The best time to ride a motorcycle in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is small, but its riding season isn't the same everywhere. The coast, Boston and Cape Cod warm up earlier in spring and hold mild weather later in fall, thanks to the ocean. The Berkshires and the hilltowns sit higher, get more snow, and run a couple of weeks behind in spring and ahead in fall. A sunny April day can be perfect on the North Shore and cold, with sand on every corner, on MA 112.

So the riding year has a rhythm: start close to home in the east, move west as the hills dry out in May and June, ride the Berkshires through summer and foliage, then finish on the coast in late October and November. The roads for each region are in our guide to the best motorcycle roads in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts roads take a beating every winter. Freeze and thaw opens potholes on commuter roads, and plows leave sand at every intersection and corner. In March and April, the first rides are on dry, swept roads close to home, and the smart move is to ride like the corners are dirty until you've seen them clean.

Out west, spring comes later. The Berkshires and hilltowns can still see snow into April, frost heaves are at their worst, and the summit roads on Mount Greylock open later in spring. By late May the hills are green, most roads have been swept and the western season starts for real.

June is one of the best months in the state: long days, mild temperatures and the hills at their greenest. July and August get hot and humid, especially in the Connecticut River valley and around Boston, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Ride early, carry rain gear, and use the higher roads out west when the valleys feel like a sauna.

The coast is beautiful and busy. Cape Cod's two bridges, the Bourne and the Sagamore, are the only road access, and summer weekend backups are long, so cross early on a weekday morning. Cape Ann, the North Shore beaches and Westport fill up on sunny weekends too. In the Berkshires, summer concerts and theater bring evening traffic to Lenox and Stockbridge.

Fall is the best riding of the year in Massachusetts. Color usually starts in the higher country of the Berkshires and the northern hilltowns in late September, peaks there in early to mid October, then works east and south, reaching the coast later in the month. The Mohawk Trail, US 7 and Jacob's Ladder are at their best and their busiest, so ride weekdays or start at sunrise on weekends.

Fall hazards: wet leaves in shaded corners, cold mornings that leave dew or frost on the pavement, deer most active at dawn and dusk, and short days after the clocks change in early November. Nor'easters and the remnants of tropical storms can bring heavy rain and wind, especially near the coast.

For regions, laws and events in one place, see the Massachusetts motorcycle rides hub.

Most Massachusetts riders store their bikes from about December through March. Salt goes down early and stays down, and a clean, dry road in January is rare. If you do ride on a warm winter day, rinse the salt off the same day.