BEST MOTORCYCLE RIDES IN IOWA
What are the best motorcycle rides near me in Iowa? Here’s our list for the top 6 scenic Iowa motorcycle rides:
MOTORCYCLE RIDES NEAR ME IN IOWA
Below is our detailed list of the best motorcycle roads in Iowa. Known for its rural farmlands with fields of corn and small communities, discover Iowa with these great motorcycle routes.
TIPS FOR IOWA MOTORCYCLE RIDES
If you’re looking for places to ride a motorcycle in Iowa, keep in mind IA is much like much of the Midwest. Riders will experience hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Thunderstorms come through and even tornadoes can threaten occasionally. Don’t forget your rain gear if you’re riding in the spring and summer.
IS THERE A HELMET LAW IN IOWA?
Iowa does not have any motorcycle helmet laws requiring motorcyclists to wear head protection as of 2024. But it’s always a good idea to wear the best protection possible while exploring these scenic motorcycle rides in IA.
JOIN US ON YOUTUBE!
Join our 34K subscribers on our official YouTube channel. There we feature the best roads in every state as well as tips for motorcycle trips!
GREAT RIVER ROAD
ROUTE: IA-26
DISTANCE: 197 miles
TIME: 2 hours
Many riders claim this northern section of the scenic byway is the most beautiful motorcycle road in Iowa to ride through. It’s a great, curvy road that follows the Mississippi River. This route will take you up and down along a collection of bluffs that travels alongside the mighty river, as well as some open stretches of scenic farmland. The best portion to motorcycle Great River Road is between Dubuque and the Iowa state line. Road conditions are also very good, especially in the Yellow River State Forest area.
(photo:
S. Benton)
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
OLD LINCOLN HIGHWAY
ROUTE: Old Lincoln Hwy
DISTANCE: 33 miles
TIME: 45 mins
This popular Iowa motorcycle road is a relaxing cruise through one of the very few windy parts of the state. Experience the scenery of the western part of Iowa’s beautiful farmlands, with some sweeping curves and plenty of straight-aways for smooth, open riding. The best portion of this road is between Magnolia and the Omaha area, as this part of the Old Lincoln Hwy has great pavement quality, with lots of hills and turns. If you’re looking to find motorcycle routes near me in Iowa, don’t miss the Old Lincoln Highway!
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
LITTLE SIOUX TO MISSOURI VALLEY
ROUTES: US-30, IA-127, Easton Trail
DISTANCE: 36 miles
TIME: 45 mins
For a motorcycle ride in Iowa with beautiful, relaxing scenery, take this route near the Missouri River on the western edge of the state. The road quality is generally very good in most sections and the views are inspirational. The road gets very curvy between Pisgah and Little Sioux, which makes for a fun portion of the route. Be sure to stop by the nearby Murray Hill Scenic Overlook for beautiful views of Iowa’s Loess Hills.
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
YELLOW RIVER LOOP
ROUTES: IA-76, IA-26, Iowa River Dr
DISTANCE: 68 miles
TIME: 1.5 hours
From Waukon, ride north up IA-76 and east along Iowa River Road for some of Iowa’s best motorcycle roads. Ride along some large hills and valleys with some great vistas. Optionally continue south to follow the Mississippi River as this will give riders some beautiful views of the bluffs and of the river itself.
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
EXPLORE MORE >>
INDIANOLA TO RED ROCK DAM
ROUTE: IA-92, Hwy G 40, Hwy G 28
DISTANCE: 39 miles
TIME: 1 hour
This great motorcycle road in Iowa starts in Indianola and leads west to Lake Red Rock. Riders will get hills, sharp curves and lots of country side scenic views, including great views of the lake. The Mile Long Bridge is a fun diversion from the miles of cornfields. Be sure to check out the Cordova Observation Tower after the bridge, and the Red Rock Dam is worth riding to as well, as the entire road after the bridge offers great views of the lake.
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
WILLIAMSBURG TO CEDAR RAPIDS
ROUTES: P-Ave, US-6, US-151
DISTANCE: 37 miles
TIME: 1 hour
Looking for a motorcycle ride near Cedar Rapids? Take this route through the Amana Colonies from Williamsburg, north on P-Ave, then US-6 through South Amana. US-151 will take you through Walford and into Cedar Rapids. During the summer this is a wonderful ride through Iowa farm country. There’s great stops along this route for food, drinks or sight seeing along the way in any of the Amana towns.
Click here for the
Google maps motorcycle route link
LOOKING FOR MORE?
Join us on Patreon to unlock these bonus features and more:
ROUTE PLANNING
Maps showing where routes are located within each US state.
GPX FILES
GPX files are available for download with each US motorcycle route.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS
Exclusive video content on the best motorcycle rides
MORE ROUTES
Bonus motorcycle routes for US & Canada
Any bloggers or website articles that would like to use these routes, please refer to our
TERMS OF USE.
Please note: Any routes and recommendations are based solely on our opinions and are meant for informational purposes only. To use information contained on this site is to do so at your own risk. GreatMotorcycleRoads.com is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. We assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here. You are responsible for your decisions, your actions, and your safety. To use this website you agree to our TERMS OF USE .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Visit our friends at BikeWeekEvents.com to find local IA Motorcycle Rallies and all scheduled bike shows happening in Iowa!
WHERE CAN I FIND SCENIC MOTORCYCLE ROUTES NEAR ME IN THE MIDWEST?
GreatMotorcycleRoads.com is the place to find the best motorcycle roads and rides near Iowa and the Midwest United States. Discover more great motorcycle roads in the Midwest with our detailed route descriptions and Google Maps links!