Best Driving Roads in the US

[Fender215]

Hadn't seen a thread on this so thought I'd get it going (if there is one - apologies). It would be great to get a comprehensive list.

I've found some interesting links on the best driving roads around...def have my own that I do (mainly up in Bear Mtns NY/Seven Lakes drive area and have two routes in Northern Cali that I love to do whenever I'm there too).

http://motoringconbrio.com/great-driving-roads/

http://forums.finalgear.com/the-smoking-tire-show-ideas/best-driving-roads-in-the-us-35492/

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1051166_americas-best-sports-car-driving-roads

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20080710/free/430934359

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/24/the-best-roads-to-drive-i_n_827929.html#s245461&title=Going_to_the

http://teletrac.com/gps-fleet-tracking/topics/best-driving-roads-in-the-us

http://forbes.com/2006/08/30/best-roads-us_cx_dl_0831driving.html

[Go Horns!]

Devil's Backbone in Arizona is pretty cool. Not one you want to push it on though. Falling of a cliff is bad for the paint.

[az3579]

Devil's Backbone in Arizona is pretty cool. Not one you want to push it on though. Falling of a cliff is bad for the paint.

It'll buff out. No worries.

[Hermes]

South Grade (Palomar Mountain) and Glendora Mountain Road if you're in SoCal


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAnzuY2mR24
2012 Triumph Street Triple R


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFuUHys8GSU
2011 E90 M3

[derbo]

I really like GMR. JP there is a nice road in Fullterton called Turnbull Canyon which I liked too.


All these years hearing about Tail of the Dragon. I really want to rent a nice sports car and drive it once..

I used to use this site to find some pretty damn awesome roads to drive back in the day. Too bad its only for california.

http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm

[Hermes]

I agree, I wanna try 'Tail of the Dragon'

[BCAN]

I've actually got a trip planned to drive the tail of the dragon as soon as it warms up, I live only an hour or two away from it and I hear it's insane, but it's also full of cops. A nice place to just cruise.

[derbo]

I've actually got a trip planned to drive the tail of the dragon as soon as it warms up, I live only an hour or two away from it and I hear it's insane, but it's also full of cops. A nice place to just cruise.

Jealous.


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[PsychoCemia]

Done the Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway about a dozen times in the ZHP. So fun.

There's a BMW meetup group that goes camping/driving there twice a year. Here's info on the one coming up: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=275495

[Ryans323i]

I really like GMR. JP there is a nice road in Fullterton called Turnbull Canyon which I liked too.


All these years hearing about Tail of the Dragon. I really want to rent a nice sports car and drive it once..

I used to use this site to find some pretty damn awesome roads to drive back in the day. Too bad its only for california.

http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm


I agree, I wanna try 'Tail of the Dragon'


I've actually got a trip planned to drive the tail of the dragon as soon as it warms up, I live only an hour or two away from it and I hear it's insane, but it's also full of cops. A nice place to just cruise.

Tail of the Dragon is a nice road. But the traffic, motorcycles, novice drivers trying to prove something and state police make the road suck. There are so many more driving options in the area, but those are a "Family" secret. Give me a call if you're ever in town.

[Bimmernut2]

Tail of the Dragon is a nice road. But the traffic, motorcycles, novice drivers trying to prove something and state police make the road suck. There are so many more driving options in the area, but those are a "Family" secret. Give me a call if you're ever in town.

I agree with Ryans323i...The TOD is too crowded, too curvy, crazy MC riders on their croach rockets, speed limit is 35 MPH & enforced many times and accidents every week, with at least one killed every year. Living in WNC for 50 years, there are MANY beautiful road drives here. When the weather gets warmer, we'll drop the top every Saturday & do somewhere different every weekend. Pick up a map & look at all the mountain roads. Here's a several sites to check out if you're ever get a chance to get to WNC...and the BMW performance center & mfg plant is only an hour away.
http://www.motorcycleroads.com/Routes/North-Carolina_109.html
http://blueridgetravelguide.com/best-blue-ridge-mountain-roads/
http://www.theblueridgehighlander.com/scenic_drives/north_carolina/index.php
http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/nc_smokey.html

[Hermes]

Tail of the Dragon is a nice road. But the traffic, motorcycles, novice drivers trying to prove something and state police make the road suck. There are so many more driving options in the area, but those are a "Family" secret. Give me a call if you're ever in town.

exact same reason why I only posted the "known" driving roads in SoCal

[ELCID86]

My 20 yo son and I just got back from Winter Park, CO. I have to imagine the road leading into WP is a blast to drive in the summer when not covered with snow/ice. I'm glad the Alamo guy talked me into the $30/day upgrade to a Jeep from the Corolla I had reserved. Anyone driven Hwy 40 off I-70 west of Denver in good weather?

[Nomar06]

Tail of the Dragon is a nice road. But the traffic, motorcycles, novice drivers trying to prove something and state police make the road suck. There are so many more driving options in the area, but those are a "Family" secret. Give me a call if you're ever in town.

