Motorcycle routes in Virginia

12 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.

Back of the Dragon · VA-16
33 mi · 1h 02m
Virginia's own motorcycle road, one way: from Marion the route takes VA-16 north past Hungry Mother State Park and climbs over Walker, Brushy and Clinch mountains, one set of tight curves after another, before dropping into Tazewell, where the Back of the Dragon welcome center waits on Main Street. It's 33 miles. The curves are tight and keep coming, so this isn't a ride for new riders, and there are no services between the two towns: fuel up in Marion. The route stays in Virginia the whole way.
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US-250 · Staunton to Monterey
43 mi · 1h 09m
Two mountains back to back, one way: from Staunton the route follows US-250 west through Churchville, climbs Shenandoah Mountain past the Confederate Breastworks, drops to McDowell and climbs again over Bullpasture Mountain before finishing in Monterey. It's 43 miles. There are few services along the way, so fuel up in Staunton, and expect patched pavement in places and cattle in the valleys. The route ends in Monterey on purpose: farther west, US-250 climbs into West Virginia.
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Goshen Pass · VA-39
44 mi · 1h 11m
The Maury River gorge, one way: from Lexington the route follows VA-39 to Rockbridge Baths, runs through Goshen Pass with the river right beside the road, then continues through Goshen and Millboro Springs to finish in Warm Springs. It's 44 miles. Watch for log trucks, and in summer for swimmers' cars parked along the pass. The route ends in Warm Springs on purpose: farther west, VA-39 heads into West Virginia.
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Skyline Drive · Central
75 mi · 2h 22m
The heart of Skyline Drive in one loop: from Luray the route climbs US-211 to Thornton Gap, rides Skyline Drive south through the Marys Rock Tunnel, past Pinnacles, Skyland, Big Meadows and Lewis Mountain to Swift Run Gap, then drops on US-33 to Elkton and returns up the valley on US-340. It's 75 miles. Entering Shenandoah National Park costs $25 per motorcycle, good for 7 days and up to two bikes. Skyline Drive is slow by design and takes its time, deer and black bears cross it, and the park closes stretches in bad weather. Big Meadows has fuel in season.
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Skyline Drive North & Luray Loop
67 mi · 2h 00m
Skyline Drive from its northern end, in one loop: from Front Royal the route enters Shenandoah National Park at mile 0, rides past the Shenandoah Valley Overlook, Dickey Ridge, Hogback and Elkwallow to Thornton Gap, drops on US-211 to Luray and comes back north along the South Fork of the Shenandoah on US-340. It's 67 miles. Entry costs $25 per motorcycle, good for 7 days and up to two bikes. Skyline Drive is slow by design, deer and black bears cross it, and stretches close in bad weather. Fuel up in Front Royal.
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Blue Ridge Parkway North · Rockfish Gap to Buena Vista
49 mi · 1h 50m
The first miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, one way: from Rockfish Gap at milepost 0 the route follows the Parkway south past Humpback Rocks, Ravens Roost, Reeds Gap, Tye River Gap and Yankee Horse Ridge, and leaves it at US-60 to drop into Buena Vista. It's 49 miles, with no entrance fee. It ends at US-60 on purpose: farther south the Parkway is closed at the James River bridge (mileposts 63.5 to 63.9) for rehabilitation. There's no fuel on the Parkway, and in winter snow and ice close its gates.
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Nelson Loop · Route 151 & Crabtree Falls
52 mi · 1h 34m
Nelson County's scenic loop: from Nellysford the route climbs VA-664 to Reeds Gap, rides the Blue Ridge Parkway south to Tye River Gap, drops down VA-56 past Montebello and Crabtree Falls to Massies Mill, and returns north on VA-151. It's 52 miles. VA-56 has no shoulder and rock and gravel fall onto it, the Crabtree Falls lot is small, and VA-151 fills with winery and brewery traffic on weekends. There's no fuel on the Parkway.
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Blue Ridge Parkway South · Roanoke to Meadows of Dan
55 mi · 1h 37m
The Parkway of farms and mills, one way: from US-220 south of Roanoke the route follows the Blue Ridge Parkway past Adney Gap, Smart View, Tuggles Gap and Rocky Knob to Mabry Mill, and finishes at US-58 in Meadows of Dan. It's 55 miles, with no entrance fee. It skips the Roanoke Mountain Loop, which is closed, and ends at US-58 because the Parkway goes on into North Carolina. There's no fuel on the Parkway (Floyd or Meadows of Dan), Mabry Mill gets crowded in the fall, and in winter snow and ice close the gates.
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US-58 The Twist · Damascus to Grayson Highlands
38 mi · 1h 11m
US-58 at the foot of Virginia's highest peaks, one way: from Damascus the route follows Whitetop Laurel Creek up through Konnarock and Whitetop, passes the entrance to Grayson Highlands State Park and drops through Volney to finish in Mouth of Wilson. It's 38 miles. The curves are tight and services are few, so fuel up in Damascus, and watch for cyclists in town. The road runs close to the Tennessee and North Carolina lines: stay on US-58 and don't take turns to the south.
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Fort Valley & Thornton Gap
48 mi · 1h 27m
The hidden valley of the Massanutten and Thornton Gap, one way: from Waterlick the route runs Fort Valley Road through the valley inside Massanutten Mountain to Camp Roosevelt, climbs VA-675 over the ridge to Luray, and crosses the Blue Ridge on US-211 at Thornton Gap to finish in Sperryville. It's 48 miles. It passes the Skyline Drive entrance without going in, so there's no park fee. Expect gravel in the mountain curves, and stay off the Massanutten's forest roads, which are dirt.
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Big Walker Mountain Scenic Byway
40 mi · 1h 08m
The Big Walker Mountain Scenic Byway in one loop: from Wytheville the route takes I-77 north to exit 47, follows VA-717 along the foot of the mountain to Stony Fork, climbs US-52 over Big Walker Mountain past the Big Walker Lookout and drops into Bland, then returns to Wytheville on I-77. It's 40 miles, and about 23 of them are on the interstate, the price of closing the loop. The lookout's 100-foot tower sits right beside the road at the top.
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VA-16 South · Marion to Grayson Highlands
26 mi · 44 min
The other half of VA-16, one way: from Marion the route heads south past the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area visitor center, through Sugar Grove and over Dickey Gap to Troutdale, and finishes at US-58 in Volney. It's 26 miles. Curves and few services the whole way: fuel up in Marion. The route turns at Volney on purpose: south of there, VA-16 continues to North Carolina. Leave the Mount Rogers forest roads alone, some of them are gravel.
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