Best Motorcycle Rides in Connecticut
Looking for the best motorcycle rides in Connecticut in 2025–2026? From the flowing curves of Route 7 along the Housatonic River and the historic charm of CT-169 Scenic Byway to hidden gems like Devil’s Hopyard and the CT-49, Connecticut packs surprisingly scenic and twisty roads into a compact New England state.
Below are the top 7 best Connecticut motorcycle rides — complete with free Google Maps, distances, riding times, GPX downloads (via Patreon), and the latest 2025–2026 pavement updates. Whether you’re searching “motorcycle rides near me” in Hartford, New Haven, Danbury, or anywhere in CT, these are the must-ride routes that belong on every rider’s bucket list.
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MOTORCYCLE RIDES NEAR ME IN CONNECTICUT
If you’re like us, every time you get on your motorcycle you ask, “What are the best motorcycle rides near me in Connecticut?” Well, you’ve come to the right place! Below is our detailed list for the best motorcycle rides in CT. From slow rolling countryside and charming seaport coastal drives, there are miles of great roads to discover in CT.
TIPS FOR CONNECTICUT MOTORCYCLE RIDES
If you’re looking for places to ride a motorcycle in Connecticut, you can experience a range of temperatures throughout the riding season in CT. The summers are hot and humid, so be sure to wear breathable riding gear. The spring and fall offer excellent riding conditions and makes for a great time to explore these Connecticut motorcycle rides.
What is the Motorcycle Helmet Law in Connecticut?
Connecticut only requires helmet use for motorcycle operators and passengers who are under 18 years of age and people operating a motorcycle with a learner’s permit.
Read more here: www.cga.ct.gov
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Check out our list for the Best Connecticut Motorcycle Rides! Experience what it’s like to ride the Devil’s Hopyard State Park, Tunxis State Forest and more of the most scenic roads in the state. Join our 43K subscribers on YouTube today!
1. Tunxis State Forest Ride: Best Motorcycle Route in Northern Connecticut
- START/END: Winstead to Granby
- ROUTE: CT-20
- DISTANCE: 24 miles
- RIDE TIME: 40 mins
The route from Winstead to Granby on CT-20 is one of the best Connecticut motorcycle rides! The road through Tunxis State Forest along Route 20 is best ridden west to east, as the best views of the hills are seen from this direction. This great motorcycle road in CT provides some perfect countryside scenery as you ride through the deep forest. There are some exciting sweeping curves with elevation changes high up in these western Connecticut hills and the Barkhamsted Reservoir.
Additionally, the road condition is excellently maintained as of 2025, making this motorcycle ride one that you would not want to miss! For a longer loop ride, connect up to MA-57 through the Granville area, which is one of the
best motorcycle roads in Massachusetts
.
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Google maps motorcycle route link
2. CT Route 7: Best Motorcycle Ride in Western Connecticut
- START/END: North Canaan to New Milford
- ROUTE: US-7
- DISTANCE: 40 miles
- RIDE TIME: 1 hour
CT Route 7 along the Housatonic River delivers one of the best motorcycle rides in Connecticut for flowing sweepers and classic New England scenery. Starting in North Canaan, this 40-mile stretch hugs the river with perfect asphalt, minimal gravel, and long sightlines—ideal for sport-touring and cruisers alike.
US-7 features some sweet, tight curves along with big elevation changes as you ride through the rolling forested hills. In fact, 2025 resurfacing made the northern section a smooth road for riders. Additionally, traffic stays light north of Kent Falls, but weekends bring more travelers. Stop at Bulls Bridge or the covered bridge in West Cornwall, as both offer ideal spots for photos. Fuel up in Kent or Canaan—services are sparse in between.
Overall, motorcyclists will experience wide-open scenery of the nearby Berkshires, especially around the Kent area. Alternately, split off on Route 4 to Sharon and continue along 41, but either way, this is a great ride along the western edge of the state.
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Google maps motorcycle route link
3. Stafford Springs to Quinebaug: Best Twisty Motorcycle Ride in Connecticut
- START/END: Stafford Springs to Quinebaug
- ROUTES: CT-197, 190, 171
- DISTANCE: 22 miles
- RIDE TIME: 30 mins
If you’re looking for a technical roller coaster ride, this is the Connecticut motorcycle road for you! Pick up Route 190 after Stafford Springs and connect to the fantastic Route 197 (Old Turnpike Rd). Navigate your way through tight corners and turns through the deep forest and residential area of northeastern CT. Follow the signs to Route 171 and here you’ll experience a ton of hills and elevation changes as you navigate the turns as you enter the Bigelow Hollow State Park region.
Enjoy one of the best motorcycle rides in Connecticut on this route all the way to the Massachusetts line. Overall, the route from Stafford Springs to Quinebaug is one of the best Connecticut motorcycle rides and it will keep you focused!
