The December 2024 issue of Rider celebrated the magazine’s 50th anniversary. Over the past half century, we have published thousands of travels stories, favorite rides, tour tests, and features highlighting must-ride roads throughout the U.S. and on every continent except Antarctica. As part of the special anniversary issue, we selected 50 of the best motorcycle roads in America.
Out of 3.9 million miles of roads in this country, these are just a drop in the bucket, covering a mere 13,467 miles. There are thousands more great roads out there, so get going!
(The road are listed more or less alphabetically by state rather than in rank order.)
1. Dalton Highway (Alaska / 414 miles)
Paralleling the Trans‑Alaska Pipeline, this gravel supply road that goes from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay is a bucket‑list adventure route that crosses the Arctic Circle and the Continental Divide. (Photo by Jeff Davison)
Related: Alaska Motorcycle Ride: Discovering America’s Last Frontier
2. Jasper Disaster Loop (Arkansas / 56 miles)
This route in the Ozark Mountains, which starts and ends in Jasper, Arkansas, and includes AR 7, AR 43, and AR 74, has hundreds of tight curves and crosses the Buffalo National River twice. (Photo by Bill Stermer)
Related: Riding the Backwoods of Arkansas
3. Pig Trail Scenic Byway (Arkansas / 20 miles)
The Ozarks offer a smorgasbord of roads that wind through dense hardwood forests, over scenic ridges, and along burbling rivers. This stretch of AR 23 is one of the region’s best. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Riding Cross-Country on a BMW K 1600 B
4. Talimena National Scenic Byway (Arkansas, Oklahoma / 54 miles)
This winding road from Mena, Arkansas, (AR 88) to Talihina, Oklahoma, (OK 1) runs along the ridges of Rich Mountain and Winding Stair Mountain in Ouachita National Forest. (Photo by David Bell)
Related: The Best Motorcycle Ride in Eastern Oklahoma
5. Coronado Trail (Arizona / 123 miles)
U.S. 191 in eastern Arizona, which follows a trail used in 1540 by Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, includes an open‑pit copper mine, high‑alpine meadows and ridges, and hundreds of curves. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Favorite Ride: Arizona-New Mexico Loop
6. Arizona Routes 89/89A (Arizona / 131 miles)
From the Colorado Plateau to the red rocks of Sedona, through the historic towns of Jerome and Prescott, and across valleys and over mountains, these sibling state routes offer a greatest‑hits tour of central Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Wing)
Related: Expanding Your Horizons: Northern Arizona Loop Ride
7. Pacific Coast Highway (California / 656 miles)
Rides up and down CA 1 have been a regular part of Rider’s history since our first issue. This legendary road follows California’s rugged coastline and offers world‑class scenery and epic riding. (Photo by Kevin Wing)
Related: Savoring Summer Along California Route 1
8. Serpent to the Sea (California / 140 miles)
From U.S. 101 near Fortuna, riding east on this stretch of CA 36 passes through Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park before turning into a fantastic roller coaster that seems like it will never end. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Tracing the Cascades on a Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
9. Avenue of the Giants (California / 31 miles)
Paralleling U.S. 101, this meandering route (CA 254) passes through groves of old‑growth coast redwoods that tower hundreds of feet above the road and follows the wild and scenic Eel River. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Riding Among Giants
10. Million Dollar Highway (Colorado / 25 miles)
Mile for mile, this section of U.S. 550 between Ouray and Silverton, Colorado, is one of the most scenic anywhere. It passes through the rugged San Juan Mountains and summits several high passes. (Photo by Sara Liberte)
Related: Rediscovering Gold on the Million Dollar Highway
11. Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (Colorado / 28 miles)
Gaining more than 7,000 feet in 28 miles and achieving a final elevation of 14,130 feet, this is the highest paved road in North America, edging out Pikes Peak Highway by 15 feet. (Photo by Dan Schrock)
Related: A Tour Unlike Any Other: The Motorcycle Relief Project
12. Georgia Triangle (Georgia / 35 miles)
This north Georgia loop connects GA 60, GA 180, and U.S. 129 and circumnavigates Blood Mountain. A highlight is the Two Wheels of Suches motorcycle resort. (Photo by Phil Buonpastore)
Related: Riding the Georgia Triangle
13. Salmon River Scenic Byway (Idaho / 160 miles)
Idaho is full of scenic byways. This one follows the Salmon River through the Sawtooth Mountains and crosses the Continental Divide at 7,014‑foot Lost Trail Pass. (Photo by Clement Salvadori)
Related: 35 Bucket List Motorcycle Rides
14. Route 66 (Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California / 2,448 miles)
