles. Deals Gap, (sometimes called the Tail of the Dragon), is a twisty motorcycle road many riders attempt just for the challenge. This stretch of U.S. 129 is a beautiful piece of road, perfectly engineered in banking, immaculately paved, and combines a pleasing rhythm of tight turns. The appeal of this great motorcycle road is actually just riding it. There are no intersecting roads or driveways to hamper your travel, however the sheer popularity of this road means there will almost always be many riders in front of you and behind you. Still, Deals Gap is one of the top 10 motorcycle rides in the US for 2025 and it’s a definite “bucket list” ride for any accomplished motorcyclist.
Be sure to check out more
great motorcycle rides in Tennessee
and
curvy roads in North Carolina
!
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY
TENNESSEE,
ALABAMA,
MISSISSIPPI
DISTANCE: 16 miles
TIME: 30 mins
While most of the rides on this list are exciting challenges, sometimes you just need a relaxing cruise to clear the mind. That’s where the Natchez Trace Parkway comes in. This national parkway is a two-lane road that extends 444 miles from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. The National Park’s website calls it “A Drive through 10,000 Years of History”. It roughly follows the “Old Natchez Trace” a historic travel corridor used by American Indians, “Kaintucks,” European settlers, slave traders, soldiers, and future presidents. There’s a few reasons why this motorcycle road is so unique and should be on a top 10 list for America. Firstly, commercial traffic is prohibited, so traffic is generally light. The parkway is clean, smooth and relaxing. You wont be dealing with bumpy roads. Another benefit is the scenery. While there may not be epic mountainside views, the scenery is unique, because instead of utility poles and buildings, the Trace is lined with forests, farmland, creeks and countryside vistas. And best of all? There’s no stop signs or stop lights! Just cruise among the beautiful scenery and historic sites.
Check out more
great motorcycle rides near me in Tennessee
,
motorcycle rides in Alabama
and
scenic roads in Mississippi
.
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Google maps motorcycle route link
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Montana and Tennessee usually score the highest in owning the top motorcycle roads in America. Montana has the Beartooth Highway, Going-To-The-Sun Road, Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, all of which are truly epic. Tennessee boasts the world-famous Tail of the Dragon, as well as the Cherohala Skyway and Natchez Trace Parkway, which make the country’s top ten lists every year.
The varied national parks in America make for fantastic motorcycle trip destinations. The roads are usually excellently maintained, and the scenery is the best you’ll find in the United States. There are 63 National Parks scattered across the country. From Acadia National Park in Maine, to Joshua Tree National Park in California, you’ll see a tremendous amount of diversity, and experience the best America has to offer from your motorcycle!
GreatMotorcycleRoads.com is the best place to plan a motorcycle trip across America. We cover the best rides in every state, and include motorcycle map links to the direct Google maps routes. These map links can also be converted into GPX files which you can upload onto your personal GPS unit.
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