Top 6 Motorcycle Rides in the South – Updated for 2023

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Updated for 2023

The American South has a lot to offer bikers, with some of the nation’s best roads for motorcycling. You don’t even have to wait out the winter to get out on your bike, as this part of the country has a longer riding season with warmer weather. Plus, you can expect tons of natural scenery and plenty of not-to-miss biker stops along the way. With adventurous bends, hairpin turns, and long stretches of open road to feel free on your bike, here are Cycle Trader’s top six motorcycle rides in the South.

1. Big Bend Scenic Highway

Take a ride through the sunshine state on the Big Bend Scenic Highway located within the Florida panhandle. Situated west of Tallahassee, Big Bend spans over 220 miles through Apalachicola National Forest on what’s known as the Forest Trail along State Route 65 and the Coastal Trail along State Route 98. This can be an easygoing ride to take in sights, from white sand beaches to wetland forests, with a chance to check out wildlife and set up camp. Plus, if you’re on a dirt bike, the Apalachicola National Forest has designated off-road trails so you can sling some mud.

2. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is greater than 400 miles in length, traversing Virginia and North Carolina through Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountain National Park. You’ll have to ease up on the throttle for this one, as Blue Ridge Parkway’s speed limit tops out at 45 mph. But the slow ride is well worth it, with scenic viewpoints of the rolling Appalachian Mountains. Winding roads make their way around mountain ranges and up and down slopes, making this a trip fit for a nice ride on an automatic motorcycle.

3. Natchez Trace

It’s smooth riding on Natchez Trace, a scenic route that covers 444 miles across the heart of the South, running from Nashville, Tennessee, through Alabama, and all the way to Natchez, Mississippi. This road makes it easy to leave your cares behind, as you pass forests, farmlands, and more natural scenery. You can also take a detour along the way and visit Civil War battlefields and antebellum mansions. Natchez Trace has an extensive history, as the trail was originally used 2,000 years ago by indigenous people, then later by Americans venturing west.

4. Tail of the Dragon

One of the most famous motorcycle rides in all of the country gets its reputation in only 11 short miles, but with 318 bends and curves. Tail of the Dragon weaves around the outskirts of Great Smoky Mountain National Park through North Carolina and Tennessee, giving riders a chance to grip tight hairpin turns on the road between the forest and mountains. There’s also a chance for you to stop and eat at biker hangouts, fill up at the station, and stay longer at a motel or campground. As you cruise, you’ll see weekend warriors and groups of riders as they make their way on the legendary Tail of the Dragon.

5. The Twisted Sisters

Also known as The Three Sisters, this popular loop composed of Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337 threads its way through Texas Hill Country outside of San Antonio. The Twisted Sisters take motorcyclists a distance of 130 miles and around 65 bends through the Texas landscape, weaving between cliffs, down rolling hills, and over rivers and tributaries. Parts of the road ramble through carved rock and alongside drop-offs without guardrails for a thrilling ride. There are a number of attractions too, including barbecue and burger stops, ranches and cattle guards, the Lost Maples State Natural Area, and the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum that proudly displays a collection of bikes from the past century. If you plan to ride Twisted Sisters this summer, you could also check out a top biker rally just down the road in Austin: the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally.

6. Talladega Scenic Drive

Taking you 26 miles between Alabama and Georgia, Talladega Scenic Drive is a byway also known as Alabama State Route 281, found at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. With the road located at Talladega National Forest and Cheaha Mountain State Park, it’s a remote ride that curves through the woodlands with views of the mountains that stretch for miles on the horizon. This lesser-known biking destination is a great getaway on the open road, with designated stops along the way for recreation like fishing and camping, and chances to spot wildlife.

These top six motorcycle rides down south are just some of the many great roads the region has to offer motorcyclists. Natural views, roadside attractions, smooth cruising, and adventurous turns, there is something for every rider. If you’re ready to get out there on your motorcycle, be sure to check out the nation’s largest inventory of new and used motorcycles for sale on CycleTrader.com.