The Route

Route map of the 1995 motorcycle trip across the USA
Our actual route across the United States — 34,000 km (21,000 miles) in 6 months. Starting and ending in the Washington D.C. area, looping through the Southeast, across the Southwest, up the Pacific Coast, through the Rockies, across the Great Plains, and back along the East Coast.

Best roads in America

Based on our own experience and the votes from our Usenet posting, here are the roads that made the biggest impression. The number in parentheses represents community votes.

  1. Pacific Coast Highway 101/1 7 votes
    The undisputed king of American motorcycle roads. Running along California's coastline from near Lompoc in the south to Eureka in the north, this twisty two-laner delivers breathtaking ocean views at every turn. Not everybody is as lucky as Klaus was when he found a Porsche 911 to race on this road. "Do you remember the game Test Drive? That's exactly what it was like."
  2. East Coast cruise 2 votes
    South Carolina up through Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. A completely different character from the western roads — lush forests, historic towns, covered bridges, and the spectacular fall foliage if you time it right.
  3. Route 66 1 vote
    The Mother Road. Even in 1995 much of it was decommissioned, but following the old alignment through small-town America is a journey through the country's history. From Chicago to Santa Monica — 2,400 miles of pure nostalgia.
  4. Beartooth Highway 1 vote
    Often called the most beautiful drive in America (Charles Kuralt said so). Connecting Red Lodge, Montana to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone, this road climbs to nearly 11,000 feet with switchbacks, alpine plateaus, and glacial lakes. Seasonal — typically open late May through mid-October.
  5. Million Dollar Highway (US-550) 1 vote
    Part of the San Juan Skyway in southwestern Colorado, running from Silverton to Ouray through the heart of the San Juan Mountains. Narrow, cliffside, no guardrails in places, and absolutely magnificent. Named either for the million dollars per mile it cost to build, or for the gold ore in the fill material — nobody's quite sure.
  6. Independence Pass 1 vote
    The highest paved crossing of the Continental Divide in Colorado at 12,095 feet. The road to Aspen via Highway 82 is narrow, winding, and offers jaw-dropping views of the Sawatch Range.
  7. Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier NP
    One of the most spectacular mountain roads in North America. 50 miles of engineering marvel carved into the mountainside of Glacier National Park. Crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (6,646 ft). Open roughly mid-June to mid-October depending on snowfall.
  8. Devils Highway (Route 191, formerly 666)
    Almost 100 miles of nothing but turns through the rugged mountains of eastern Arizona. Originally numbered Route 666, it was renumbered in 2003 due to the devilish connotations (and possibly because of the high accident rate on this challenging road). A rider's dream.
  9. Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain NP
    The highest continuous paved road in the US, reaching 12,183 feet. Crosses the Continental Divide through alpine tundra above treeline, with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks in every direction.
  10. Lolo Pass Road, Montana
    Following the route of Lewis and Clark through the Bitterroot Mountains. Highway 12 follows the wild Lochsa River through pristine wilderness — tight curves, no traffic, and some of the most remote scenery in the lower 48.
  11. California Route 89 (Yosemite to Oregon) 1 vote
    A scenic alternative to the Interstate through the volcanic landscape of northern California, passing Lassen Volcanic National Park and the McCloud River.
  12. Rabbit Ears Pass, Colorado 1 vote
    US-40 from Fort Collins through Steamboat Springs. Named for the distinctive twin rock formations at the summit, this pass offers sweeping mountain meadows and is especially beautiful in early summer.
  13. Interstate Highway 10 (West Texas) 1 vote
    Crossing the vast open desert of West Texas through El Paso and into New Mexico. Endless horizon, big sky, and a sense of scale that's hard to find anywhere else.
  14. Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia (Canada) 1 vote
    A 298 km loop around the northern tip of Cape Breton Island. Dramatic coastal cliffs, highlands, and sweeping ocean views — often called one of the most scenic drives in the world.
  15. Trans-Canada Highway 1 vote
    The world's longest national highway, stretching nearly 8,000 km from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia. A continent-crossing epic through some of Canada's most dramatic landscapes.

Dave's bonus recommendations

Our friend and host David Lee (from Virginia) added these must-ride routes after reviewing our pages:

General hints