Ultimate motorcycle travel guide…..You ever plan a ride that’s supposed to be, like, three days—and it turns into two weeks, three bad haircuts, and a cracked tail light?
That’s kinda how this ultimate motorcycle travel guide came to be. Just me, my bike, and a burning desire to get lost (but not like, lost lost—just the fun kind).
I didn’t sit down with a spreadsheet or some hyper-organized itinerary. I just went. Some rides were smooth and scenic and made me feel like the main character in a feel-good biker movie. Others? Let’s just say my left foot still twitches when I smell diesel and regret.
But if you’re itching for roads that slap, places that surprise you, and pit stops that serve pie the size of your face—buckle up. Helmet on. Let’s ride through my brain dump of the best motorcycle destinations that somehow became therapy, adventure, and comedy all rolled into one.
📍 Sturgis, South Dakota — Where the Wild Rides Start
Okay, let’s get the obvious one out of the way. Yes, it’s a bit of a circus. Yes, it smells like beer and leather and fried things. And YES—it’s worth it.
I rolled into Sturgis solo one summer thinking I’d stay a night or two. Five days later, I was dancing (badly) next to a guy named Randy who wore a raccoon tail and swore his chopper once outran a tornado. Honestly? I believe him.
But here’s the secret: once the crowds fade a bit, the riding around the Black Hills is unreal. Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road—curves that feel like they were made by a rollercoaster engineer who had a grudge against straight lines.
Pro Tip: Don’t ride hungover. Trust me. Those twisties don’t care about your decisions.
🏞️ Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 — Red Rocks & Existential Crises
This one’s for the drama queens (me) who like their landscapes to look like Mars and their rides to feel like a John Ford western.
Highway 12, from Escalante to Capitol Reef, is just stupid beautiful. I kept yelling “WHAT?!” inside my helmet because I literally couldn’t process how real it looked.
There’s this stretch called Hell’s Backbone—it’s a narrow bridge with drop-offs on both sides and no guardrail. I white-knuckled it so hard my gloves smelled like fear. But afterward? Total euphoria.
Side tangent: I met this old cowboy at a gas station who handed me a lukewarm Dr. Pepper and told me I “looked like trouble.” I don’t know what that means, but I felt honored.
🏔️ Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway — Worth Every Shaky Turn
Okay. This road? A banger. Just don’t look down too much.
The stretch between Ouray and Silverton in Colorado is twisty, narrow, and full of drop-offs with no rails (why do these people hate guardrails?). But the views? My god. Mountains. Waterfalls. That weird smell your brakes make when they’re crying for help.
I pulled off for a break and a couple in an RV offered me trail mix and relationship advice. “Don’t marry someone who hates your bike,” she said. Honestly? Tattoo that on my chest.
Pro Tip: Do this one in late summer—snow can show up out of nowhere like a chaotic ex.
🌊 Florida Keys — Highway 1 to Nowhere (In the Best Way)
Yeah, I know—Florida. You’re either into it or you’re still recovering from a family trip to Disney in 2006. But listen: Highway 1 through the Florida Keys? It’s a vibe.
It’s not the most thrilling ride curve-wise, but cruising over endless bridges with ocean on both sides? That’ll cure a few emotional wounds. Plus, there’s something magical about pulling into a beachside bar still wearing your helmet, ordering fish tacos, and feeling like a sweaty, salty god.
Pro Tip: Bring sunscreen. I forgot and looked like a cooked lobster for three days.
🏜️ Arizona’s Route 89A — Sedona to Jerome (a.k.a. “Ghost Towns & Woo-Woo Energy”)
This one gets slept on, and I don’t know why.
Start in Sedona (yes, with all the crystals and vortexes and energy healers), then take Route 89A to Jerome. It’s twisty and beautiful and ends in this haunted old mining town perched on a cliff. I stayed at a supposedly haunted hotel and—no lie—something did pull my blanket off in the middle of the night.
Was it a ghost? Was it exhaustion-induced hallucination? Either way, I screamed like a kid who just dropped their ice cream.
🏕️ Pacific Northwest — Wet Roads, Dry Humor
I didn’t expect to love riding in the PNW as much as I did. Maybe because it rained on me literally every single day. But also? Rain makes you appreciate the dry stretches like they’re gold.
I rode through Olympic National Park in Washington and felt like I was in a moody indie film. Trees taller than my future, moss everywhere, fog that made everything look like a dream sequence. I saw a guy in a poncho riding a ‘76 Goldwing and felt deeply humbled.
Also—coffee shops everywhere. Like, even on mountain roads. Bless you, Washington.
🍔 Side Tangent: Weird Pit Stops You Should Absolutely Make
- The UFO Watchtower in Colorado – yes, it’s weird. Yes, you should go.
- The World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Kansas – mildly disappointing, but makes a great Instagram story.
- Wall Drug in South Dakota – it’s like a tourist trap and fever dream had a baby.
- That one gas station with a goat on the roof in Tennessee – no explanation. Just vibes.
Some Real Talk: Motorcycle Travel Tips That I Learned the Hard Way
Because not every ride is sunsets and spiritual awakenings. Sometimes it’s a dead battery in 103° heat and a bird pooping directly into your tank bag.
- Pack less. You do not need five pairs of socks. You will wear one, maybe two. The rest will live in your bag forever.
- Hydrate or suffer. I forgot water once on a desert ride. Thought I was being haunted. Turns out I just needed electrolytes.
- Your phone will die. Paper maps are still a thing. Keep one. Or at least write your route on your arm in Sharpie.
- Gas station pizza is a gamble. Proceed accordingly.
🧭 So… Where Are You Going Next about ultimate motorcycle travel guide?
This ultimate motorcycle travel guide isn’t about checking off a list. It’s about chasing that feeling. You know the one. When your engine rumbles just right and the wind smells like pine or salt or maybe just “freedom.” When the road in front of you looks like possibility.
If you’ve got a ride you think I need to do—like yesterday—drop it in the comments or shoot me a message. I’m always down for detours, weird stops, and rides that make me question my sense of direction and my emotional stability.
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