How to Plan a Motorcycle Tour with RoadRUNNER

Planning a motorcycle trip takes more than a full tank and a free weekend. The best rides start by researching which roads deliver the best curves and scenery and which regions shine in which seasons. 

RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel is an essential tool in your motorcycle trip planning arsenal.

For over 25 years, RoadRUNNER has been the go-to resource for touring riders across North America. We offer in-depth route guides, destination features, gear reviews, and firsthand accounts from real riders. 

In this guide, we'll tell you how to use RoadRUNNER to plan motorcycle tours—from finding the perfect route to gearing up for the journey ahead.

What is RoadRUNNER?

RoadRUNNER is a family-owned and -operated motorcycle touring magazine. We’re the largest motorcycle travel magazine sold at newsstands nationwide. In addition, we operate a website filled with travel resources, publish a free weekly newsletter, and produce motorcycle travel videos, all to inspire your next big motorcycle tour.

RoadRUNNER Magazine vs. Website

RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine is filled with in-depth motorcycle travel stories from all over America and beyond, accompanied by stunning photography. In addition, the magazine prints motorcycle reviews, product evaluations, and entertaining columns.

The RoadRUNNER website features detailed travel inspiration articles highlighting the greatest motorcycling destinations, roads, and hotels. The website gives you access to all editorial found in the magazine, plus exclusive online travel features. We also post buyers’ guides to help you find the gear you need for successful tours, best tips and practices for motorcycle travel, and much more. 

How Can I Subscribe to RoadRUNNER?

RoadRUNNER currently offers three different subscriptions. The PRINT subscription delivers the RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine to your mailbox six times a year. 

The WEB subscription gives you access to all the content of the magazine and the website, plus exclusive bonus content only found on the website. In addition, you get access to more than 1,250 GPS from all our travel stories that help you recreate the rides yourself.

RoadRUNNER also offers a free newsletter subscription. The weekly newsletter brings you highlights from our website, including the latest travel destinations, motorcycle news, and more.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for unique travel videos, motorcycle reviews, and interviews.

How Do I Search the RoadRUNNER Website?

Searching for articles on the RoadRUNNER website is easy. Here are step-by-step instructions to find exciting motorcycle travel destinations:

1. Click on the magnifying glass icon in the right-hand corner of the top bar to open the search box. 
2. Write your search term in the search box. You can search for cities, roads, states, or even your favorite RoadRUNNER authors.
3. Find an interesting article in the search results and click on the headline to open the article.

At the top of the search results, you will also see “tags,” clearly marked with a hashtag. Our tags are essentially collections that bring together all articles that deal with a specific topic. So, if you’d like to view all articles related to California, for example, it’s easier to open the #California tag than to browse through every article in the search box! 

Shamrock Tour®

RoadRUNNER’s Shamrock Tours are long-form travel stories detailing four-day motorcycle excursions out of a single city. Each day focuses on a different route out of the base location to highlight everything you can find in the surrounding area. These stories help you create a multi-day moto tour out of a specific location, or they may inspire sections of a longer ride passing by the base destination.

Classic Roads

Our Classic Roads articles detail the finest motorcycle roads both in the U.S. and internationally. They feature a detailed explanation of the road, alongside its historical and cultural significance. We also point out the most fascinating points of interest and the best places to eat along the road. Some are complemented by POV videos that make you feel like you’re riding the road yourself.

Destinations

The RoadRUNNER Destinations articles showcase single locations you can ride to or incorporate into your tour.  They typically focus on a city or town, but they may also cover a famous landmark, an odd roadside attraction, or more. In addition to detailing what you’ll find at the destination, we also guide you to the nearest motorcycle roads, offer travel tips for the area, and point out the finest eateries and lodgings.

Travel Guide

Our Travel Guide articles inspire your motorcycle trips through a variety of travel ideas based around a specific theme, such as a time of year, state, or location. They also bring you various guides and travel tips that help you prepare for your tour.

City Escape and Urban Explorer

RoadRUNNER’s City Escape routes are quick one-day rides out of the specified city to escape the urban life. They highlight specific routes that are ideal for weekend motorcycle getaways or quick day trips on a rented bike. In addition to describing the route, they also showcase the points of interest you shouldn’t miss on the ride.

The Urban Explorer routes, meanwhile, do the opposite, focusing on one-day moto trips within a single city. They’re an excellent resource for exploring the lesser-known corners of your hometown or a city you’re visiting.

How Do I Download RoadRUNNER GPS Files?

RoadRUNNER travel editorial comes complete with GPS files. You can use our GPX and KML files to follow our routes, planned, ridden, and verified by professional motorcycle journalists. WEB subscribers have full access to our more than 1,250 GPS files. They’re easy to find and download, whether you’re on a computer or mobile device. Just follow these steps:

1. Log in to RoadRUNNER.travel.
2. Find an interesting tour article and open it.
3. Locate the GPX track and KML download links under the interactive route map.
4. Click on the links to download the files.

Once you’ve downloaded the GPX track or KML file, you can import it to your navigator. At RoadRUNNER, we like using the Gaia GPS app with KML files, but our GPS routes work with everything from Garmin to Google MyMaps and anything in between. You can even edit the GPS files to suit your own ride plan.

Not subscribed yet? Click here, subscribe to WEB, and start downloading!

What Else Can I Find in RoadRUNNER?

In addition to everything above, RoadRUNNER features detailed motorcycle and gear reviews that will help you shop for your next bike and accessories. We also publish opinion columns from real riders, breaking motorcycle industry news, motorcycle care and maintenance guides, reader stories, and much more.