Dubbed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath, U.S. Route 66 was once the shortest, fastest, and most scenic route from Chicago to Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark Tuttle)
Related: Get Your Kickstart on Route 66
15. Kentucky Coal Route (Kentucky / 218 miles)
This coal country loop follows Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Road, summits 4,145‑foot Black Mountain, and includes U.S. 421, made famous by the 1958 Robert Mitchum movie Thunder Road. (Photo by Lance Oliver)
Related: Coal, Country and Curves | Eastern Kentucky Motorcycle Tour
16. Red River Gorge Scenic Byway (Kentucky / 46 miles)
Following the wild and scenic Red River, this byway passes through a National Geologic Area that features stone arches, caves, cliffs, ravines, waterfalls, and the Nada Tunnel. (Photo via Adobe Stock/erhlif)
Related: Great American Scenic Byways Tour
17. Park Loop Road (Maine / 27 miles)
This scenic road around Acadia National Park on Maine’s Mount Desert Island features woodlands, rocky beaches, and glacier‑scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain. (Photo by Scott A. Williams)
Related: Riding Maine’s Rugged, Winding Coast
18. Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway (Maine / 52 miles)
Considered one of the most scenic routes in New England, this byway in the Appalachian Mountains of western Maine winds through woodlands and around lakes and ponds. (Photo by Alan Paulsen)
Related: Onward to Madawaska, Maine: Motorcycling in Search of the Elusive Moose
19. Copper Country Trail (Michigan / 47 miles)
This byway follows the Keweenaw Peninsula, which extends like a dorsal fin from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula into Lake Superior. Near Copper Harbor, Brockway Mountain Drive provides sweeping views. (Photo by Chuck Cochran)
Related: A Michigan Upper Peninsula Motorcycle Ride in Autumn
20. Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route (Michigan / 20 miles)
This section of M‑119, which runs along the edge of Lake Michigan between Harbor Springs and Cross Village, is a narrow, curvy path through a tunnel of foliage. (Photo by Jamie Elvidge)
Related: Great Lakes Getaway: Touring Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan
21. Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway (Minnesota / 88 miles)
This scenic byway (MN 16) in southern Minnesota begins at the Mississippi River and continues west through the Root River Valley, curving through rolling hills, dolomite bluffs, and historic towns. (Photo by Chuck Cochran)
Related: Beauty in Bluff Country: A Southern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride
22. Great River Road National Scenic Byway (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana / 2,069 miles)
This legendary road touches 10 states as it follows the mighty Mississippi River from its headwaters in Minnesota to its sprawling delta in Louisiana. (Photo via Adobe Stock/Ferrer Photography)
Related: Beauty in Bluff Country: A Southern Minnesota Motorcycle Ride
23. Natchez Trace Parkway (Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee / 444 miles)
This national parkway from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee, follows the “Old Natchez Trace” used by Native Americans, European settlers, traders, and soldiers. (Photo by Tim Kessel)
Related: Motorcycle Riding Along the Natchez Trace Parkway
24. Going‑to‑the‑Sun Road (Montana / 50 miles)
Traversing Glacier National Park, this road cuts through the rugged Rocky Mountains and crosses the Continental Divide at 6,646‑foot Logan Pass. (Photo by Sherry Jones)
Related: Yellowstone to Glacier on Montana Highway 89
25. North Carolina Route 28 (North Carolina / 81 miles)
Starting at Deals Gap and ending at the Georgia state line, this wonderfully curvy road is known as Moonshiner 28 and includes part of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway. (Photo by Trevor Denis)
Related: Healing Ride: A Father-and-Son Journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Beyond
26. Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina, Virginia / 469 miles)
This national parkway through the Appalachian highlands is the quintessential scenic ride and is known for its perfectly shaped curves, well‑maintained pavement, and countless scenic overlooks. (Photo by Steven Goode)
Related: Motorcycle Travel Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
27. Kancamagus Highway (New Hampshire / 35 miles)
NH 112 is a spectacular road that twists its way through New Hampshire’s White Mountains. In the fall, it’s one of New England’s best leaf‑peeper routes. (Photo by Dan Bisbee)
Related: White Mountain Escape: Riding the Kancamagus Highway
28. Mount Washington Auto Road (New Hampshire / 8 miles)
This short toll road to the top of 6,288‑foot Mount Washington is often fraught with bad weather. A recorded wind speed of 231 mph on the summit was a world record until 1996. (Photo by Clement Salvadori)
Related: Riding the Best of the White Mountains in New Hampshire
29. Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway (New Mexico / 84 miles)
Circling 13,167‑foot Wheeler Peak, this scenic loop includes valleys, mesas, mountains, national forests, and some of New Mexico’s most culturally rich towns and villages. (Photo by Tim DeGiusti)
Related: An Old West Motorcycle Tour to 3 Haunted Hotels
30. Great Continental Divide Route (New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana / 2,767 miles)
This mostly off‑road route crosses five states on its way from the U.S.-Mexico border to Banff, Canada. It’s a serious undertaking by any measure. (Photo by Don Mills)
Related: Riding Across the Great Divide
31. U.S. Route 50 in Nevada (Nevada / 409 miles)
Dubbed “The Loneliest Road in America” by Life magazine, the Nevada portion of the transcontinental Lincoln Highway traverses basin‑and‑range topography and follows the Pony Express route. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Riding the Backbone of America: U.S. 50
32. Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (New York / 70 miles)
This section of NY 97 hugs the eastern shore of the Delaware River and passes through protected park land. A highlight is the winding Hawk’s Nest portion carved into the cliffside. (Photo by Kevin Wing)
Related: Reservoir Roads: Exploring the New York Southern Highlands
33. Triple Nickel (Ohio / 62 miles)
OH 555 often ranks high on lists of great motorcycle roads, and the 21 miles between Chesterhill and Ringgold are particularly fun and challenging. Part of Ohio’s Windy 9, it’s in a target‑rich environment. (Photo by Ken Frick)
Related: Riding Ohio’s Triple Nickel
34. Mount Hood Scenic Byway (Oregon / 105 miles)
Starting at the Columbia River, this route winds around its namesake peak, an 11,249‑foot active volcano, and goes through gorges, rainforests, and pastoral valleys. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Tracing the Cascades on a Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
35. West Cascades Scenic Byway (Oregon / 220 miles)
Following the contours of the Cascades range, this route treats riders to old‑growth forests, snowcapped volcanic peaks, and the wild and scenic Clackamas River. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Tracing the Cascades on a Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
36. PA Route 6 (Pennsylvania / 427 miles)
U.S. 6 across northern Pennsylvania, known locally as PA Route 6, takes riders through lush forests and charming small towns. Highlights include the PA Wilds region, the Kinzua Sky Walk, and the Susquehanna River. (Photo by Kenneth W. Dahse)
Related: Cruising the Pennsylvania Wilds on U.S. Route 6
37. Iron Mountain Road (South Dakota / 17 miles)
This stretch of U.S. 16A, which connects Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, includes 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, and three wooden “pigtail” bridges. (Photo by Kevin Wing)
Related: Riding South Dakota’s Black Hills BDR-X
38. Tail of the Dragon (Tennessee, North Carolina / 11 miles)
This (in)famous section of U.S. 129, which borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park, claims 318 curves in just 11 miles. It’s a wild ride, but its popularity results in weekend crowds. (Photo by Ken Frick)
Related: Riding ‘Shine Country: The Tail of the Dragon and North Carolina’s Moonshiner 28
39. Cherohala Skyway (Tennessee, North Carolina / 43 miles)
Completed in 1996 at a cost of $100M, this road through the Cherokee and Nantahala national forests (hence the name) has perfectly radiused corners, smooth pavement, and stunning views. (Photo via Adobe Stock/Mark Nortona)
Related: Favorite Ride: Space Coast to the Smokies
40. Texas FM 170 (Texas / 50 miles)
Farm to Market 170 from Lajitas to Presidio is a scenic roller coaster along the Rio Grande, which serves as the U.S.-Mexico border and the southern boundary of Big Bend Ranch State Park. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: A West Texas Motorcycle Ride Through Hill Country, Big Bend, and Oil Wells
41. Twisted Sisters (Texas / 132 miles)
Connecting Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337 is a scenic, sometimes challenging ride through Texas Hill Country. Popular with bikers, the route includes several motorcycle‑friendly bars and shops. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Twisted Sisters: The Texas Hill Country’s Most Famous Trio
42. Utah Scenic Byway 12 (Utah / 123 miles)
UT 12, aka A Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, connects state parks, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks, Grand Staircase‑Escalante National Monument, and Dixie National Forest. (Photo by Greg Drevenstedt)
Related: Southwest Touring Ride on a 2013 Victory Vision Tour
43. Skyline Drive (Virginia / 105 miles)
This national parkway, which begins near the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, runs along mountain ridges for the entire length of Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. (Photo by Scott A. Williams)
