Motorcycle routes in Massachusetts
16 routes. Each one starts at the foot of the good part; the "from" versions (NYC, Stamford, Edison, Allentown, Danbury, Hartford, Long Island) add the ride there and back.
Jacob's Ladder Trail · US-20
28 mi · 45 min
The classic Berkshires crossing: US-20 leaves Russell, follows the Westfield River through Huntington and Chester, climbs to the Jacob's Ladder summit in Becket and drops past Jacob's Pillow into Lee. It's 28 miles of linked bends on the climb and easier stretches along the river, good for a mixed pack. Fuel in Lee or Westfield before you start, because there's little in between. Watch the low speed limits in Huntington and Chester, and the outlet traffic as you reach Lee.
Mohawk Trail · MA-2
33 mi · 49 min
The best-known motorcycle road in Massachusetts: MA-2 leaves Greenfield, passes by Shelburne Falls, follows the Deerfield River to Charlemont and climbs through Mohawk Trail State Forest to Whitcomb Summit before dropping into North Adams through the famous hairpin. It's 33 miles of river valley and then mountain climb, with overlooks at the top. Stop in Shelburne Falls or Charlemont. The hairpin is tight and downhill, so take it slow. In October, foliage traffic fills the road with slow cars.
Mt Greylock · Notch & Rockwell Roads
39 mi · 1h 15m
The climb to the roof of Massachusetts: from North Adams you take Notch Road to the summit of Mt Greylock, come down Rockwell Road to Lanesborough and return on US-7 through Williamstown to North Adams. It's 39 miles, with mountain hairpins up and down and an easy valley ride back. At the top there's a tower, a lodge and paid parking. It's seasonal: the summit road closes from October 30 to mid-May. Expect hikers crossing and fog that rolls in fast.
Route 41 & Bash Bish Falls
25 mi · 43 min
The corner where Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York meet: you leave Salisbury on Undermountain Road (CT-41 / MA-41) under the Taconic ridge, continue to South Egremont, cross to Hillsdale on Route 23, drop down NY-22 to Copake Falls and climb NY-344 to Bash Bish Falls. It's 25 easy valley miles that suit any pack. The route ends at the falls with no return leg, and the parking lot is small and fills up on weekends. It doesn't go through Mt Washington, whose roads are dirt.
Hilltowns Loop · 8A, 116 & 112
38 mi · 1h 05m
The hilltown curves in a single loop: you leave Shelburne Falls on MA-2 to Charlemont, climb MA-8A along the Chickley River to West Hawley, continue on MA-116 to Plainfield and Ashfield, and come back on MA-112 through Buckland. It's 38 miles of two-lane roads with steady curves, up and down across the plateau. Shelburne Falls is the base for coffee and food. The pavement is patched and the shoulders are narrow: a pack pace, not a race.
Route 23 · Great Barrington to Blandford
25 mi · 44 min
The Berkshires closest to New York: MA-23 leaves Great Barrington, passes Monterey and Lake Garfield, crosses Otis and East Otis and ends in Blandford. It's 25 miles of two-lane road that follows the hills at a good pace with easy curves, fine for a mixed pack. Fuel in Great Barrington, since there are few stations heading east. On weekends Great Barrington is busy on the way out. From Blandford, Route 23 chains with Jacob's Ladder.
Route 57 · Granville & Tolland
28 mi · 1h 01m
Forest curves right on the Connecticut line: MA-57 leaves Southwick, climbs through the Granville gorge, crosses Tolland and New Boston and ends in New Marlborough. It's 28 miles with almost no traffic, linked curves, climbs and a steep descent toward New Boston. You can reach it straight from Granby, CT. There's little fuel, so fill up in Southwick. Slow down in Granville center and watch the crack sealer in the curves on the way down, which gets slick in heat or rain.
Route 116 · Adams to South Deerfield
37 mi · 1h 17m
MA-116 crosses the hilltowns end to end: it leaves Adams, climbs to the plateau through Savoy, passes Plainfield and Ashfield and drops through Conway to South Deerfield in the Connecticut River valley. It's 37 miles, and the stretch from Ashfield to South Deerfield is one of the best twisties in the state, with steady curves along the river. The climb out of Adams is steep. Fuel in Adams or Ashfield. Traffic picks up on weekends as you reach South Deerfield.
