The best time to ride a motorcycle in Missouri

Missouri sits far enough south that its riding season runs from about March to November, with more mild winter days than Iowa, Illinois's north or anywhere on the Great Lakes. The catch is summer: July and August are hot and humid, especially in the river bottoms, so spring and fall carry the best riding.

The Ozarks run a little cooler in the shade of their hollows and river valleys, and the north of the state, above the Missouri River, is more open farm country with more wind. The best motorcycle roads in Missouri guide lists the best season for each road.

April in the Ozarks is one of the best rides in the Midwest. Dogwoods and redbuds bloom white and pink through the forest, the air is cool, and the summer crowds haven't arrived. It's also storm season. Severe thunderstorms, hail and tornado warnings come with spring fronts, so check the radar before a long ride.

Heavy rain is the bigger day-to-day hazard. Ozark roads cross creeks on low-water bridges that flood fast, sometimes within an hour, and water over the road can sweep a bike away. If water is over the road, turn around. After the water drops, expect gravel, mud and debris in the corners. River roads like MO 94 and MO 79 can also close when the Missouri or Mississippi runs high.

July and August are hot and humid across Missouri. Start at first light, carry water, and use the shaded Ozark river roads for later in the day. Afternoon storms can pop up anywhere.

Summer is also float season. Canoe and raft traffic fills the Current and Jacks Fork rivers around Eminence, which means trucks, trailers and buses on MO 19 and MO 106 and gravel at the access points. The Lake of the Ozarks is at its busiest. Weekday mornings are the best time to ride both.

September cools off, and by October Missouri is at its best. Ozark color usually peaks in mid to late October, a little earlier in the north. MO 19, MO 21 and the river roads are favorites, and wine country towns like Hermann and Augusta fill up on October weekends, so ride early. Bikes, Blues & BBQ in Fayetteville, Arkansas, usually in September, pulls a lot of Missouri riders south through the Ozarks.

Watch for wet leaves in shaded corners, cold mornings and more deer on the move, especially around the November firearms deer season. Days get short fast, so plan to be off rural roads by dusk.

The Missouri overview covers each region in more detail.

Missouri winters bring cold snaps, ice storms and some snow, but also stretches of dry, mild days, more so in the south. Many Missouri riders never fully store their bikes. If you ride in winter, watch for ice in shaded Ozark hollows and on bridges, and wash off road salt and brine afterward.

If you do store it, fill the tank with stabilized fuel, put the battery on a maintainer, change the oil, set tire pressure and cover the bike. In spring, check tires, brakes, fluids and lights before the first ride.