10 Fascinating Places to Ride Your Motorcycle

Planning an excursion to use up all of those vacation days you've accrued at work?

Now's the time to opt for the freedom of the open road with a motorcycle vacation destination. You'll probably end up saving a few dollars and there are tons of opportunities to take a ride off the beaten path.

When planning a few weeks of downtime, most people desire memorable experiences, spontaneity, solitude and time away from devices.

They're rejecting the expensive theme parks or tourist attractions with huge crowds; that's what makes a motorcycle road trip so appealing.

More people than ever are riding motorcycles. According to the 2018 survey by the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle ownership has increased by 2.5 million people in the last four years, and that's not only men over the age of 50. The amount of millennials and women purchasing motorcycles has grown every year.

With so many people on two wheels, the demand for biker destinations is also growing. Tourist companies and small businesses are now catering to motorcycle clientele.

Of course, there are quite a few attractions that riders can visit with little to no cost, and that don't require a reservation. Let's discuss a few things you can do to have the time of your life on your next motorcycle excursion.

But, first, make sure you have prepared for anything that might happen out on the road.

How to Prepare For a Motorcycle Road Trip

While a motorcycle road trip is all about freedom, it's important to plan carefully because there are a variety of things that could go wrong.

In "How to Ride Long Distances During a Motorcycle Road Trip," Biker Report lists some tips on planning your excursion. A rider should prepare their bike for the experience of driving long distances, but also their mind for what can be some grueling conditions.

Here are a few helpful tips from that article:

1. Being weather sensible: Pack appropriate gear and clothing for all possibilities (rain or shine).
2. Be prepared for emergencies: Pick up a basic maintenance kit for your bike and a first aid kit for you.
3. Be properly maintained: Take your bike to a professional mechanic before you leave and mention you're going on a long-distance trip.
4. Be realistic: Give yourself a break and only do what you can handle.
5. Be comfortable: Use a bike designed for long trips and sustain a comfortable, upright position.

Their tip to "be comfortable" is particularly important when driving thousands of miles. No one wants to drive from the Atlantic to Pacific on a racing bike, for example, so select a cruiser built for the long haul.

Cruiser motorcycles are known for their comfortable seats and conveniently-placed handlebars. They're designed with ergonomics in mind and riders can pick up any number of accessories to address their concerns, such as luggage systems, saddlebags, guards, custom seats or even mug holders.

Some of the best cruiser motorcycles on the market are the Indian Chief, Honda Fury, Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe and Suzuki Boulevard M50, to name a few. Research the specifications of each bike and even ask if you can take it for a spin around the block before settling on a specific model. Make sure it feels good.

Once you've selected the right bike and packed for the trip, the next question is what places to go on a motorcycle? You could go anywhere; the sky's the limit. One option is exploring America's unique interstate highway system and checking out some historic landmarks along the way.

Explore America's Historic Highway System

Everyone has heard of the famous U.S. Route 66 or The Oregon Trail, why not explore these landscapes on your motorcycle?

While Route 66 no longer "officially" exists, adventurers can still make the 2,448 mile trip from Chicago to Santa Monica. Businesses along the route have transformed into landmarks and the owners have put in great effort to keep them the same as they've been for the last century.

The Oregon Trail represents the spirit of America, where pioneers and explorers traveled across the frontier to find a better life for their families. It's so famous that the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium developed it as a computer game in 1985. Today, you can make the expanded 3,300-mile trek from Cape Cod to Columbia Gorge.

There are many other intriguing routes across this country with places to stop on your motorcycle, such as Olympic National Park on California's Pacific Coast Highway, Gettysburg National Military Park on the Appalachian Trail and Elvis Presley's Graceland on the Great River Road.

Did you know that the interstate highway system connects to many national parks? And for a reasonable price, you can visit them all during your motorcycle road trip.

Affordable Motorcycle Vacation Destinations

An annual pass for U.S. National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands is $80. Let me repeat that, you have access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for only $80 per year.

If you're a current or former member of the U.S. military, your pass is free! Discounts are also available for senior citizens, students and people with disabilities.

This means that during your coast-to-coast road trip you can pull over and explore places like the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon or Yosemite. Pack a tent and you may have the opportunity to sleep under the stars. The National Parks have been in existence since 1916 and cover over 85 million acres in every state.

Making plans of where to visit is important, but as a rider, you should also be open to new experiences as they present themselves. Travel writer Brian Roberts in "These 10 Tips Will Make Your First Road Trip Unforgettable" wrote, "if it catches your eye, give it a try."

Be open-minded to new things, and stop periodically to try something you'd never do otherwise.

For the riders who prefer being more social and showing off their custom bikes, check local community calendars for every place you stop. Most cities and towns host bike nights or bike weeks, where all you have to do is park and socialize with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts.

Best International Road Trip Destinations

Within the riding community, there are some bikers ready for a more challenging ride and overseas motorcycle vacation destinations are just what the doctor ordered.

What makes these trips so much more challenging? Riders have all the same worries as domestic travelers — bike maintenance, weather or dehydration — but in this case, they're in a foreign country with different languages, rules of the road and even foods that can cause health-related delays.

Not to mention the higher costs of an international trip after the rider books airfare and pays either to ship their bike or rent one locally.

But, for die-hard riders with the means and will to go overseas, there are several mind-blowing experiences to have across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Fly to southeast Asia to test your nerves on Mae Hong Son Loop's 1,000 hairpin turns and bends through waterfalls, caves, and villages. Off-road riders and history buffs can also tour Vietnam's infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail, a combination of truck routes and footpaths used as supply roads by the Vietcong.

Pack your jacket and fly to Norway, the historic home of the Vikings, to try out Lyseboth Road in Lysefjord. The mountainside roads in southern Norway are breathtaking and for riders, they provide over 30 thrilling hairpin bends, switchbacks, and a thrilling tunnel through the rock.

Or head south of the border, really far south to Chile or Argentina, where you can take the Patagonia Tour through the Andes as Che Guevara famously did in 1952. Spend weeks cruising through snow-covered volcanoes, glaciers, and waterfalls.

Wherever you go, make sure to pack enough camera film or phone chargers to ensure you never miss a photo op. Your friends or family back home will want to see pictures of your trip!

Visit 'Biker Report' and Start Planning Your Trip

Now that we've touched on everything you need for your next motorcycle road trip — including how to prepare logistically, taking advantage of America's interstate highway system, affordable destinations and experiencing overseas tours — the next step is to start planning your adventure.

Biker Report is an online authority on biker culture, especially for Harley-Davidson riders. They post informative articles on the best motorcycles on the market, gear, and accessories for bikers, motorcycle events like Daytona's Bike Week and great places to visit while riding.

No matter what you're looking for, whether a spiritual cross-country ride across the United States or partying with friends at Sturgis Bike Week in South Dakota, Biker Report will give you ideas and tips to make the best of your trip.

The most important part of planning a motorcycle trip, according to Brian Roberts, is "to set destinations, not expectations." Make plans ahead of time but always dedicate some of your time to free exploration. Be open-minded and never make assumptions about the places you visit or the people you meet.

"Expectation doesn't always align with the reality and if you plan too much, you open yourself up to being let down."