The best motorcycle roads in North Carolina

• 1. Blue Ridge ParkwayWhy: The North Carolina half of the parkway, roughly 250 miles, is the higher half. It swings around Grandfather Mountain on the Linn Cove Viaduct, climbs past 6,000 feet near Richland Balsam south of Asheville, and ends at Cherokee by the Smokies. No commercial trucks, no stoplights, and a 45 mph top limit that keeps it a scenic ride, not a sport ride. Watch for: Closures. Helene damaged long sections in 2024, and winter weather gates the high stretches every year. Fuel is in the towns, not on the parkway. Best season: May to October.
• 2. US 221, Blowing Rock to LinvilleWhy: Winds below the parkway around the base of Grandfather Mountain, through thick forest, with steady curves and the Grandfather Mountain entrance along the way. A good fallback when the parkway is closed or packed. Watch for: October traffic, slow sightseers and wet leaves. Best season: May to October.
• 3. NC 181, Linville to MorgantonWhy: Drops off the Blue Ridge down the escarpment toward Morganton, along the east side of the Linville Gorge Wilderness. Long sweepers and a real change in elevation. Watch for: Trucks on the grade, fog near the top and crosswinds on the open sections. Best season: April to November.
• 4. NC 80, the Devil's WhipWhy: Climbs from Lake Tahoma near Marion up to the parkway at Buck Creek Gap in a tight, stacked set of curves riders call the Devil's Whip. Short, steep and technical. Watch for: Hairpins, gravel and narrow lanes. McDowell County took heavy Helene damage, so check DriveNC for repairs. Best season: April to October.

• 5. US 276, Forest Heritage Scenic BywayWhy: A few miles out of Brevard, Looking Glass Falls sits right beside the road, and the climb through Pisgah National Forest tops out at the parkway before a long descent toward Waynesville. Waterfalls, cool forest air and good pavement. Watch for: Summer crowds and people crossing near the falls, damp corners under the trees, and storm repairs. Best season: May to October.
• 6. NC 215, Rosman to CantonWhy: Climbs north from Rosman to meet the parkway at Beech Gap, one of the highest crossings in the region, then drops past Lake Logan toward Canton. Steep, quiet and lined with creeks and cascades. Watch for: Tight switchbacks on the climb, wet pavement, and cold at the top. Best season: May to October.
• 7. NC 209, the RattlerWhy: Riders call it the Rattler: a long, twisting run north from the Lake Junaluska and Waynesville area over the mountains to Hot Springs, the old spa town on the French Broad River where the Appalachian Trail runs down the main street. Watch for: Curves that tighten without warning, gravel spilled from driveways and slow farm trucks. Hot Springs flooded badly in Helene, so check DriveNC. Best season: April to October.

• 8. Cherohala Skyway (NC 143)Why: The North Carolina end starts near Robbinsville and climbs past 5,000 feet into the Unicoi Mountains before crossing into Tennessee. Big sweeping curves, overlooks across ridge after ridge, and no towns at all. Watch for: Fog, cold at the crest, and no fuel or food between Robbinsville and Tellico Plains. Best season: May to October.
• 9. US 129 and Deals GapWhy: Deals Gap sits on the state line at the top of the Tail of the Dragon, and its motorcycle resort is the meeting point for riders from everywhere. The famous 11 miles run almost entirely in Tennessee; on this side, US 129 follows the Cheoah River south toward Robbinsville. See the Tennessee motorcycle rides hub for the Dragon itself. Watch for: Enforcement, crowds and oncoming traffic over the line. Best season: April to early November.
• 10. NC 28, Moonshiner 28Why: One of the longest and most varied mountain roads in the state. NC 28 leaves Deals Gap, passes the turnoff for Fontana Dam, runs above Fontana Lake and winds on through Stecoah and the Nantahala country toward Franklin and Highlands. Local tourism groups brand it Moonshiner 28. Watch for: Gravel in the corners and slow traffic near the lake. Best season: April to October.
• 11. US 64, Cullasaja GorgeWhy: Highlands sits around 4,000 feet and Franklin about 2,000 feet lower, and US 64 makes that descent along the Cullasaja River. Bridal Veil Falls and Dry Falls are right off the road. Short, dramatic and slow. Watch for: Rock on one side, a drop on the other, no shoulder, and cars stopping without warning. Best season: April to November.
• 12. Wayah RoadWhy: A quiet forest road from near Nantahala Lake over Wayah Gap toward Franklin, with steady curves, almost no traffic and a gravel side road up to Wayah Bald. Watch for: Rough patches, gravel and no services. Best season: May to October.
• 13. US 19/74, Nantahala GorgeWhy: Follows the cold Nantahala River through a deep, shaded gorge between Bryson City and Topton, past the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Cool even in July. Watch for: Rafting buses and trailers, pedestrians around the outfitters, and damp pavement. Best season: Spring to fall.

• 14. NC 12, Outer BanksWhy: The only road down most of the Outer Banks. South of Nags Head it crosses Oregon Inlet on the Marc Basnight Bridge, runs through Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and the villages of Hatteras Island, and ends at the free state ferry to Ocracoke. Watch for: Sand and ocean overwash after storms, closures on Hatteras Island, strong crosswinds on bridges and summer traffic. Best season: May to June, September to October.
• 15. US 64 across the Alligator RiverWhy: The main route east to the Outer Banks crosses the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, a long, flat run through swamp forest and farm fields where black bears are a common sight. Pair it with NC 12 for a coast trip. Watch for: Bears and deer on the road, long gaps between fuel and crosswinds on the bridges. Best season: Spring and fall.

Helene changed riding in western North Carolina. Many roads have reopened, some are still under repair, and the picture keeps changing. Before any mountain trip:

• Blue Ridge Parkway: check the NPS road status. Sections have reopened in stages since 2024, and detours around closed stretches can be long.
• State roads: DriveNC lists closures, one-lane sections and detours. Areas around Hot Springs, Marshall, Chimney Rock, Bat Cave and Spruce Pine were among the hardest hit.
• US 64/74A through Hickory Nut Gorge: a long-time favorite past Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, and one of the most damaged roads. Check its status before you plan around it.
• I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge: the main interstate link to Tennessee was badly damaged and has run with restrictions during long repairs.
• Towns and services: most mountain towns have reopened and welcome visitors, but some businesses haven't come back. Call ahead for rooms and fuel in small places.

Seasons are general patterns. For month-by-month timing, see the best time to ride a motorcycle in North Carolina.

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