Texas road guide
The best motorcycle roads in Texas
The best motorcycle roads in Texas sit in two places: the Hill Country west of Austin and San Antonio, home of the Twisted Sisters, Devil's Backbone and the Willow City Loop, and the far west around Big Bend and the Davis Mountains. Add Panhandle canyons, East Texas pines and a Gulf ferry ride, and you get 15 roads worth the trip, each with its region, why it's worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 15
- Regions
- 4
- Signature ride
- Twisted Sisters
- Check before you go
- DriveTexas.org
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in Texas
Texas is too big to ride in a weekend, so think of it as four riding areas with a lot of straight miles between them. The Hill Country is what most riders mean by Texas curves, a day ride from Austin and San Antonio. The far west around Alpine, Fort Davis and Big Bend takes days, not hours. The Panhandle and East Texas have shorter highlights worth a trip.
Most of these are two-lane ranch roads with no shoulder, livestock on open range and low-water crossings that flood in a storm. Check DriveTexas, TxDOT's road conditions map, before a long day, and read the best time to ride in Texas before you plan Big Bend in July. For the big picture on riding the state, start with the Texas motorcycle rides overview.
Hill Country
Hill Country roads west of Austin and San Antonio
Riding out of Austin? Our Austin and Texas Hill Country ride guide maps these roads and more, with loops you can ride in a morning.
- 1. Twisted Sisters (RR 335, RR 336, RR 337)Why: The best known ride in the state. Three ranch roads tie Leakey, Camp Wood and Vanderpool into a loop of roughly 100 miles over limestone ridges and river crossings on the Frio and Nueces. Watch for: Gravel in the corners, goats and cattle on open range, steep drop-offs with little guardrail, and almost no fuel. Fill up in Leakey or Camp Wood. Best season: March to May and October to November.
- 2. Devil's Backbone (RR 32)Why: A ridge-top road between RR 12 near Wimberley and US 281 north of Canyon Lake, with long views off both sides. Short enough for an evening ride out of San Antonio or Austin. Watch for: Blind crests, weekend traffic, enforcement and deer at dusk. Best season: Any mild day, best in spring.
- 3. Willow City LoopWhy: About 13 miles of narrow pavement through ranch land north of Fredericksburg, off TX 16, famous for spring bluebonnets. Watch for: Cattle guards, livestock and heavy wildflower traffic on spring weekends. The land on both sides is private, so stay on the road. Best season: Late March to April, or any quiet weekday.
- 4. TX 16 from Kerrville to BanderaWhy: A classic connector that climbs out of the Guadalupe valley at Kerrville and drops to the Medina River on the way into Bandera. Tie it to RR 337 at Medina for a full day. Watch for: Deer near dusk and Saturday traffic in Bandera. Best season: Spring and fall.
- 5. RR 965 to Enchanted RockWhy: A rolling ranch road north from Fredericksburg past Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, a huge pink granite dome, then on toward Llano to loop back on TX 16. Watch for: Cars slowing for the park entrance, cyclists and deer. The park fills on nice weekends and day passes are limited, so reserve ahead if you want to go in. Best season: October to May.
- 6. RR 1431 from Cedar Park to Marble FallsWhy: The closest real hills to Austin, rolling over the ridges north of Lake Travis through Jonestown and Lago Vista to Marble Falls. A good after-work ride. Watch for: Commuter traffic on the Cedar Park end, enforcement, and debris on the steeper grades after rain. Best season: Any dry day.
Big Bend and the far west
West Texas roads: Big Bend and the Davis Mountains
- 7. River Road (FM 170)Why: One of the most dramatic paved roads in Texas. It follows the Rio Grande from Lajitas to Presidio through Big Bend Ranch State Park and over the Big Hill, a steep climb and drop with a river overlook at the top. Watch for: Steep grades, rock on the road, livestock, heat and very few services. Carry water and leave with a full tank. Best season: October to April.
- 8. Ross Maxwell Scenic DriveWhy: About 30 miles through Big Bend National Park, from the Chisos foothills down past old ranch sites and Castolon to Santa Elena Canyon, where the Rio Grande cuts through a sheer wall of rock. Watch for: Wildlife at dawn and dusk, gravel at the pullouts and heat at the low end. The park charges an entrance fee. Best season: November to March.
- 9. Chisos Basin RoadWhy: The only road up into the Chisos Mountains, a short, steep climb with tight switchbacks near the top and a big drop in temperature. The basin is the cool spot in the park. Watch for: Sharp curves, steep grades, slow motorhomes and wildlife. Best season: Year-round, and it's the summer escape inside the park.
- 10. TX 118 from Alpine to Study ButteWhy: Roughly 80 miles of open desert and mountain views between Alpine and the Big Bend gateway towns of Study Butte and Terlingua, with sweeping curves through the hills south of Alpine. Watch for: Long gaps between fuel, crosswinds, deer and javelina, and a Border Patrol checkpoint on the way north. Best season: October to April.
- 11. Davis Mountains Scenic Loop (TX 118 and TX 166)Why: A loop of about 75 miles from Fort Davis, often called the highest town in Texas at around 5,000 feet, up past the McDonald Observatory and across high grassland ranches. Cooler than anywhere around it. Watch for: Deer, pronghorn and open range cattle, and no fuel on most of the loop. Best season: April to October, and it's the summer pick in West Texas.
