The best time to ride a motorcycle in Tennessee

Tennessee is long and narrow, more than 400 miles from the Mississippi River to the Virginia line, and the riding climate changes along the way. Memphis and Nashville sit a few hundred feet above sea level. The roads along the North Carolina line climb past 5,000 feet at Newfound Gap and on the Cherohala Skyway. A warm spring afternoon in Nashville can still mean frost on the crest of the Smokies.

So think in three zones. East Tennessee's mountains have the shortest season but the best roads. The Cumberland Plateau and Middle Tennessee ride most of the year, with the Natchez Trace good on any dry day. West Tennessee is flat and hot in summer but mild for much of the winter. Pick the zone that fits the month.

Spring is when Tennessee looks its best. Redbuds and dogwoods bloom across Middle Tennessee in April, wildflowers fill the Smokies, and the mountain roads open up as the last frost leaves the high country. Waterfalls along the Tellico River and in the park run their strongest.

It's also storm season. Middle and West Tennessee get strong thunderstorms and tornado warnings in spring, so check the forecast before a long ride and know where you'd wait one out. In the mountains, cold mornings and warm afternoons mean layers: a ride that starts in a heavy jacket can end with every vent open.

Late May into June is a sweet spot on the Cherohala Skyway and Roan Mountain, where the rhododendron near Carvers Gap usually blooms in June. Memorial Day weekend is busy everywhere in the mountains, so start early.

July and August are hot and humid in Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga. Ride at dawn, take breaks in the shade and drink water at every stop. The Natchez Trace is shaded in long stretches and is more comfortable than any interstate.

The mountains are the escape. The Cherohala Skyway and Newfound Gap Road run much cooler at the top, but summer is also when the Smokies are busiest, and Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Cades Cove can turn into parking lots on weekends. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains, so ride the high roads in the morning and be heading down by mid-afternoon.

Wet pavement under the trees stays slick long after a storm passes. Give shaded corners time to dry.

Fall is the favorite season for most Tennessee riders, and the busiest. Color begins on the ridges near the crest in early October, and the wave rolls downhill over the following weeks, reaching the foothills toward the end of October and into November. The exact timing moves every year with rain and temperature.

October weekends bring the heaviest traffic of the year to the Smokies, the Foothills Parkway and the towns around them, and Pigeon Forge hosts big car show weeks in spring and fall that clog its main strip. Ride the famous roads midweek and early if you can, and save quieter roads like the Cherohala Skyway, TN 68 and the Snake for weekends.

Watch for wet leaves in corners, deer, which move more in fall, and cold mornings as November arrives. The best motorcycle roads in Tennessee guide lists what to watch for on each road.

Winter in East Tennessee is unpredictable. A single storm can shut US 441 over Newfound Gap and TN 165 on the Cherohala for days, and the spur road up toward Kuwohi, the peak long known as Clingmans Dome, closes for the winter season. Even when roads are open, shaded north-facing corners can hold ice well into a sunny afternoon.

Middle and West Tennessee get plenty of rideable winter days between cold fronts. Check road status for Great Smoky Mountains National Park and TDOT SmartWay the morning you go, layer up or wear heated gear, and expect salt and grit in the corners after a storm.

For laws, events and the bigger picture, see the Tennessee motorcycle rides hub.