6 Motorcycle-Friendly Hotels in the Northeast

The northeastern U.S. is a beautiful motorcycling destination. From Pennsylvania’s Amish country to coastal Maine and the forests of Vermont and New Hampshire, the region’s roads offer top-class riding opportunities.

But on top of great roads, you need comfortable and moto-friendly accommodations to rest after the ride. Fortunately, the Northeast has so many great hotels, inns, and resorts that your only challenge is to choose which one to stay at.

Here are six motorcycle-friendly lodging options in the Northeast to accommodate you on your motorcycle trips.

Truro Beach Cottages, Truro, MA

The coastal areas of New England make for a stunning backdrop for a motorcycle tour. Truro Beach Cottages on Cape Cod make for an ideal launch pad for oceanside moto adventures.

This resort village consists of cottages of various sizes, allowing you to choose one that has the space you and your riding gear need. It also means that even with other vacationers around, you have a quiet and private place to get a good night’s sleep.

Truro Beach Cottages sit right on Cape Cod Bay’s sandy beaches. They offer fantastic ocean views and quick access to the seaside.

There are shared barbecue facilities and each cabin also has an oven, so you can cook your favorite meals. If you understandably don’t feel like cooking, though, Princetown and North Truro are a few minutes away on US 6.

Speaking of US 6, this road is a fun ride along Cape Cod through small villages with more views out over the water. It also leads to Boston, with many good roads around the city.

Newport Harbor Island Resort, Newport, RI

Many riders enjoy remote country cabins, but equally many are city slickers. Should you fancy yourself more as an urban soul, Newport Harbor Island Resort is your ticket to good times.

Newport, RI, is a charming, medium-sized city with plenty of historical attractions and nightlife to keep you busy. Yet, when it’s time to get some shuteye, Newport Harbor Island Resort sits conveniently on Goat Island, away from the loudest bustle.

Don’t worry, a bridge (with nice views of the harbor) connects the island to the mainland, so you won’t have to load your bikes on a ferry. The hotel offers paid parking in the generously sized, well-lit parking lot.

You have a virtually endless smorgasbord of restaurants and entertainment options available in Newport. That said, you may find it hard to leave Newport Harbor Island Resort's amenities, which include a waterfront restaurant and bar, a modern swimming pool, a spa, and more.

You should tear yourself away from the luxury, though, at least enough to cross the Newport and Jamestown Verrazzano bridges and hit SR 102 and 14. They combine for a pleasant cruise through rural Rhode Island and into Providence.

Equinox Resort, Manchester, VT

On the topic of luxury, there’s something to be said about getting pampered between long, rough days on the road. Motorcyclists looking for a luxurious getaway should point their front wheels to Equinox Resort in Manchester, VT.

Equinox offers impeccable rooms of various sizes in two different buildings (one of them built in the 19th century) to suit your needs in the middle of magnificent mountain views. At the property, you’ll want for nothing—there are golf courses, a heated swimming pool, a spa, multiple on-site restaurants and bars, a tennis court, private hiking trails, a fishing pond, a skating rink…

Whatever you want to enjoy in New England, you can enjoy it at Equinox Resort in complete comfort. Nearby, you’ll also find Equinox Cycles, a local motorcycle garage that can take similarly good care of your bike.

And then you have the riding. The areas near (and a bit farther away from) Manchester bristle with scenic, thrilling roads, from the Mohawk Trail in the south to lakeside rides along Lake George in the west. Another recommended ride is the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive, only a few miles down from the resort.

Rangeley Lake Resort, Rangeley, ME

Fall is possibly the best time to ride in the Northeast for a simple reason—the foliage. Rangeley Lakes Resort lets you make the most of the autumn leaves and your time in the great outdoors.

The resort offers two- and three-bedroom apartments, so there’s plenty of room for you and your riding partners. You can park your bike(s) right next to your lodgings, so you won’t have to lug your things far.

The cabins are equipped with full kitchens (including a coffee maker) and shared barbecue facilities. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and taverns at the other resorts and the town of Rangeley if you’re looking for someone else to cook for you.

To take in the blazing fall colors, all you have to do is step out of your cabin door and open your eyes. The area is chock-full of things to do while admiring the leaves, from hiking to mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating on Rangeley Lake… You name it.

You can find gorgeous views on any road snaking through this forested, remote landscape. For inspiration on where to head from the resort, check out our list of the best Maine fall rides.

1863 Inn of Gettysburg, Gettysburg, PA

The Northeast has many historical sites important to our country’s past. At the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg, you can sleep right next to one of the most significant of them.

Located mere minutes from the Gettysburg National Military Park, the 1863 Inn is a budget-friendly hotel within the Gettysburg historical district. The rooms, accessed through outside walkways like classic motel rooms, come in various sizes to accommodate solo and group riders. The inn even offers a couple of fancier rooms with extra space, finer furniture, and a jacuzzi.

The parking lot is large and well-lit, accommodating even big bikes. If you want to keep your bike out of sight and don’t mind carrying your bags a few steps more, you can park behind the hotel for more security. 

Downtown Gettysburg, with restaurants, bars, museums, and stores, is a couple of minutes’ walk away. After a long day of touring, you won’t have to go far to fill your stomach and take in the last sights of the day. And, as mentioned above, the Gettysburg battlefield is also quite literally across the road.

From Gettysburg, you have immediate access to great riding. In the west, SR 223 carries you from the woods of Michaux State Forest to Tuscarora State Forest. Head east, and you can take in gorgeous riverside views along the Susquehanna. Another option is to head south into Maryland and link Gettysburg to the battlefields of Monocacy, South Mountain, and Antietam for a Civil War history tour.

Kancamagus Lodge, Lincoln, NH

To many riders, a motorcycle is primarily a tool for getting away from the bustle of everyday life. The Kancamagus Lodge in Lincoln gives you a chance to disconnect from the world.

This country-style lodge sits within the White Mountains National Forest. Its rooms are not fancy, but they’re quiet, clean, and comfortable—exactly what you need at the end of a day’s ride. Some have private balconies, from which you can admire views of the Loon Mountain.

The Kancamagus Lodge offers free parking, with many spots right next to the entrance. A heated indoor pool lets you refresh yourself post-ride before you head for dinner.

Speaking of dinner, the on-site Grateful Skier restaurant serves excellent sandwiches and pub grub. If you’re in the mood for something else, you’ll find several other restaurants within a short walk across and up the road.

As to nearby riding options, just take a look at the lodge’s name. The road that it sits on is the famous Kancamagus Highway, which offers nice curves and great views of the White Mountains from many lookouts. If you really want to test your riding skills, you can also head to the Mount Washington Auto Road. Be warned, though, as it’s a tough ride.