WHAT ARE THE BEST MOTORCYCLE ROADS IN AMERICA FOR 2025?

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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(photo: backofthedragon.com)


Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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.

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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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

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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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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!

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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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.
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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link

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.

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Click here for the Google maps motorcycle route link