Def. plenty of other roads to have fun on around the Dragon. Try the Dragon out early mornings, at dusk and at night if you "got a pair"....lol

[BimmerWill]

Dragon was decent its just a little short for my tastes. I love the blue ridge parkway. There are a lot of other roads in the general area as well that are not nearly as crowded or patrolled as heavily as the dragon.

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[onepercent]

Great posts, thanks for the info. I've discovered some drives that I'll be checking out this spring!

[sketchyd]

Did the tail a few years ago in the ///M, pretty fun. we hit it preseason, in May, so traffic wasn't that bad. and there had been a mudslide at one end, so it was a down and back thing. but honestly i enjoyed the Cherohala Skyway so much more. more open, faster, and better scenery. somehow we missed the Blue Ridge Parkway on that trip though. i'm thinking about planning another roadtrip next year, late summer maybe. definitely going to be checking in here for planning!

unfortunately, in my neck of new england, there aren't many good "driver's" roads out there. all the best roads are swamped with tourists and such, so we just druise the beach and check out the babes.

[kayger12]

LOVE the Cherohala Skyway.

Did it on my Honda ST1100 years ago.

Would love to get the ZHP there.

[3ZHPGUY]

I landed in Middle Tennessee half way between Nashville and Chattanooga about a year ago and the roads here are great. Every weekend with good weather we find new back roads through the hills and mountains in the area. The only problem is, the lack of shoulders and guardrails. The white line on the right is the end of the pavement and does drop rapidly from that point if its on the downside of the hill. On the upside of the hill they actually mow them vertically because, the brush grows out and shortens the road width. I've been trough many natural tunnels surrounded by green on all three sides and must say, they are very cool. Going up Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga is very cool and it has rumble strips on the center as well as the edge because, the limited room for error.

Since relocating here I no longer feel the need to look for that POPO in the mirror, with 55 mph speed limits on most of the back roads and 70 mph posted on the interstates but traffic usually travels at 80 or better.

This area that I live in is on the east side of the Highland Rim and less than a hour from the Appalachians. With that being said, many of the roads run through the Holler (valley) but others are like fingers and turn out to be dead ends. All I can say, is they are far nicer than the checkerboard roads of Ohio and New York that I grew up with.

[Dave_B]

Just got my ZHP less than a week ago and can't wait to go do the roads I did on the Outlaw Run last year.

http://outlawrun.com/

It was my first time to the Dragon and I'll have to agree with earlier posters. Too many cops, too many bikers and way too short. I'd rather do some of the roads I learned on the way there. IIRC, 74 west of Gatlinburg was voted most scenic road in America several times. It parallels a winding creek and the road at one point does a complete spiral, think of a parking garage ramp up or down. Wicked cool roads in Western NC, northern SC, TN and GA.

[brewer90]

I've always gone in search of twisty roads for my motorcycle trips and have hit all of the US but the northeast. My favorite roads are in the Rockies and my two most favorites of all are Chief Joseph Highway from Cody, WY and then hang a right onto Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge, MT.

However you have to love it when you see a sign like this and Hwy 36 in northen CA rates a close second:
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/KTM-Trip/i-zfhgDrK/0/L/IMG_5984-L.jpg

[Dave_B]

WOW!!! I've never seen one that says anything close to even 100 miles!

[Crickett]

What are people's opinion of the Pacific Coast Highway? The wife & I have been contemplating a leisurely vacation where we rent / borrow a sporty convertible (e.g. Vette, Mustang, perhaps a ZHP) & drive the PCH from LA to Napa. I'm imagining a very picturesque cruise with the top down for the majority of the drive with some curvy back/side roads when we pull off to eat or sightsee.

I know it's not quite the same "driving" that's been discussed in this thread, but I figure it's applicable enough!

[Hermes]

in the mindset you're looking for, the PCH is perfect

[Crickett]

in the mindset you're looking for, the PCH is perfect

:roundel

[Stu]

Tail of the Dragon in NC.

http://judymccarroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dragon-map.jpg

...when it's not infested by cops at every corner.

Bring a radar detector :pimp

[KevinC]

What are people's opinion of the Pacific Coast Highway? The wife & I have been contemplating a leisurely vacation where we rent / borrow a sporty convertible (e.g. Vette, Mustang, perhaps a ZHP) & drive the PCH from LA to Napa. I'm imagining a very picturesque cruise with the top down for the majority of the drive with some curvy back/side roads when we pull off to eat or sightsee.

Out-freaking-standing! I've done the trip many times, and really want to do it in my M Coupe someday. Definitely an outstanding drive for a vacation, did a Phoenix to Santa Cruz & back run a couple of years ago and it was terrific.

Do try to catch Hearst Castle and Monterey if you go.

[cakM3]

Tail of the Dragon is a nice road. But the traffic, motorcycles, novice drivers trying to prove something and state police make the road suck. There are so many more driving options in the area, but those are a "Family" secret. Give me a call if you're ever in town.

Ry, I'm going to have to plan a summer trip this year in the ///M! Now to start figuring out when to go :) Get a bunch of Mafia members to come out and meet up while I'm down there...that would be awesome :thumbsup

[Tnhl1989]

I'll love to join in with some of the roads along the east coast. Tell me when and where Charles :)