Indiana road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Indiana
The best motorcycle roads in Indiana are in the southern hills: IN 46 and IN 135 through Brown County, IN 446 across Lake Monroe, and the Ohio River roads from Madison to Tell City. Add Parke County's covered bridges, the Whitewater Valley, the Lake Michigan dunes and US 40, the old National Road, for 12 rides worth the trip, each with what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 12
- Best region
- South of Indianapolis
- Best months
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Check before you go
- INDOT TrafficWise
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Indiana
Indiana's reputation is flat and straight, and north of Indianapolis that's mostly fair. The good riding starts where the glaciers stopped, south of Bloomington, where the land breaks into wooded hills, limestone ridges and creek valleys running down to the Ohio River. Eight of these 12 roads are down there.
The rest are scenic rather than twisty: covered bridges, canal towns, the Lake Michigan shore and Amish country. They're good half-day rides when the hills are too far. For when to go, see the best time to ride in Indiana, and for the big picture, the Indiana overview. Check INDOT's TrafficWise for closures and construction before a long ride.
Brown County and Bloomington
Brown County and the Bloomington hills
- 1. IN 46, Bloomington to NashvilleWhy: The classic Indiana ride. IN 46 climbs out of Bloomington through hardwood hills to Nashville, an arts town that fills with bikes on weekends, then keeps rolling east toward Columbus. Watch for: October weekend traffic that can stack up for miles into Nashville, cars turning into the state park, and deer. Best season: April to November, best in October color.
- 2. Brown County State Park roadsWhy: Indiana's largest state park has its own paved, hilly road network with overlooks across the forest, plus the two-lane Ramp Creek covered bridge at the north entrance. Watch for: An entrance fee, low speed limits, hikers on the road, and very heavy traffic on fall weekends. Best season: April to November.
- 3. IN 135 south of NashvilleWhy: The locals' pick. South of Nashville, IN 135 narrows and twists through the hills past the Story Inn toward the Hoosier National Forest. Watch for: Blind curves, gravel washed into the corners after rain, and deer in the wooded stretches. Best season: April to October.
- 4. IN 446 across Lake MonroeWhy: From IN 46 east of Bloomington, IN 446 runs south across Lake Monroe on a long causeway and through the Hoosier National Forest toward US 50. Quiet curves and water views. Watch for: Boat trailers on summer weekends, deer, and patched pavement. Best season: April to October.
The southern hills and the river
Down to the Ohio River
- 5. IN 37, Bloomington to Tell CityWhy: The link from the hills to the river. IN 37 runs south past Bedford and Paoli, and the southern half through the Hoosier National Forest has long sweepers and real elevation change. Watch for: Truck traffic around Bloomington and Bedford, and slow towns. Best season: April to October.
- 6. IN 62 and IN 66, the Ohio River Scenic BywayWhy: From Corydon, Indiana's first state capital, IN 62 rolls west through the hills to Leavenworth, high above a big bend in the Ohio, and IN 66 continues along the river past Tell City and Cannelton. Watch for: Slow trucks on the climbs, morning river fog, and debris on low stretches after high water. Best season: April to October.
- 7. IN 56 and IN 156, Madison to VevayWhy: Historic Madison sits on the Ohio below Clifty Falls State Park. From there IN 56 heads east toward Vevay, and IN 156 follows the river past Patriot with bluffs on one side and water on the other. Watch for: Spring flooding, slick creek crossings, and the steep hill in and out of Madison. Best season: April to October.
Southeast and west central
Canal towns and covered bridges
- 8. US 52 through the Whitewater ValleyWhy: Southeast of Indianapolis, US 52 passes Metamora, an old canal town with a working grist mill, and Brookville in the Whitewater River valley, with hills and river views. Watch for: Festival weekends in Metamora, canoe traffic in summer, and farm equipment. Best season: May to October.
- 9. Parke County covered bridges and Turkey RunWhy: Around Rockville, backroads link dozens of covered bridges, and IN 47 leads to Turkey Run State Park and its sandstone gorges. A slow, scenic day in west central Indiana. Watch for: Gravel approaches, slick wooden decks in the wet, and big crowds during the October Covered Bridge Festival. Best season: May to October.
