United States of America

A collection of 1110 posts

Destinations

Barstow—A California Stop on Route 66

As you cross from Arizona to California on Route 66, one of the first major stops along the way will be Barstow. This city of about 25,000 sits amidst the arid, rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert. Barstow’s history is intricately linked to mining and making use of

Jul/Aug '25 Premium Content

Portland, Oregon Shamrock Tour®

Spruce, Cedar, Oak and Giant Airplanes Birds aren’t real, the sticker on the back of the Subaru suggested. The faded green Outback was parked next to my 2025 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT outside the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, OR. The sticker was somehow appropriate, as we

Classic Roads

The Most Beautiful Road in the State—Indiana SR 135

Indiana tends to get dismissed as flyover country—but that’s not fair to the Hoosier State. Motorcyclists in particular can find many entertaining routes at the Crossroads of America. One of the foremost among them is Indiana SR 135. But what is Indiana SR 135? The answer depends on

Destinations

Gallup, NM—The Gateway to Native America

Considering they’re the original inhabitants of the land, Native American influence can be felt throughout the U.S. However, in few places does it remain as strong as in Gallup, NM. This city of roughly 22,000 residents sits amidst the New Mexico desert, some 20 miles east of

Classic Roads

Natchez Trace Parkway—The Road of 10,000 Years

It’s a thrill to ride down a historical road. Knowing that you’re traversing the same trail that those who shaped our history did is a special feeling. If you’re looking for this kind of thrill, you can’t do better than getting on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Shamrock Tour®

Maggie Valley, North Carolina Shamrock Tour®

Last year, RoadRUNNER ran a contest to promote our new website platform and web subscription option. The winner and one friend would get to tag along on a RoadRUNNER Shamrock Tour® with myself and our Editor-in-Chief, Florian. We received an incredible response from our readers, many of which were eager

The Great American Road Trip Premium Content

Part 2: The Golden Age of The Mother Road

Three scruffy bikers walked into a bar, boots dusty from the road and their eyes sharp as the edge of a Bowie knife. They weren’t looking for trouble—although trouble had a way of finding their kind. Outside, their Harley-Davidsons sat gleaming in the sun, lined up like stallions

City Escape

Escape to The Texas Hill Country

This city escape, northwest of San Antonio, is a fun foray into the Texas Hill Country. The route is nicely curvy, features some great state and regional parks, and even a nod to the Celtic druids along the ride.  SR 39 sits at the midpoint of the escape and is

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Alvord Desert, Oregon: Blood, Sweat, and Gears

It wasn’t the sound of a Honda Africa Twin booming across the Alvord Desert in 103 degrees that got our attention. Nor was it the cloud of dust rising from the long, sweeping powerslides its rider was performing. It was the abrupt stop. The absolute silence. When the dust

Classic Roads

Ride one of America’s Most Scenic Roads—Ohio SR 78

There’s no shortage of beautiful motorcycling roads in the U.S. Yet, even in this gorgeous crowd, some are more scenic than others. Ohio SR 78 is one such road. This 105-mile-long strip of two-lane asphalt spans the distance between Nelsonville, OH, in the west and Clarington on the

Roundtrip Tour

Arkansas: Total Eclipses

A total solar eclipse occurs somewhere every 18 months. Considering 70% of the earth is water, though, your chances of seeing one from dry land are pretty slim. You have to be in the right place at the right time. On top of that, you need favorable weather conditions, a

Events Premium Content

The Hard Road to Vegas—LAB2V

A bunch of riding friends and I had spent years talking about the famous LAB2V, an annual desert group ride between Los Angeles and Las Vegas that has been held since 1983. Among California dirt bikers and dual sport enthusiasts, it is legendary.  LAB2V (Los Angeles-Barstow-to-Vegas) covers 400 miles over

