Alabama road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Alabama
The best motorcycle roads in Alabama start where the Appalachians fade out in the northeast: the Talladega Scenic Drive to Cheaha, the rim of Little River Canyon and the mountaintop roads around Mentone. North Alabama adds the Natchez Trace, Lake Guntersville and the Bankhead National Forest, and the south has US 80's history and the Gulf coast. Here are 12 classics with why each is worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 12
- Regions
- 3
- Highest point
- Cheaha Mountain
- Check before you go
- ALGO Traffic
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Alabama
Alabama gets overlooked by riders headed to Tennessee and North Carolina, which keeps its best roads quiet. The northeast corner has real mountains, forest and canyon rims. The middle of the state is rolling farm country with deep history. The south ends at Mobile Bay and the Gulf, where the riding is about bridges, beaches and seafood.
Weather changes these roads. Spring storms drop limbs and gravel on forest roads, fall leaves hide wet patches, and Gulf storms push sand across beach roads. Check ALGO Traffic before a long ride, and see the best time to ride a motorcycle in Alabama for the season by region. The Alabama motorcycle rides hub has the overview of regions, laws and rallies.
Northeast Alabama
Mountain and canyon roads
- 1. Talladega Scenic Drive (AL 281)Why: A ridgeline road through the Talladega National Forest from US 78 near Heflin south to Cheaha State Park, at the top of Alabama. Long, smooth sweepers, almost no development and views off both sides. Walk the Bald Rock boardwalk at the top. Watch for: Deer, wet leaves in fall, slow park traffic near the summit and no fuel along the ridge. Best season: April to November.
- 2. Little River Canyon Rim Parkway (AL 176)Why: Climb AL 35 out of Fort Payne to Little River Falls, then follow the rim of Little River Canyon National Preserve past a string of overlooks into the gorge. Short, scenic and easy to pair with Mentone. Watch for: Cars stopping suddenly at overlooks, narrow pavement with no shoulder, and swimmers parking along the road in summer. Best season: March to November.
- 3. Mentone and the Lookout Mountain ParkwayWhy: AL 117 climbs Lookout Mountain from Valley Head to Mentone, a small mountain town with cafes and cabins, then the Lookout Mountain Parkway runs south past DeSoto State Park and DeSoto Falls. Cool air, rock outcrops and quiet two-lane. Watch for: Steep grades, deer and slow local traffic. Best season: April to November, especially fall.
- 4. Blount County covered bridgesWhy: North of Birmingham, back roads around Oneonta and Cleveland connect several historic covered bridges, including Swann, Horton Mill and Easley. Rolling farm country and a good half-day ride. Watch for: Narrow county roads, farm equipment, and bridges that may be closed to traffic. Check the signs. Best season: Spring and fall.
North Alabama
Tennessee Valley, lakes and forest
- 5. Natchez Trace Parkway, Alabama sectionWhy: Alabama's slice of the parkway is roughly 33 miles, and its highlight is the long John Coffee Memorial Bridge over the Tennessee River near the old Colbert Ferry site. Commercial trucks are banned, so it's quiet. Watch for: Ranger patrols enforcing a limit well below highway speeds, deer, cyclists, and no fuel on the parkway itself. Best season: April to May, October to November.
- 6. Lake Guntersville (AL 227 and US 431)Why: Ride into Guntersville over the water on the US 431 causeways, then take AL 227 east to the state park, where the lodge looks down on the lake from a high bluff. Bald eagles winter here. Watch for: Boat trailers on weekends, fishermen pulling off at the causeways, and fog on the water on cool mornings. Best season: Year-round on dry days.
- 7. Bankhead National Forest (AL 33)Why: AL 33 runs south from Moulton through the Bankhead National Forest toward Double Springs, past the edge of the Sipsey Wilderness. Hardwood forest, creek crossings and light traffic. Watch for: Logging trucks, deer, and limited services. Best season: April to November.
- 8. Monte Sano Mountain, HuntsvilleWhy: A short climb right out of Huntsville up to Monte Sano State Park, past Burritt on the Mountain, with views back over the city. Easy to fit in after work. Watch for: Cyclists climbing, residential driveways and tight turns near the top. Best season: Year-round on dry days.
Central Alabama and the Gulf
History roads and the coast
- 9. US 80, Selma to MontgomeryWhy: This is the route marchers walked for voting rights in 1965, protected today as the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. Start at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, stop at the Lowndes Interpretive Center and finish at the capitol in Montgomery. A ride for the story, not the corners. Watch for: Four-lane highway speeds and trucks. Best season: October to April.
- 10. Mobile Bay CausewayWhy: US 90 and US 98 cross the head of Mobile Bay at water level on the Battleship Parkway, past the USS Alabama and a row of seafood spots, while the I-10 Bayway runs high above. Watch for: Crosswinds, fishermen pulling off the shoulder and debris after storms. Best season: October to May.
