Motorcycle Rides Near Me in North Carolina

Motorcycle Riding in the state of North Carolina  

So far we have told you about North Carolina's nearest motorcycle riding hotspot, the Blue Ridge Box, as well as iconic US motorcycle roads that are spread out around the USA.  But if you simply want to know what the best motorcycle rides near you in North Carolina are, then read on as I describe 5 of the very best motorcycle rides in North Carolina below.  The state of North is endowed with some of the greatest motorcycle rides in all of America as it is host to quite an impressive diversity of inspiring scenery. Starting in the western part of the state, motorcycle riders will find outstanding Blue Ridge Mountains riding. As riders move east, the topography flattens out and you find large swaths of territory running down east central and central North Carolina known as the Piedmont Plateau. This area features green rolling hills with many rock outcroppings and miles and miles of heavily forested terrain. Moving further east to the Atlantic Coastal Plain area will bring motorcycle riders to an area characterized by many rivers and even marshes, swampland and often times used for agriculture. The 5 great North Carolina motorcycle rides have each been some of the highest ranked motorcycle rides in North Carolina for years as our McR ranking algorithm doesn't let a newly added ride simply jet right up to the top of the list but instead makes the route earn its popularity over time by looking at many different factors that indicate a motorcycle road's quality (e.g., page views for that motorcycle road, the number of motorcycle riders following that route, the number of times that route has been saved to riders' To Ride list, the number of times that motorcycle ride has been saved to a riders' Rode It list, the number of motorcycle ride photos or videos that have been uploaded to that page, etc, etc.).  Keep in mind however, that even though we use a somewhat complex rating algorithm to keep 'undeserving routes' from erratically rising to the top, certainly the ratings can & do change over time and so the list you see below of the best motorcycle rides in North Carolina was current at the time of the publication of this guide to the best motorcycle rides near me - North Carolina (date of last update is found at the top of this guide after the * and under the introduction). Currently there are an impressive 88 North Carolina motorcycle roads registered on McR; this is far above the national average of about 35 registered motorcycle roads per state.  And, North Carolina not only has a lot of registered motorcycle rides but many of those are also great motorcycle rides as many of those are found in the Top 100 Motorcycle Rides in the USA. 

Aside from the North Carolina scenery highlights above, below we've given you a short description of 5 of the best motorcycle rides in North Carolina (complete/updated listing of all North Carolina motorcycle rides).

The Top-5 Best Motorcycle Rides in North Carolina: 

1.  Cherohala Skyway

Begin at Tellico Plains, about 25 miles south of I-75, and take Highway 165 and continue to National Forest Road. Take a right to the Cherohala Skyway for a mile and head back to follow the signs to Robbinsville, NC. There are no facilities for about 40 miles (except restrooms) and little population you can see from the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. Tellico River, at Tennessee, is famous for its trout fishing and a challenging canoe and kayaking. Towns at Tellico Plains are great to stop for a bite and gas fill. Don’t give into the temptation of riding too fast at the curves.

2.  Blue Ridge Parkway

You can start by heading towards Waynesboro from interstate 64 for the upper half, or begin at Wytheville for the middle half, or even begin from the town of Cherokee to start from the south and head upwards. The northern half runs through the Virginia country side, with several sites such as an old mill pond and Civil War battle sites. The lower half mostly covers the Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina with beautiful overlooks. The limited access makes it a great North Carolina motorcycle ride.

3.  The Hellbender 28

This is a great motorcycle riding experience with several sweeping curves and drop offs on the lakeside in the Great Smokey Mountains. Some of the most beautiful views in all of America are seen along the Fontana Lake. Water, dense forests and mountains make up some great views between the ‘Dragon’ and the Deals Gap on this 22-mile ride. There is a motorcycle-friendly resort at Fontana Village that offers lodges, cabins, camping and boathouses for rent.

4.  North Carolina's Route 80 (AKA Devil's Whip)

It begins at a town called Pleasant Gardens in North Carolina, passes through Blue Ridge as you stay on NC 80 and continues north to Us Highway 19 and ends in Micaville, NC. The ride takes you up 2,500 feet, showcasing great views of a lake and Mt. Mitchell gold course. The Dragon’s Tail region has the least traffic with a lot of curve changes and elevations. Not a road for a novice rider!

5.  "Beginners Beware"

You pretty much know what to expect on this route by the fact that it travels through a town/area known as Little Switzerland; incredible mountain scenery.  Along with that great mountain scenery comes great twisty mountain roads that as the author warns will make it hard for you to take your eyes off the road to take in the surrounding North Carolina views.  There are also some nice mom and pop restaurants and some gas stations along the drive so you’ll be able to pull over and enjoy a break and full up when needed. 
 

Lastly, North Carolina is a place for those with diverse interests to unwind and explore. From natural spectacles from mountains to beaches, the state also houses some of the best museums in the country. It is also a good fit for those with historical interests.  Whatever your interests are, the state really makes it easy to put together a great motorcycle trip because you can simply combine any of the great motorcycle roads listed on McR with any of the many great tourist destinations/attractions.  For your reference, a summary of some of the best such locations are listed and described below:

• The North Carolina Museum of natural sciences, the very first in the state, offers seven floors of interactive exhibits for any age group to enjoy and understand. It is made of the Nature Exploration Center, the Nature Research Center, the Prairie Ridge Ecostation and the North Carolina Museum of Forestry.
• The Battleship North Carolina is the most decorated American battleship from World War II with 15 battle stars. A museum located in Wilmington today, it is regarded a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can take this self-guided two-hour tour across the main deck, two gun turrets and other interior compartments.
• At Elijah Mountain Gem Mine, visitors can mine gemstones and gold to take home. It also has a baby goat petting zoo, the world’s largest gem mine bucket, picnic areas and more. It is open every day all year long.
• The Wright Brother National Memorial pays homage to the first people to successfully fly an airplane. It showcases the exact spot from where their first airplanes took off and landed along with some reconstructed buildings that show their working conditions. The visitors center features educational displays and houses replicas of two flying machines from as far back as 1902 and 1903.
• The Wheels Through Time Museum is home to the world’s best collections of rare motorcycles and automobiles with more than 350 machines arranged into a timeline of American History. Antique car rallies, annual motorcycle raffles and other holiday celebrations are hosted here.
• Moores Creek National Battlefield commemorates the Partiot’s victory in the 1776 Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge. The audio-visual program at the visitors center offers insights into the events of the battle. The park has a picnic area, campsite and a colonial forest walk.
• The Mountains-to-sea trail spans between the Outer Banks and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site). It offers hiking and biking along majestic mountain vistas, historic colonial towns, tobacco barns, hardwood and pine forests and some great coastal terrain with paddling at the Neuse River.
• The Blue Ridge Parkway, also called America’s favorite drive, goes through the Great Smoky National Park in NC to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It has scenic hiking and biking trails, and offers incredible views of mountains and more at pull-offs, picnic grounds, camping areas and more.
• The Pisgah National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains in the northwestern part of the state has some very attractive sites. One of them is the Sliding Rock, a 60 ft natural rock water slide. The pool at the bottom is between 50 and 60 °F and 6-7 ft deep. The slide is open from the end of May till Labor Day. The National Forest also has several mountain biking and backpacking trails, waterfalls, rock climbing and fishing sites.