Michigan road guide

The best motorcycle roads in Michigan

The best motorcycle roads in Michigan follow the water: M-22 around the Leelanau Peninsula, the Tunnel of Trees on M-119, the Lake Huron shore on US 23 and M-25, and the Upper Peninsula's Lake Superior roads all the way out to Copper Harbor. Here are 15 of them by region, with why each one is worth the miles, what to watch for and the best months to go.

Roads listed: 15
Regions: 5
Best months: June to early October
Check before you go: MDOT Mi Drive

Before you pick

How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Michigan

Michigan has no mountain passes, so its best roads earn their place with shoreline, dunes, bluffs and forest. A few, like the Tunnel of Trees, H-58 and Brockway Mountain Drive, have real corners. Most are scenic cruises where the reward is a Great Lakes view around the next bend.

Distance matters too. The Lower Peninsula roads are weekend rides from Detroit, Lansing or Grand Rapids. The UP roads are a trip, with long gaps between fuel and a shorter season. See the best time to ride in Michigan for timing and the Michigan overview for the regions. Check MDOT's Mi Drive map for construction before a long run north.

Southern Michigan

Southern Michigan and the Thumb

1. US 12 Heritage Trail through the Irish HillsWhy: The closest good riding to Detroit and Ann Arbor. Old US 12, once the Chicago Road, rolls through the Irish Hills past small lakes and the Walker Tavern site at Cambridge Junction. Watch for: Lake traffic on summer weekends and heavy race traffic when Michigan International Speedway, right on US 12 near Brooklyn, has a big event. Best season: May to October.
2. M-25 around the ThumbWhy: A long, relaxed shoreline ride from Bay City around the tip of the Thumb at Port Austin and down the Lake Huron side toward Port Huron, past lighthouses and small beach towns. Watch for: Crosswinds off the lake, slow summer traffic in Caseville and Port Austin, and deer in the farm country. Best season: June to September.

Northwest Lower Michigan

Sleeping Bear, Leelanau and the Tunnel of Trees

3. M-22, Manistee to Traverse CityWhy: The northwest's signature road. It climbs over the Arcadia bluffs, passes Frankfort, Empire and Sleeping Bear Dunes, loops the Leelanau Peninsula through Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay, and ends in Traverse City. Watch for: Cars braking for scenic turnouts, cyclists near Glen Arbor, and packed Traverse City streets during the National Cherry Festival in early July. Best season: June to mid October.
4. Pierce Stocking Scenic DriveWhy: A 7.4-mile one-way loop inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, off M-109, with overlooks high above Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. Watch for: You need a park entrance pass, the drive closes for winter, and the overlooks are busy with people on foot. Best season: Late spring to fall.
5. M-37, Old Mission PeninsulaWhy: Runs up the spine of the peninsula between East and West Grand Traverse Bay, past vineyards and cherry orchards, to the Mission Point Lighthouse. Come back on Peninsula Drive along the water for a loop. Watch for: Winery traffic on weekend afternoons, including drivers who've been tasting. Best season: June to October.
6. Tunnel of Trees, M-119Why: About 20 miles from Harbor Springs to Cross Village on a narrow lane cut into the bluff, with hardwoods closing overhead and Lake Michigan through the trunks. Lunch at Legs Inn in Cross Village is a tradition. Watch for: No center line, no shoulder in places, oncoming cars drifting wide and wet leaves. It's a slow road by design. Best season: June to mid October.

Northeast Lower Michigan

The Au Sable and the Lake Huron shore

7. River Road National Scenic BywayWhy: Runs west from Oscoda along the Au Sable River through the Huron National Forest, with stops at the Lumberman's Monument, Iargo Springs and overlooks above the river's dam ponds. Quiet and pretty. Watch for: Deer, sand at the pullouts, and canoe and tube traffic near the landings in summer. Best season: May to October.
8. US 23 Heritage RouteWhy: Follows Lake Huron from Mackinaw City through Cheboygan, Rogers City, Alpena, Harrisville and Oscoda. Lighthouses, small harbors and far less traffic than the Lake Michigan side. Pair it with River Road for a loop. Watch for: Long gaps between towns in the north, deer, and wind on the open shore. Best season: June to September.