Related: Muriel’s First Ride
44. Back of the Dragon (Virginia / 32 miles)
VA 16 from Marion to Tazewell runs north‑south over three mountains that give the road a rolling humpbacked character, and its 32 miles have more than 400 curves. (Photo courtesy Back of the Dragon)
Related: Appalachians Motorcycle Ride: Backroads Bonanza
45. Vermont Route 100 (Vermont / 217 miles)
Stretching from Massachusetts to the Canadian border, VT 100 parallels the Green Mountains and passes through woodlands, pristine farmland, and charming villages. (Photo by Dan Bisbee)
Related: Riding Vermont Route 100 From Massachusetts to Memphremagog
46. North Cascades Scenic Highway (Washington / 140 miles)
Part of the larger Cascades Loop, WA 20 includes old‑growth forests, cascading waterfalls, alpine lakes, glaciers, and rugged mountain scenery. (Photo by Clement Salvadori)
Related: Rocketing Through the Cascades on Triumph’s Rocket III Touring
47. Door County Coastal Byway (Wisconsin / 66 miles)
This scenic loop on the Door Peninsula includes views of Lake Michigan, Green Bay, the Niagara Escarpment bluffs, and quaint shore‑side towns and villages. (Photo by Barry Mellen)
Related: Destination Door County
48. Coal Heritage Trail (West Virginia / 97 miles)
This National Scenic Byway through West Virginia’s coal country includes twisty roads up and over ridges, easy valley riding, small towns, and the New River Gorge Bridge. (Photo by Steve Shaluta)
Related: Top 5 Motorcycle Roads in West Virginia
49. U.S. Route 33 in West Virginia (West Virginia / 248 miles)
One of the highest‑rated motorcycle roads in the Mountain State, U.S. 33 passes through George Washington and Monongahela national forests and the Shenandoah Valley. (Photo by Nathan Cuvelier)
Related: Favorite Ride: Seneca Rocks, West Virginia
50. Beartooth Highway (Wyoming, Montana / 69 miles)
U.S. 212 between Red Lodge, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming summits 10,947‑foot Bearfoot Pass. Journalist Charles Kuralt called it the most scenic highway in America. (Photo by James Petersen)
Related: Road to Wisdom: A U.S. and Canadian Rockies Motorcycle Tour
Glad you didn’t mention the 99 miles of curves from Lolo MT. to Lewiston ID. 😁
U.S. 12 thru Idaho is a real gem!
The Saint Joe River Road from St. Maries, ID to St. Regis, MT is better. No trucks, hardly any cars, great fishing and camping.
Sounds fantastic!
Oh man, I think I’ve only done about a dozen of these. I’ve got time! Proud and lucky to have grown up right on #22 in this list. 🙂
Have you ridden the Great River Road from end to end?
HWY 100 Vt. The Kanc is overrated (and overcrowded). Ditto “This Car Climbed Mt Washington” unless you’re Travis Pestana (in a WRX) and do it in 5.5 minutes.
Another list!
Thank you Rider mag, there are a few on your list (less than 10) that I’ve not had the pleasure of riding.
C’mon summer!
Linking those last few roads together will make for a great summer ride!
I live in New Mexico and think Route 66 is way overrated. It’s either interstate or poorly maintained roads. The charm was gone a long time ago.
There are still some interesting parts of Route 66 left, such as the Oatman Highway section in western Arizona, and there are plenty of towns that keep the “Get Your Kicks” flame alive. Some roads are about curves, others are about history.
I have done all or part of 40 of these. Thanks for the list I will need to do the other ten an finish a few
Sounds like a fun summer road trip plan!
Near the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, the Foothills Parkway, a scenic drive in the Great Smoky Mountains National park. A kinder, gentler ride from near Deals gap toward Pigeon Forge, TN. Best with a side order of the Cherohala and the Tail of the Dragon, and a couple other scenic mountain rides, you could ride for days.
We’re big fans of Foothills Parkway. Lots of fantastic choices in that part of the country!
Add Devils Triangle into the Pigeon Forge area!
Sounds like we need to do a “100 Best” list!
Rt 339 in eastern PA is a short beauty.
We’ll add that to our “100 Best” list!
Add Palomar Mountain as well!
Good one! San Diego County, California, has lots of great choices: S22, CA 78 down Banner Grade, CA 79 south of Julian, Sunrise Highway, and more.
Fun list.
Typo in #45. Vermont Rte. 100 is in Vermont not Virginia.
Right you are, thanks!
Great list, I’ve ridden many of these fantastic roads!
If you’re planning a trip through the upper Peninsula of Michigan you should check out this web site.
Very good info to plan your trip.
Ride on! 😁👍
Here’s the link below, as it wasn’t included in my 1st reply.
https://upcruising.com/
GREAT LIST – consider adding Route 421 out of Shady Valley, TN otherwise known as the “The Snake”
Yes, another great motorcycling road we’ve featured in several Appalachian tour features. We need a longer list!
Missing U.S. 12…Detroit, Michigan, to the Pacific Coast. Passing thru Mich. Ind. Ill.
Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington.
That’s a good one!