The north and across the state
The Dunes, Amish country and the National Road
- 10. US 12 through the Indiana DunesWhy: Indiana's slice of Lake Michigan, through Indiana Dunes National Park, with beaches, dune trails and the Chicago skyline across the water on clear days. Watch for: Heavy trucks near the mills and ports, summer beach crowds, and entrance fees at some beaches. Best season: May to September.
- 11. Amish country around ShipshewanaWhy: In LaGrange and Elkhart counties, quiet roads run between Amish farms, Shipshewana's flea market and small towns like Middlebury. Flat, but a good slow ride. Watch for: Horse-drawn buggies over hill crests and around corners, and slow traffic in town. Best season: May to October.
- 12. US 40, the Historic National RoadWhy: America's first federally funded highway crosses Indiana through Richmond, Cambridge City, Indianapolis and Terre Haute. Antique shops, old inns and small towns, more history than curves. Watch for: Speed limits that drop fast in towns, and city traffic through Indianapolis. Best season: April to October.
Summary
Indiana motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| IN 46, Bloomington to Nashville | Brown County | Apr to Nov |
| Brown County State Park | Brown County | Apr to Nov |
| IN 135 south of Nashville | Brown County | Apr to Oct |
| IN 446 across Lake Monroe | Bloomington | Apr to Oct |
| IN 37 to Tell City | Southern hills | Apr to Oct |
| Ohio River Scenic Byway | Ohio River | Apr to Oct |
| IN 56 and IN 156, Madison | Ohio River | Apr to Oct |
| US 52, Whitewater Valley | Southeast | May to Oct |
| Parke County and Turkey Run | West central | May to Oct |
| US 12, Indiana Dunes | Northwest | May to Sep |
| Shipshewana Amish country | Northeast | May to Oct |
| US 40 National Road | Statewide | Apr to Oct |
Make them count
Add Indiana's best roads to Rippin'
Most of these roads aren't in Rippin' yet, so the first rider to add one gets their name on it. Ride it with Rippin' recording, 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 before it goes live. Read more on segments and leaderboards and how roads get added.
A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, and IN 135's blind corners are a good reminder why.
Brown County loops claim turf, too. Ride IN 46 to Nashville, south on IN 135, and back toward Bloomington on another road, and the hills inside the loop become your turf on the live map. Plan it with the loop builder. Roads riders have already added in Indiana are listed below.
Live from the app
Indiana on Rippin' right now.
8 upcoming events and 4 rider-added roads in Indiana on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Sun Nov 8ABATE of Indiana Region 1 - Kosciusko Co Treasures for KidsWarsaw
- Sun Dec 6ABATE of Indiana Region 4 Tippecanoe Co Toy RideLafayette
- Fri Jan 8Midwest Motorcycle & Powersports Expo 2027Fort Wayne
- Sat Feb 6ABATE of Indiana Region 13 - Arm Wrestling ChampionshipsOakland City
- Fri Feb 19Indiana Motorcycle & Powersports ExpoIndianapolis
- Thu Jul 15ABATE of Indiana Boogie 2027 (47th Annual)Springville
- Thu Jul 29Spirit of 76 BikeFest 2027Edinburgh
- Sat Aug 28Pro Motocross 2027 Round 11 - CrawfordsvilleCrawfordsville
Roads riders added in Indiana
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Indiana?
The Brown County pair, IN 46 and IN 135, top most lists, and IN 135 south of Nashville has the tightest curves. For river views, the Ohio River Scenic Byway and the roads around Madison.
Where are the curvy roads in Indiana?
South of Indianapolis, especially Brown County, the Hoosier National Forest and the Ohio River hills. The north and central parts of the state are mostly flat.
What are good motorcycle rides near Indianapolis?
Brown County is about an hour south on IN 135 or via Bloomington. US 52 to Metamora and the Whitewater Valley is a good half day southeast.
When is Brown County most crowded?
October weekends, during peak fall color. Ride a weekday or start early to beat the traffic into Nashville.
Are there covered bridge rides in Indiana?
Yes. Parke County around Rockville has dozens of covered bridges on backroads, and Brown County State Park has one at its north entrance. Watch for gravel approaches and slick wooden decks.
Can I add these Indiana roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. Someone on the Rippin' team reviews it before it goes live, and it keeps your name.
Put an Indiana road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these with it recording, and add it as a segment. Your name stays on it.
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