4 of the Best Motorcycle Roads in America
From the Tail of the Dragon to the Pacific Coast Highway, these legendary rides capture the spirit of the open road
When it comes to motorcycle road trips, many riders fantasize about iconic European routes—such as the hair-raising Stelvio Pass in northern Italy, with its dozens of numbered hairpin turns, or the sweeping roads of the Alps, which stretch across eight countries and cover hundreds of miles.
But you don’t have to leave the US to find some of the most magnificent, picturesque, and thrilling roads anywhere. From the Appalachian Mountains to the California coast, we’ve identified four routes that you can tackle on two wheels.
Tail of the Dragon
The biggest factors that separate one fun route from the next are scenery and curves—and you won’t find tighter or more challenging corners than on the Tail of the Dragon, an 11-mile stretch of US Highway 129 on the Tennessee–North Carolina border. The road skirts the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest and packs in an astonishing 318 curves in its short span. (In other words, it’s not for novices or the risk-averse.) Along the way, you’ll find plenty of tourist spots selling boastful T-shirts that proclaim, “I Survived the Tail of the Dragon.” And after tackling those 318 curves, that’s a claim worth making.
Blue Ridge Parkway
If you’re looking for a motorcycle road trip that feels a bit more relaxed and unhurried, the Blue Ridge Parkway—billed as America’s Favorite Drive—offers a welcome alternative. Stretching from Virginia into North Carolina, this nearly 500-mile scenic byway is known for its gentle curves, stunning mountain vistas, and well-maintained pavement. Along the way, riders pass through rolling Appalachian highlands, dense forests, and overlooks that reveal sweeping mountain views. Historic cabins and mills, quiet hiking trails, and inviting mountain towns make it easy to turn the ride into a full-day adventure with plenty of scenic stops.
Pacific Coast Highway
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, riders have their pick of everything from long, open stretches perfect for easy cruising to tighter, more technically challenging roads that demand full attention. But the one road that brings it all together is California’s Highway 1—often referred to as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Its magnificence cannot be exaggerated, as it hugs California’s western edge, the mighty Pacific Ocean rolling in just beyond the shoulder.
Pop culture helped cement its legend. The Beach Boys famously sang about cruising California’s coastal roads, while the TV series The OC used the highway’s backdrop like a supporting character. Car chases have ensued in the film Point Break, and in the classic TV series CHiPs, the officers patrolled California roads on Kawasaki police motorcycles.
From the beaches of Orange County in the south to the redwood forests near Mendocino in the north, California’s Highway 1 stretches roughly 650 miles, showcasing dramatic natural beauty, charming seaside towns, and engineering marvels such as the iconic bridges of Big Sur. For those who want to go even farther, this coastal journey forms part of the larger Pacific Coast route—a drive often called the Pacific Coast Highway—which runs more than 1,600 miles along the West Coast from Washington state to the Mexican border.
Route 66
Route 66, affectionately known as the Mother Road, runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, and was one of the first major highways to be paved, back in 1938. Although it isn’t technically part of the Interstate Highway System, Route 66 isn’t a single continuous road either; it’s actually a series of connected roads that pass through some America’s most historic, quirky, and iconic towns.
Similar to the PCH, pop culture had a hand in bringing this road to life. The “Boys” of Easy Rider rode portions of it in 1969, and the Joad family traveled it in 1939 in the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath. Rock group The Eagles immortalized Winslow, Arizona, and countless other performers have sung about getting “their kicks on Route 66.” From 1960 to 1964, the TV series Route 66 followed two young adventurers crisscrossing the country, helping turn the Corvette into an American icon—one of the earliest examples of product placement.
The full ride spans roughly 2,500 miles, crossing eight states and three time zones. This motorcycle road trip is on the bucket list of many riders, a testament to exploration and independence.
…..
Few things exemplify freedom more than exploring this beautiful nation on a bike. Enjoy the ride!