Virginia road guide

The best motorcycle roads in Virginia

The best motorcycle roads in Virginia follow its ridges. Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway run the crest of the Blue Ridge, passes like US 33, US 250 and VA 311 climb west into the Alleghenies, and the southwest corner has Back of the Dragon, Burke's Garden and the roads around Mount Rogers. Here are 12, with the region, why each is worth it, what to watch for and the best season.

Roads listed: 12
Regions: 4
Skyline Drive: 105 miles, 35 mph
Check before you go: 511 Virginia and NPS

Before you pick

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

Virginia's ridges run northeast to southwest, so its riding comes in two flavors. Along the ridges, Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway give you long, smooth, scenic miles at low speed. Across them, the gap roads and passes climb and drop in real curves, especially west of the Shenandoah Valley and in the far southwest. Most great Virginia days mix both.

Conditions change. Skyline Drive and the parkway close sections for snow, ice and storm repairs, and Hurricane Helene flooded parts of southwest Virginia, including Damascus, in 2024. Check 511 Virginia for state roads and Shenandoah National Park for Skyline Drive before you go. For regions, laws and events in one place, start at the Virginia motorcycle rides hub.

The Blue Ridge

The crest of the Blue Ridge

1. Skyline DriveWhy: The only public road through Shenandoah National Park, on the crest of the Blue Ridge from Front Royal south to Rockfish Gap. Dozens of overlooks, the short Mary's Rock Tunnel near Thornton Gap, and views over the Shenandoah Valley on one side and the Piedmont on the other. Entrances at Front Royal, Thornton Gap (US 211), Swift Run Gap (US 33) and Rockfish Gap. Watch for: The 35 mph limit, deer and bears, cyclists, fog and park fees. Best season: April to November.
2. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia sectionWhy: Starts at milepost 0 at Rockfish Gap and runs about 217 miles to the North Carolina line, past Humpback Rocks, the James River crossing, the lowest point on the whole parkway, Peaks of Otter, the Roanoke Valley and Mabry Mill. No commercial trucks, no stoplights. Watch for: A 45 mph top limit, fog on the ridges, and closures for winter weather and storm repairs; check NPS road status. Best season: May to October.
3. US 211 and VA 231 around SperryvilleWhy: US 211 climbs from Sperryville over Thornton Gap, where it meets Skyline Drive, and drops to Luray. South from Sperryville, VA 231 runs along the foot of the Blue Ridge through Madison County farmland with the mountains beside you. A good loop when Skyline is crowded. Watch for: Weekend traffic to Luray, farm equipment and small-town speed limits. Best season: April to November.

The valley and the Alleghenies

Passes west of the Shenandoah Valley

4. US 33 west of HarrisonburgWhy: Climbs out of the valley over Shenandoah Mountain to the West Virginia line, with steep grades and tight curves, then carries on toward Franklin and Seneca Rocks. See the West Virginia motorcycle rides hub for what's over the line. Watch for: Trucks on the grades, gravel and fog on the summit. Best season: April to October.
5. US 250 west of StauntonWhy: Crosses ridge after ridge on the way to Monterey and the West Virginia line, through Highland County, often called Virginia's Switzerland. Long climbs, real switchbacks and very little traffic. Watch for: Limited fuel once you leave Staunton, livestock, and cold at the summits. Best season: May to October.
6. VA 39 through Goshen PassWhy: Northwest of Lexington, VA 39 squeezes through Goshen Pass beside the Maury River, then keeps going west to Warm Springs and the West Virginia line, where it carries on as WV 39. A few miles of river gorge, then a long mountain run. Watch for: Swimmers' cars at the pull-offs on hot weekends, and wet rock in the gorge. Best season: April to October.
7. VA 311 over Catawba MountainWhy: The closest real mountain climb to Roanoke. From Salem, VA 311 switchbacks up Catawba Mountain past the trailheads for McAfee Knob, a famous Appalachian Trail viewpoint, and Dragon's Tooth, then rolls on through New Castle and Paint Bank to the West Virginia line. Watch for: Hikers' cars along the shoulder on weekends, deer and blind curves. Best season: April to November.