Destinations

The Small Town That’s Got It All—Maggie Valley, NC

Scenic rides, beautiful nature, nearby entertainment and restaurants, fascinating history… Maggie Valley, NC, really does have it all. This small town is situated amidst the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, roughly 35 miles from Asheville, with easy access along US 19. Don’t let its size and relatively remoteness fool you—

Destinations Premium Content

It’s Okay to Ride to Okay, OK

Okay, let's go. But where? How about Okay, OK?  Okay! Why is this place called Okay, OK, though? And what is there? Is it okay for motorcyclists to visit? Well, Okay wasn’t always Okay. The first European settler, French trader Joseph Bogy, arrived in this part of

Travel Guide

10 of the Best Cities for Motorcycling in the US

If you ask 10 motorcyclists what the best cities for motorcycling are in America, you’ll get 10 different answers. Although it’s great that our country has such a buffet of excellent riding, it can also make it difficult to choose where to point your front wheel. It’s

Destinations Premium Content

Tucumcari Tonite! New Mexico’s Gateway to the West

There used to be a certain way to tell you’re approaching the New Mexico-Texas border on Route 66. As you rode on, every few minutes you would pass a sign reading: “Tucumcari Tonite!” Hundreds of these signs, each promising “2,000 motel rooms,” once enticed travelers on the Mother

City Escape

City Escape: Salem, Oregon

Let’s escape the city—the city of Salem, OR, that is. Twisties abound.  The Beaver State capital is located along the Willamette River in Western Oregon. This route leads you up and down, twisting through the valleys and foothills of the Cascade Mountains to the east and rich farm

Destinations

Adrian, TX—The Midway Point of Route 66

Reaching the halfway point of any ride is an event in itself—there will be more miles behind you than there are ahead. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on the ride, I suppose. On Route 66, though, you’ll reach that midway milestone in Adrian, TX.

Classic Roads

Pennsylvania SR 144: A Beguiling Backcountry Byway

My first assignment for RoadRUNNER was a 2003 roundtrip in Pennsylvania with the magazine’s founder, Christian Neuhauser. SR 144 was part of that journey and I’ve been drawn back to ride it again several times. It’s a ride that has never disappointed. The tarmac twists and turns,

Classic Roads

Simply a Nice Ride—Indiana SR 450

Motorcyclists flock to certain roads because there’s a new famous sight and attractions behind every bend. Others, meanwhile, are more understated—they’re simply a good ride. Indiana SR 450 is one of these roads. This calm strip of two-lane begins just north of Shoals, IN, roughly 80 miles

Destinations

Arcosanti—Arizona’s Unique Arcology Experiment

Nothing caps a motorcycle ride quite like a unique destination at the end of the road. And when it comes to those, you can’t get much more unique than Arcosanti, AZ. Or does the world’s first town built according to the principles of arcology sound like something you’

Destinations

Haas Moto Museum—Collecting Stories

As motorcyclists, we tend to get wrapped up in numbers. How much horsepower? How much torque? What's the top speed?  Although these certainly are important metrics, I bought my first bike because of how it made me feel. It made me feel alive. It was dangerous and cool.

Destinations Premium Content

Shamrock, TX—The Small Irish Pit Stop on Route 66

The Texas section of Route 66 isn’t particularly long, stretching only around 180 miles across the Panhandle. Along this near-straight alignment, the largest (and only major) city you’ll pass is Amarillo. The second-largest city is Shamrock. And it’s a strangely Irish place. Despite its rank as the

Shamrock Tour® Premium Content

The Crooked Roads of Floyd, Virginia

It was a typical Tuesday night, kicking back after a long day in the photography studio, when I got the call. Josh’s voice said, “I’ve got something for you.” No further details were necessary. I knew it meant a ride—better still, riding and taking pictures documenting our

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Northeast U.S.—Pilgrimage

When I started riding in the ‘90s, I quickly learned about the top motorcycle gear brands. For textiles, it’s Aerostich. For leathers, you go for Vanson. Both are vaunted American brands that I was proud to wear. Two Vanson jackets still sit in my closet, one purchased during a