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Google maps motorcycle route link
4. Durham to Old Lyme: Connecticut’s Best Forested Curvy Motorcycle Route
- START/END: Durham to Old Lyme
- ROUTES: CT-156, 434, 82, 148
- DISTANCE: 42 miles
- RIDE TIME: 1 hour
This Connecticut motorcycle ride will take you through the small towns of the southern part of the state. This motorcycle route offers some exceptionally diverse scenery. In Lyme, you’ll pass alongside beautiful farm country (on Route 156), while the ride through
Devil’s Hopyard State Park (Route 434) will be a ride through the dense forest with scenic streams and waterfalls.
Hopyard Road is a short, but curvy little ride with some elevation dips along the stream. Continue across the Connecticut River on the East Haddam Swing Bridge and connect briefly on a scenic portion of Route 9 before taking Route 148 northwest into Durham. This is a great motorcycle route if riding near New London or New Haven, CT.
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Google maps motorcycle route link
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5. CT Route 49: Best Motorcycle Ride in Eastern Connecticut
- START/END: Sterling to Pawcatuk
- ROUTE: CT-49
- DISTANCE: 22 miles
- RIDE TIME: 30 mins
Connecticut Route 49 offers one of the best motorcycle rides in Connecticut for quiet, sweeping curves and big Eastern CT views just minutes from Rhode Island. This 22-mile north-south gem cuts through Pachaug State Forest with smooth 2025 pavement, long sightlines, and almost zero traffic mid-week.
In fact, the southern half delivers fast, flowing sweepers perfect for sport-touring bikes, while the northern section climbs Ekonk Hill Road with hilltop farmland panoramas. Because services are scarce, gas up in Voluntown or Jewett City before starting. Additionally, watch for occasional gravel at forest entrances, but overall grip is excellent.
Connect south off I-95 (exit 92) or north from Route 165. For an extended loop, turn left on CT-14 west toward I-395 — it adds more rolling hills and scenic farmland.
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Google maps motorcycle route link
6. State Route 169: Connecticut’s Best Scenic Byway
- START/END: Taftville to MA border
- ROUTE: CT-169
- DISTANCE: 36 miles
- RIDE TIME: 1 hour
Connecticut State Route 169 is a National Scenic Byway in the northeastern part of the state. This great motorcycle ride travels north to south through forests, small towns, quiet villages and historic farmsteads. The entire route will take you from North Woodstock, just south of the Massachusetts border, down to Lisbon.
Additionally, the nearby Mashamoquet Brook State Park in the town of Pomfret is a great place to take a break and stretch your legs. CT-169 will feel like a motorcycle ride through history, as you pass stone walls, historic churches and colonial homesteads. The views from your motorcycle will also include maple and pine stands as well as glacially deposited rocks and boulders out in the open fields.
The scenic byway is a particularly beautiful ride during autumn, as the fall colors are on full display in September and October. Connecticut State Route 169 is a great way to explore these classic New England towns!
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Google maps motorcycle route link
7. State Route 207: Connecticut’s Most Relaxing Motorcycle Cruise
- START/END: Hebron to Baltic
- ROUTE: CT-207
- DISTANCE: 16 miles
- RIDE TIME: 30 mins
Although one of the shorter rides on our list, State Route 207 is a gentle motorcycle route which can be started just 30 minutes north of New London. CT-207 has recently been designated a state scenic road. This motorcycle ride will take you past beautiful, rolling farmland, state parks, and pristine ponds.
Route 207 begins at the intersection of Route 86 in southeast Hebron, CT. This section of the road features long, open straights in a beautiful country setting. Most of the scenic road is in Lebanon as you continue east. The eastern part of the route will offer more curves and turns, as it heads southeast between Williams and Brewster Ponds.
Check out the ruins of the nearby Sprague River Dam that provided hydropower to the old Baltic Mills, which was destroyed in the flood of ’55. In Sprague, CT-207 ends at the intersection of Route 97 on the west bank of the Shetucket River in Baltic. The section of Route 207 in Franklin is designated the Paul Henry Bienvenue Memorial Highway.
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Google maps motorcycle route link
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Visit our friends at BikeWeekEvents.com to find local CT Motorcycle Rallies and all scheduled bike shows happening in Connecticut!
Yes. Due Connecticut’s curvy back roads, scenic views and bike-friendly amenities, there are miles of great motorcycle rides to be discovered. It’s also an easy drive for out-of-state motorcycle riders traveling from New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Summer and autumn are the best seasons to ride a motorcycle in Connecticut. Due to its location in the northeast United States, the cold and snow will arrive in December and linger until March. In October and November, the brilliant foliage is on full display in the forested areas of the state.
WHERE CAN I FIND SCENIC MOTORCYCLE ROUTES IN THE NORTHEAST?
GreatMotorcycleRoads.com is the place to find the best motorcycle roads and rides in the Northeast US. Discover more great motorcycle roads in the Northeast with our detailed route descriptions and Google Maps links!