5 of the Best Coast to Coast Motorcycle Routes, According to Riders

One of the great joys of owning a motorcycle is going on road trips. You get to experience nature in a way that people in a car don’t, and although it’s daunting for beginners, the most important thing is to build. Arguably the most powerful and rewarding road trip a rider can take is a coast-to-coast cross-country trip. It’s a grueling ride covering thousands of miles, but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If you are planning to take this trip, the biggest decision you will have to make is the route. Sure, there’s an app for that, but planning a route on paper is difficult because you don’t know what you’re missing if you’ve never taken a trip across the country like that before. Many riders have taken to places like Reddit to compare their rides, and see which routes others like.

What routes do riders like? Well, we’ll get to our selection process later in the article, but there were a few big routes that stood out above the rest. These routes offer a good mix of highway and scenic riding, and some are historic. Obviously, there are a thousand ways to get from one coast to another, and most of them will work just fine. In any case, here are some ideas to get your road trip plan started.

By far the most recommended route we saw was the Trans-American Trail. Its biggest claim to fame is that it makes the most of all types of public roads, from back roads to highways, to maximize the value of road trips. If you like a route with a lot to see and do, this could be one to consider. If you’re just trying to get from coast to coast as fast as possible, this is not the route for you.

Route maps can be found here and include several unique options. Officially, it starts in West Virginia, sweeps through the middle of the US, rides around Utah and Idaho, and then takes you back to Wisconsin. However, if you’re looking for a coast-to-coast version, the Trans-American Trail also has an arm that starts in North Carolina, and ends in Newport, Oregon. There are also a few loops you can do, but those are for people who want a short hike.

This route includes both paved and unpaved roads, so you’ll want to make sure your motorcycle can handle a bit of road travel and that you’ve gotten rid of all your bad riding habits before you go. You’ll also have to deal with desert heat, possible snow, and long trips off the beaten path. Trail creators encourage riders to make sure their gas tank is full before tackling those sections of the trail.

Route 66 is a popular road trip route for its historical value. The highway will celebrate its 100th birthday in November 2026, making it one of the oldest in the United States. It stretches from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, and is full of tourist attractions and famous places. Its design began in the 1920s as a solution for farmers to reach the big cities to sell their produce. These days, it is a popular road trip destination and one that we have received several times recommended by passengers.

The route officially begins in Chicago, sweeping down through the American Southwest before stopping on the coast in Santa Monica. This map by Google Maps user WastelandFirebird is a good illustration of the route. It’s an easy route, mostly freeway, but there are points where you’ll have to change lanes. It is also close to the Grand Canyon and other landmarks in case you want to stop and see more history. To make it a coast-to-coast endeavor, you’ll need to map out your route from Chicago to the coast, but there are hundreds of ways to do that and still have fun.

That being said, you’ll want to make sure you keep a tool kit for your motorcycle, just in case. Some parts of the highway are a little rough these days, and while it shouldn’t present a problem, it’s one of those things where it’s better to be safe than sorry. Also, be prepared for the desert heat as the highway winds through one.

Historic Route 20 is another great option for a coast-to-coast motorcycle road trip. It is one of the oldest highways in the US and has the unique distinction of being the longest single route in the country. It’s also consistently recommended and practiced on motorcycle subreddits, with many recommending getting off the beaten path for the occasional trail ride. As far as candid photos go, few are as clean as this one, and it’s one of the few recommended trails that avoid deserts.

The tour begins in Boston, Massachusetts, sweeps north through beautiful parts of upstate New York before traveling along Lake Erie to Chicago. From there, it’s a straight shot west before ending up in Newport, Oregon. In fact, the last leg of this trip is similar to the Trans-American Trail that motorcyclists love to follow. Here is a link to Google Maps if you want to plan a trip along this route. According to Google Maps, the trip is 47 hours assuming you have some shut-offs, but if you find something fun along the way, it’s definitely worth it.

This is also a good route for beginners, as most of it is freeway. You don’t need the best modern motorcycles to finish us off safely. Even a tight budget motorcycle should be able to make the trip without much issue. However, we recommend the route in summer or at least in early autumn to avoid snow hazards while riding.

Most road trips of this type will take you to the American Midwest and Southwest, and that’s mostly for weather reasons. The northern routes have different disadvantages of snow and cold temperatures in winter. Also, there aren’t many US routes with big names in those areas, so the historical value is a bit low. Still, some riders have found a great road trip through the northern states, and the Great Northern Route is arguably the best.

The route starts in Seattle, Washington and passes through Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin before dipping down into the southern Great Lakes. From there, it heads straight up the east coast before winding up into Maine. Here’s a link to Google Maps if you like it. The trip is 49 hours assuming no stops, but there are plenty to choose from, including Acadia National Park and Glacier National Park. Also, the Great Lakes are cool if you’ve never seen them before.

There is another way too, but it requires a passport. Instead of sweeping south through the Great Lakes region, it instead continues east through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, across Canada, and further east into Maine. This variant is an official route of the Great North, so if you want the full experience, you’ll want to pick up a passport and travel during the summer months to avoid the freezing cold and snow.

This isn’t recommended nearly as often, but a guided tour can be great for people who don’t want to spend time creating an itinerary, or those from outside the US who still want the full coast-to-coast experience. Most guided tours have bike rentals, so you may not need to bring your own, although some recommend sending your own bike so you can have something comfortable throughout the trip.

There are many guided tours out there, but the one that qualifies for this list is Unpackaged Tours. The service has several bike tours you can sign up for, including a coast-to-coast version that starts in Norfolk, Virginia, takes you through the Great Smoky Mountains and down into Texas, then west toward the Grand Canyon. It then travels through Las Vegas, Yosemite National Park, and the Pacific Coast Highway before dropping off in San Francisco. The service has bikes for rent but recommends sending your own if you can.

Part of the appeal of a guided tour is that you get the experience of driving across the US with someone who has traveled and knows where to go and what to do. Also, these tours are designed for sightseeing, so major destinations like the Grand Canyon are baked into the experience without outside planning.

In this list, we wanted to give the reader enough variety to inspire all kinds of routes. When we surfed places like Reddit for recommendations, we usually found one or two home trails and then a few very popular recommendations. This is not a very popular job for passengers, so it’s not like there are thousands of proposals to sort through. In general, things like the Trans-American Trail and US Route 66 were duly recommended, and many others were recommended several times.

We also considered itineraries for different experience levels. For example, the Trans-American Trail is very difficult, and we recommend that it be one for experienced riders as you will be driving in dirt, mud, and all over the place. US Route 20 and the Great Northern Route, by contrast, are moderate, while guided tours are very easy for beginners. In addition, each of these requires a different amount of planning. US Route 20 is planned from start to finish, while some homework is required if you are doing US Route 66, as you have to find a way from the East Coast to Chicago.

Overall, the above routes should give you a good starting point to plan your trip. There’s a lot that goes into it, including where you’ll sleep, gas money, toll roads, and even a little repair kit. I wish you luck!