Canyons, pines and the Gulf
Panhandle, East Texas and coast roads
- 12. TX 207 from Claude to SilvertonWhy: After hours of flat high plains, the road drops into the upper Palo Duro Canyon and then Tule Canyon, with switchbacks and red rock on both crossings. Watch for: Strong crosswinds on the plains, cattle, and gravel washed onto the curves after storms. Best season: April to June and September to October.
- 13. Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Park Road 5)Why: The park road drops off the rim east of the town of Canyon in steep switchbacks, then follows the canyon floor between red and orange walls. Watch for: Low-water crossings that flood after rain, steep grades, slow sightseers and summer heat at the bottom. The park charges an entrance fee. Best season: Spring and fall.
- 14. TX 21 through the Piney WoodsWhy: TX 21 follows the old route of El Camino Real de los Tejas across East Texas. Between Crockett and Nacogdoches it rolls through tall pine forest past Mission Tejas State Park, a very different Texas from the Hill Country. Watch for: Log trucks, deer, and wet leaves and pine needles in the shade. Best season: March to May and October to November.
- 15. Bolivar Peninsula (TX 87) by ferryWhy: Ride onto the free Galveston to Port Bolivar ferry run by TxDOT, then follow TX 87 east past the beach towns of the Bolivar Peninsula toward High Island. Flat, but the ferry crossing and Gulf views make the day. Watch for: Crosswinds, sand on the road, long ferry lines on summer weekends, and storm damage after hurricanes. Best season: October to May.
Summary
Texas motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Best season |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted Sisters | Hill Country | Mar to May, Oct to Nov |
| Devil's Backbone | Hill Country | Spring, mild days |
| Willow City Loop | Hill Country | Late Mar to Apr |
| TX 16, Kerrville to Bandera | Hill Country | Spring and fall |
| RR 965 to Enchanted Rock | Hill Country | Oct to May |
| RR 1431 | Austin area | Any dry day |
| River Road (FM 170) | Big Bend | Oct to Apr |
| Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive | Big Bend | Nov to Mar |
| Chisos Basin Road | Big Bend | Year-round |
| TX 118, Alpine to Study Butte | Far west | Oct to Apr |
| Davis Mountains Scenic Loop | Far west | Apr to Oct |
| TX 207, Claude to Silverton | Panhandle | Apr to Jun, Sep to Oct |
| Palo Duro Canyon | Panhandle | Spring and fall |
| TX 21, Piney Woods | East Texas | Mar to May, Oct to Nov |
| Bolivar Peninsula by ferry | Gulf Coast | Oct to May |
In the app
Add Texas roads to Rippin'
Ride one of these with Rippin' recording, then open Segments and tap Create a Segment: drop a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it. Read how roads get added and how segments and leaderboards work.
A segment board is about who owns the road and who rides it, not a race. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, and these roads punish it anyway: gravel, goats and blind crests don't care about your time.
Loops also claim turf. Ride the Twisted Sisters as a full loop and it closes back on itself, so the land inside becomes yours on the live map until someone carves it. The Texas roads riders have already added are listed below.
Live from the app
Texas on Rippin' right now.
30 upcoming events and 7 rider-added roads in Texas on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Wed Nov 4The Moto Social AustinLocation announced 2 weeks before – see themotosocial.com/austin
- Fri Nov 6Strokers Ice House Bike NightDallas
- Sat Nov 7 · monthlyAustin Monthly Adventure Motorcycle RideDripping Springs
- Sat Nov 714th Texas Motorcycle RevivalBurnet
- Sat Nov 7Veteran's Day Ride for the BraveRound Rock
- Tue Nov 10 · monthlyCycle Gear Austin Bike NightAustin
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- Sat Nov 14HOG Chapter Meeting – Cowboy Harley-DavidsonAustin
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- Sun Nov 15Bikers Giving Back 2026Arlington
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- Sat Nov 21 · monthlyHOG Chapter Meeting (Central Texas Chapter #5113)Round Rock
- Sat Nov 28Coats for Kids Ride 2026Corinth
Showing the next 15 of 30. See every meet on the live map.
Roads riders added in Texas
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in Texas?
Most Texas riders name the Twisted Sisters loop on RR 335, 336 and 337 around Leakey. For pure scenery, the River Road (FM 170) along the Rio Grande is hard to beat.
What are the best motorcycle rides near Austin?
Devil's Backbone (RR 32), RR 1431 toward Marble Falls, the Willow City Loop and the ranch roads around Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock are all easy day rides from Austin.
How far is the Twisted Sisters from San Antonio?
Leakey, the usual starting point, is roughly two hours west of San Antonio and about three hours from Austin, depending on your route.
When should I ride Big Bend on a motorcycle?
October to April. The low desert along the Rio Grande is regularly over 100 degrees in summer. If you go then, ride early and spend the afternoon up in the Chisos Basin or the Davis Mountains.
Can I add these Texas roads to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put a Texas classic on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride the Twisted Sisters with it recording, add the road and claim the loop.
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