- 11. Scenic 98 on the Eastern ShoreWhy: The old bay road through Daphne, Montrose, Fairhope and Point Clear, under live oaks with Mobile Bay beside you. Stop at the Fairhope pier. Watch for: Low speed limits, pedestrians and cyclists, and driveways everywhere. Best season: October to May.
- 12. Fort Morgan, the ferry and Dauphin IslandWhy: Ride Fort Morgan Road (AL 180) west from Gulf Shores along the dunes to Fort Morgan, take the Mobile Bay Ferry across to Dauphin Island and Fort Gaines, then ride the bridge back to the mainland. Part of Alabama's Coastal Connection scenic byway. Watch for: Blowing sand, summer beach traffic, crosswinds on the bridge, and ferry runs canceled by weather. Best season: October to May.
Link them up
Alabama loops worth a full day
The Lookout Mountain loop: Fort Payne up AL 35 to Little River Falls, the canyon rim on AL 176, north to Mentone and DeSoto State Park, and back down AL 117. It closes, it has the best scenery in the state, and it's all within an hour of Fort Payne.
The Cheaha loop: the Talladega Scenic Drive south to Cheaha, then back north on the valley roads through the national forest. The coast loop: Gulf Shores to Fort Morgan, the ferry to Dauphin Island, up to Mobile and back across the bay on the causeway and Scenic 98. Check the ferry schedule first.
Summary
Alabama motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Talladega Scenic Drive (AL 281) | Northeast | Apr to Nov |
| Little River Canyon Rim Parkway | Northeast | Mar to Nov |
| Mentone and Lookout Mountain | Northeast | Apr to Nov |
| Blount County covered bridges | North central | Spring and fall |
| Natchez Trace, Alabama section | Northwest | Spring and fall |
| Lake Guntersville | North | Year-round, dry days |
| Bankhead National Forest (AL 33) | Northwest | Apr to Nov |
| Monte Sano | Huntsville | Year-round, dry days |
| US 80, Selma to Montgomery | Central | Oct to Apr |
| Mobile Bay Causeway | Gulf | Oct to May |
| Scenic 98, Eastern Shore | Gulf | Oct to May |
| Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island | Gulf | Oct to May |
In the app
Put Alabama's roads on the Rippin' map
Alabama is early in Rippin', so there's plenty of room to add roads. If one of these isn't in the app yet, ride it with Rippin' recording, then open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on our team checks it, it goes live with your name on it, and every rider who rides through it after that lands on its board. Read how roads get added.
Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads. A board is about who owns the road and who rides it. The Lookout Mountain loop closes, so the land inside becomes your turf on the live map, and every town on the way adds a passport stamp. Below is what's on the Alabama map in the app right now.
Live from the app
Alabama on Rippin' right now.
17 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in Alabama on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Sun Nov 1Teddy Bear Charity Motorcycle RideTrussville
- Sat Nov 7Saddle Bags for SantaBillingsley
- Sat Nov 7Franklin County Veterans ParadeTuscumbia
- Sat Nov 14Veteran's Day BreakfastDothan
- Sat Nov 14HOGS for HOPE Poker RunTuscumbia
- Sat Nov 21Three Rivers November Bike Night/Open HouseElmore
- Sat Nov 21T-Town BeatDownCottondale
- Sat Nov 28Sportbike Track Time Track DaysMunford
- Sat Nov 28N2 Track DaysBirmingham
- Sat Dec 52026 Eldridge Toy RunEldridge
- Sat Dec 5Boston Butt Pick Up - Charity EventMobile
- Sat Jan 16Three Rivers January Bike Night/Open HouseElmore
- Sat Feb 20Three Rivers February Bike Night/Open HouseElmore
- Sat Jun 5Run, Ride & Rumble for PTSD AwarenessTrussville
- Thu Jun 10SHEnanigan's Women's Bike RallyTuscumbia
Showing the next 15 of 17. See every meet on the live map.
No Alabama roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Alabama?
The Talladega Scenic Drive (AL 281) to Cheaha is the classic. For a full day, the loop through Little River Canyon, Mentone and DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain is hard to beat.
Are there mountains to ride in Alabama?
Yes. The southern end of the Appalachians reaches into northeast Alabama, with Cheaha Mountain as the state's highest point and Lookout Mountain on the Georgia side.
What are the best motorcycle rides near Birmingham?
The Talladega Scenic Drive to Cheaha is about an hour east, the Blount County covered bridges are just north, and Lake Guntersville and Lookout Mountain make a full day.
Can you ride the Natchez Trace in Alabama?
Yes. Roughly 33 miles of the parkway cross northwest Alabama, including the bridge over the Tennessee River. Mind the low speed limit and plan fuel off the parkway.
What is the best motorcycle ride on the Alabama coast?
Fort Morgan Road to Fort Morgan, the Mobile Bay Ferry to Dauphin Island, and back by bridge. Check the ferry schedule, since weather can cancel runs.
Can I add an Alabama road to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put an Alabama road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these roads with it recording and add it. Your name stays on it.
Free on iPhone and Android. How Rippin' works