Taconic Trail · Petersburg Pass
45 mi · 1h 10m
A loop over the Taconic ridge: from Williamstown you climb MA-2 to Petersburg Pass on the New York line, drop to Petersburgh, head south on NY-22 through Berlin and Stephentown and return to Massachusetts on NY-43 / MA-43 through Hancock. It's 45 miles: the climb is short, steep and has a hairpin, and the rest is quiet valley roads. Fuel in Williamstown. The descent on the New York side is steep, and NY-43 has poorly marked country curves.
Route 8 along the Farmington River
26 mi · 41 min
The road that links the Berkshires with northwest Connecticut: MA-8 leaves West Becket, passes Otis and Sandisfield, follows the West Branch of the Farmington River through New Boston and enters Connecticut along Colebrook River Lake to Winsted. It's 26 miles of easy curves by the river, good for a mixed pack or for closing a loop with Jacob's Ladder. There are no services between Otis and Winsted, so fuel first. Expect anglers and kayakers parked in the river bends.
Wachusett Reservoir Loop
77 mi · 2h 52m
A long country loop west of Boston: it leaves Concord, crosses Harvard, Bolton and Lancaster among orchards and stone walls, climbs to Sterling and Princeton and drops into West Boylston to skirt the Wachusett Reservoir through Boylston before heading back through Clinton, Berlin, Hudson and Maynard. It's 77 miles of back roads with no highway. Stop at the Old Stone Church on the water's edge or on the Harvard common. In September and October the orchards fill with cars on weekends.
Cape Ann · MA-127 & 133
40 mi · 1h 45m
The Cape Ann coast on MA-127: it leaves Beverly by Hale Street and Prides Crossing, passes Manchester-by-the-Sea and Magnolia, runs along the water past Hammond Castle and the Gloucester fisherman's memorial, follows 127A to Rockport and Halibut Point and comes back through Annisquam, Essex and Ipswich. It's 40 miles of rocky shore, harbors and salt marsh. Have fried clams in Essex. Summer and fall traffic is heavy in Gloucester and Rockport, so start early.
Quabbin Reservoir Loop
64 mi · 1h 45m
The full loop around the Quabbin Reservoir: from Athol you go down US-202 through New Salem and Pelham, past the Pelham Overlook, then Belchertown and Quabbin Park, on to Ware and Gilbertville, and up MA-32A to Petersham to close the loop in Athol. It's 64 miles of forest and small towns around the water that covered four towns. Fuel in Athol, Belchertown or Ware. Quabbin Park has vehicle hours, so check the closing time posted at the gate.
Lost Villages Scenic Byway · MA-122
33 mi · 50 min
The Lost Villages Scenic Byway, MA-122 along the east side of the Quabbin: from Paxton you pass Long Pond in Rutland, cross Oakham and the Barre common, go on to Petersham and finish in Orange on the Millers River. It's 33 miles of easy curves through woods, farms and towns with their white churches. The name remembers the four towns flooded to make the reservoir. Stop in Barre or Petersham, because there's little in between.
Shutesbury S-Curves
23 mi · 46 min
A short, twisty loop in the hills north of Amherst: it leaves Montague Center by North Leverett Road, climbs to Lake Wyola on Locks Pond Road, crosses Shutesbury and drops down Leverett Road through the linked S-bends along the brook to Leverett, then returns on MA-63. It's 23 miles of narrow pavement and thick woods. Coffee at the Montague Bookmill at the end. The road is narrow with blind curves, so watch for oncoming cars and wet leaves in the fall.
Old King's Highway · MA-6A
31 mi · 1h 09m
The Old King's Highway, MA-6A along the Cape Cod Bay side: from Sandwich to Orleans through Barnstable, Yarmouth Port, Dennis and Brewster, among captains' houses, salt marshes and old general stores. It's 31 easy miles from village to village. Stop in Brewster or finish in Orleans. It's best in June or in September and October, away from summer traffic, and the Sagamore Bridge has periodic lane closures through 2027.
MORE STATES
- New York20
- New Jersey10
- Connecticut15
- Pennsylvania18
- Massachusetts
- Vermont10
- New Hampshire10
- Rhode Island8
- Maine12
- North Carolina10
- South Carolina7
- Delaware4
- Maryland10
- Virginia12
- West Virginia11
- Georgia10
- Florida10
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