Motorcycle routes in Connecticut
10 routes. Each one starts at the foot of the good part; the "from NYC" and "from Stamford" versions add the ride there and back.
US-7 along the Housatonic
38 mi · 1h 01m
The backbone of northwest Connecticut: US-7 follows the Housatonic River from New Milford to North Canaan, past covered bridges, forest and Kent Falls. Long, sweeping bends that suit a mixed pack and newer riders. Stop in Kent for fuel and food, and pull over at Bulls Bridge for the photo. On October weekends Kent fills with leaf-peeping traffic, so leave early and watch for worn pavement on some stretches.
Litchfield Loop
57 mi · 1h 41m
Litchfield Hills in one afternoon: you leave the Litchfield green, pass Bantam Lake, run the east side of Lake Waramaug and cross to Kent on CT-341 before heading up the Housatonic to Canaan and Norfolk. Colonial villages, a lake and some tight bends around the water. It's a ride for the scenery, not for hurrying: expect cyclists around the lake and heavy US-7 traffic in foliage season.
Western CT from Patterson
115 mi · 3h 20m
The big northwest loop for a full day, starting in Patterson, NY, just over an hour from the city. You enter Connecticut on CT-55, climb the Housatonic to North Canaan, come back through Salisbury and Sharon, drop down CT-4 to Cornwall Bridge and close via Warren, Lake Waramaug and the west side of Candlewood Lake. It's about 115 miles: fuel in Kent or Canaan and plan around daylight, especially in the fall.
Appalachian Ride · 41 & 4
56 mi · 1h 42m
The most mountainous corner of the state. From Winsted you cross to Norfolk and Canaan on US-44, ride CT-41 between Salisbury and Sharon, and from Sharon CT-4 takes you down to Cornwall Bridge on one of Connecticut's best descents before continuing to Goshen and Torrington. Best for an experienced pack: steep grades and some rough pavement. Towns get busy in the fall, so book ahead if you plan to stay over.
Connecticut River Valley: Durham to Old Saybrook
50 mi · 1h 37m
The Connecticut River valley end to end: from Durham you drop to Killingworth, take CT-148 to Chester, cross the East Haddam swing bridge by the Goodspeed Opera House and ride River Road past Gillette Castle to Hadlyme, then on through Lyme to Old Lyme and Old Saybrook. The East Haddam bridge has a steel grate deck that gets slick in the rain, and CT-148 has a 90-degree bend to take easy. In season (April to November, on a schedule) you can cross on the Chester–Hadlyme ferry instead of the bridge: check the hours before you go.
Lake Waramaug
44 mi · 1h 27m
A short, easygoing loop around the prettiest lake in the state. You leave Woodbury on CT-47 to Washington Depot and New Preston, ride all the way around Lake Waramaug and return through New Milford, Roxbury and CT-317. Narrow country roads with farms and stone walls: easy to chain with US-7 or the Litchfield Loop. There are cyclists and walkers around the lake, so take it slow.
Route 169 · Last Green Valley
36 mi · 1h 02m
Postcard Connecticut: CT-169 runs from North Woodstock to Norwich between stone walls, white churches and open hills, through Pomfret, Brooklyn, Canterbury and Lisbon. It isn't a curves ride: it's a cruising pace, great for a mixed pack or riders with passengers. It's far from the city, so treat it as a full day including the ride out.
Route 20 & Barkhamsted
31 mi · 1h 01m
A short loop of forest and water: from Winsted you head up to Riverton and follow CT-20 through Hartland and the Tunxis State Forest, run down the east side of the Barkhamsted Reservoir, cross the Saville Dam and return to Winsted. Good pavement and little traffic. Gas stations are scarce along the way, so start with a full tank.
Shoreline on Route 156
29 mi · 1h 13m
The coastal option: from Old Lyme you follow CT-156 along Long Island Sound through Niantic to Waterford, cross the Thames River to Groton and finish in Mystic and Stonington. It's a ride for views and stops, with Mystic as the lunch destination. The New London to Groton crossing uses the I-95 bridge. Summer brings heavy traffic and lights on US-1, so go early or off-season.
Merritt Parkway
52 mi · 1h 21m
The Merritt Parkway end to end, from Greenwich to Milford: a historic tree-lined parkway with no trucks and dozens of art deco bridges, each one different. It's the most pleasant way across Fairfield County and the gateway to the rides in the east of the state. Lanes are narrow, there's barely a shoulder and the ramps are short: keep your spacing and avoid commuter rush hours.
MORE STATES
- New York10
- New Jersey10
- Connecticut
- Pennsylvania10
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