Southwest Virginia

Back of the Dragon and the southwest highlands

8. Back of the Dragon (VA 16)Why: About 32 miles between Marion and Tazewell over three mountain ridges, with curves that rarely let up. Hungry Mother State Park sits just north of Marion at the start. Watch for: Other riders, blind turns, and cars crossing the center line. Ride your lane. Best season: April to October.
9. Burke's Garden (VA 623)Why: From VA 61 east of Tazewell, VA 623 climbs over the rim into Burke's Garden, a high, bowl-shaped valley ringed by mountains and nicknamed God's Thumbprint. Inside, it's quiet farm roads and big skies. Pair it with Back of the Dragon. Watch for: A narrow, steep road over the rim, slow farm traffic, and not every way out is paved, so plan to leave the way you came. Best season: May to October.
10. US 58 and Mount RogersWhy: East of Damascus, US 58 climbs into the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, past the entrance to Grayson Highlands State Park, where wild ponies graze the balds, toward Volney and Independence. Tight, wooded curves and Virginia's highest country. Watch for: Gravel at driveways, Appalachian Trail hikers, and storm repairs: Damascus flooded badly in 2024. Best season: May to October.

Tidewater

Coastal Virginia

11. Colonial ParkwayWhy: Twenty-three miles of National Park Service road tying together the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, with long stretches right beside the James and York rivers. No commercial trucks and few cars. Watch for: The pebbly concrete surface, slippery in the rain, and cyclists. Best season: March to June, September to November.
12. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (US 13)Why: About 17 miles of bridges and two tunnels across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, from Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore. Open water in every direction, then quiet farm roads on the other side. Watch for: Wind: high winds can restrict or stop motorcycles from crossing, so check the CBBT's travel conditions. It's a toll crossing. Best season: Spring and fall, on calm days.

Summary

Virginia motorcycle roads at a glance

Road	Region	Best season
Skyline Drive	Blue Ridge	Apr to Nov
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia	Blue Ridge	May to Oct, check closures
US 211 and VA 231	Blue Ridge foothills	Apr to Nov
US 33 west of Harrisonburg	Alleghenies	Apr to Oct
US 250 west of Staunton	Alleghenies	May to Oct
VA 39, Goshen Pass	Alleghenies	Apr to Oct
VA 311, Catawba Mountain	Roanoke area	Apr to Nov
Back of the Dragon (VA 16)	Southwest	Apr to Oct
Burke's Garden (VA 623)	Southwest	May to Oct
US 58 and Mount Rogers	Southwest	May to Oct
Colonial Parkway	Tidewater	Spring and fall
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel	Coast	Calm spring and fall days

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

In the app

Virginia roads riders added in Rippin'

Right below this section is the live list of Virginia roads that riders have added to Rippin' and a person on our team has checked. Rippin' started in Southern California, so Virginia is early and most of these 12 roads are waiting for their first rider to add them.

Ride one with Rippin' recording, then open Segments and tap Create a Segment: set a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. Once it's approved it goes live with your name on it, riders who ride through it land on its board, and a crown goes to the rider who owns the road. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads, and on 35 mph Skyline Drive that's the point. More on segments and leaderboards.

Loops claim turf. Ride Skyline Drive south from Thornton Gap to Swift Run Gap, drop down US 33 and come back north through the valley, and the land inside becomes your turf on the live map. See how Turf Wars works.

Live from the app

Virginia on Rippin' right now.

5 upcoming events and 2 rider-added roads in Virginia on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.

EventsRider roads

Roads riders added in Virginia

FAQ

Questions riders ask.

What is the best motorcycle road in Virginia?

Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway are the famous ones, smooth and scenic at low speed. For curves, riders head to Back of the Dragon (VA 16), US 250 west of Staunton or US 58 around Mount Rogers.

How long does it take to ride Skyline Drive?

With a 35 mph limit, overlooks and traffic, plan on most of a day for all 105 miles if you stop at all. Many riders ride half and loop back through the valley.

Is Back of the Dragon worth the trip?

Yes, if you like tight curves. It's about 32 miles over three ridges between Marion and Tazewell. Pair it with Burke's Garden for a full day.

Do motorcycles pay to enter Skyline Drive?

Yes. Shenandoah National Park charges an entrance fee, with a rate for motorcycles. Check the park website for current prices and passes.

Can motorcycles cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel?

Yes, but high winds can restrict or stop motorcycles from crossing. Check the CBBT's travel conditions before you go, and expect a toll.

Can I add a Virginia road 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 Virginia road on the map.

Download Rippin' free, ride one of these roads with it recording and add it. Your name stays on it.

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