The bridge and the eastern UP

Crossing the Mackinac Bridge into the eastern UP

9. Mackinac Bridge, I-75Why: About five miles across the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan on one side and Lake Huron on the other. Every Michigan rider does it once. Watch for: Open steel grating in the inside lanes, crosswinds and wind restrictions. There's a toll, and the bridge closes to traffic during the Labor Day Bridge Walk. Best season: May to October.
10. US 2 along Lake MichiganWhy: West of St. Ignace, US 2 runs right beside the northern Lake Michigan shore for miles, with dunes and beach next to the pavement, through Naubinway toward Manistique. Watch for: RVs and campers, sand blown onto the shoulder, and few passing zones. Best season: June to September.
11. M-123 to Tahquamenon FallsWhy: Loops north from Newberry to Tahquamenon Falls State Park and Paradise on Whitefish Bay. The Upper Falls is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Watch for: Deer, the odd moose, logging trucks, and a Recreation Passport to park at the falls. Best season: June to early October.
12. M-28 and the Seney StretchWhy: The UP's east-west spine. Between Seney and Shingleton it runs dead straight for about 25 miles through marsh and pine, then west of Munising it hugs Lake Superior toward Marquette. Watch for: Fatigue on the straight, fuel gaps, deer, and cold fog off Superior even in July. Best season: June to September.
13. H-58 along Pictured RocksWhy: County road H-58 links Munising and Grand Marais along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with spurs to Miners Castle and the Log Slide overlook. Paved, curvy and wooded. Watch for: Tight corners in the trees, park traffic and hikers at trailheads. Fuel up in Munising or Grand Marais. Best season: June to early October.

The western UP

The Keweenaw and the Porcupine Mountains

14. The Keweenaw: US 41, M-26 and Brockway Mountain DriveWhy: The far end of Michigan. US 41 runs up the Keweenaw to its end at Copper Harbor, M-26 follows Lake Superior through Eagle River and Eagle Harbor, and Brockway Mountain Drive climbs the ridge between Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor for a huge view. Watch for: Narrow pavement and steep drop-offs on Brockway, and cold lake weather in any month. Best season: Late June to late September.
15. M-107 and the Porcupine MountainsWhy: In the far western UP, M-107 runs from Silver City into Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and ends at the Lake of the Clouds overlook, one of the best views in the Midwest. South Boundary Road through the park adds curves. Watch for: Narrow, patched pavement, deer, a Recreation Passport for the park, and long distances to anything. Best season: June to early October.

Summary

Michigan motorcycle roads at a glance

Road	Region	Best season
US 12 Irish Hills	Southern Michigan	May to Oct
M-25 Thumb	Thumb	Jun to Sep
M-22	Northwest	Jun to mid Oct
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive	Northwest	Late spring to fall
M-37 Old Mission	Northwest	Jun to Oct
Tunnel of Trees, M-119	Northwest	Jun to mid Oct
River Road Scenic Byway	Northeast	May to Oct
US 23 Heritage Route	Northeast	Jun to Sep
Mackinac Bridge	The Straits	May to Oct
US 2	Eastern UP	Jun to Sep
M-123 Tahquamenon	Eastern UP	Jun to early Oct
M-28 Seney Stretch	Central UP	Jun to Sep
H-58 Pictured Rocks	Central UP	Jun to early Oct
Keweenaw and Brockway	Western UP	Late Jun to late Sep
M-107 Porcupine Mountains	Western UP	Jun to early Oct

Make them count

Add Michigan'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.

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Loops also claim turf. Ride M-22 around the Leelanau Peninsula and cut back to Traverse City on another road, and the land inside becomes your turf on the live map. Plan it with the loop builder. Roads riders have already added in Michigan are listed below.

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7 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in Michigan on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.

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FAQ

Questions riders ask.

What is the best motorcycle road in Michigan?

No single winner, but M-22, the Tunnel of Trees on M-119, H-58 along Pictured Rocks and Brockway Mountain Drive come up most. For corners, M-119 and Brockway. For views, M-22 and the Lake Superior shore.

What are the best motorcycle rides in the Upper Peninsula?

H-58 along Pictured Rocks, M-28 along Lake Superior, M-123 to Tahquamenon Falls, US 2 along Lake Michigan, the Keweenaw with Brockway Mountain Drive, and M-107 to Lake of the Clouds.

Can motorcycles cross the Mackinac Bridge?

Yes, for a toll like any vehicle. The inner lanes are open steel grating that makes the bike feel loose, and the bridge can restrict traffic in strong wind, so check before you go.

How long is the Tunnel of Trees?

M-119 runs about 20 miles from Harbor Springs to Cross Village. It's narrow with no center line, so plan on a slow, scenic ride rather than a quick one.

What are good motorcycle roads near Detroit?

US 12 through the Irish Hills and M-25 around the Thumb are the closest good rides. For the classics, plan a weekend north.

When should I ride the UP?

June through September, with late September for fall color. Snow can hang on into May and come back in October up there. See the best time to ride in Michigan.

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