Midwest Region

Destinations

Route 66 Traditions at Lou Mitchell’s

If you’re aiming your front wheel down the spine of America, there’s an unwritten rule seasoned riders will nod to without saying a word: your Route 66 journey doesn’t begin at the “Begin Route 66” sign. It begins one block earlier—at Lou Mitchell’s. Tucked into

Travel Guide

Route 66: The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Movie Cars

When Pixar released Cars in 2006, audiences of all ages fell in love with the quirky town of Radiator Springs, a place frozen in time where Route 66’s spirit thrived.  Although it’s a fictional town, every corner of Radiator Springs was inspired by the real-life communities that flourished

Travel Guide

8 Best Coffee Shops on Ohio’s Windy 9

A cup of coffee is a vital victual before, during, and after the ride for many motorcyclists. Riders exploring the wonderful roads on Ohio’s Windy 9 are well catered to in this regard. This area surrounding the city of Athens is full of local cafes and coffee shops to

Destinations Premium Content

How Santa Fe Became Santa Claus, IN

Ho ho ho! Riding your motorcycle through Indiana, you might find yourself doing a double take as you emerge from the Hoosier National Forest.  Motoring through the endless crisscross of flat country roads, you may suddenly find yourself in Santa Claus. Many places in the U.S. (such as North

Shamrock Tour®

Wichita, Kansas Shamrock Tour®

Beef. It’s not only what’s for dinner, but the fuel this country was built with. The infant U.S. was a land of wide-open, grassy prairies that could be filled with grazing cattle to feed the burgeoning urban population. Although the great cattle drives took place for a

Classic Roads

Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway

Unless you live in the upper Midwest—and even if you do—your only familiarity with “the big lake they call Gitche Gumee” is likely from the lyrics of folk singer Gordon Lightfoot’s most famous song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Gitche Gumee, which translates to “huge water,

Classic Roads

The Sharp Curves and Steep Hills of Indiana SR 160

As you turn onto SR 160 outside Salem, IN, you’ll pass a sign urging trucks to instead use SR 56 to the north. The sign warns of SR 160’s “sharp curves, steep hills, and winding road.” What’s a warning to trucks is a promise of seriously good

Destinations

Go to Hell, MI

Destinations

Forests, Iron, and the North Shore—Duluth, MN

The history of the area surrounding Duluth, MN, is largely a story of environmental exploitation. It started in the mid-1600s, when the first French fur traders allied with the native Ojibwe and established a series of trading posts in the far northeastern portion of the state.  By 1849—when the

Destinations Premium Content

Bayfield—The Smallest City in Wisconsin

With a population hovering right around 600, Bayfield is said to be the smallest city in Wisconsin. That’s no reason to ignore it.  Whatever Bayfield might lack in numbers, it more than makes up for in scenic beauty. Located near the center of the Wisconsin Lake Superior Scenic Byway—

Destinations

Plunge Deep into the Wonders of Uranus, MO

Picture yourself riding along the Missouri stretch of Route 66. It’s a beautiful day, the weather’s perfect, and the miles just roll by. But suddenly, you realize your motorcycle has entered Uranus. Just a heads-up, if Uranus contains a stick instead of a whole heaping helping of juvenile

Travel Guide

8 Unique Attractions on Route 66

An essential part of a road trip down Route 66 is visiting the various fascinating and kooky roadside attractions along it. But the Mother Road is long, and you likely won’t have time to stop at each and every thing begging for your attention. So, where should you stop?

Classic Roads Premium Content

Needles Highway—The Governor’s Road

The Needles Highway covers the northern portion of SR 87 in southwestern South Dakota. This road is famous for offering some of the best riding and scenery in the state’s Black Hills region. Officially, the Needles Highway carves through the mountains for 14 miles. Its length, however, depends on

Travel Guide

RoadRUNNER’S Favorite Attractions Along Route 66

Route 66 and roadside attractions go hand in hand. At 2,448 miles in length, the Mother Road sure has plenty of wild, wonderful, and weird sights to see. In fact, there might be a few too many. One of the most difficult parts of planning a ride on Route

Classic Roads

Lake Mille Lacs Scenic Byway

The area surrounding Brainerd, MN, is popularly known as Vacationland, and for good reason. If you want to enjoy a classic up-north getaway—renting a rowboat and catching a few walleyes to grill over an open fire while you watch the sun set over a sparkling blue lake—Vacationland is

Classic Roads Premium Content

Classic Roads: Superior National Forest Scenic Byway

Want a feel for what it’s like to ride to the Arctic Circle, but you’re not ready (or willing) to commit to a 5000-mile, out-and-back journey across the vast Yukon Territory? Head to northern Minnesota and explore the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway instead. Covering over three million

Classic Roads Premium Content

Classic Roads: Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway

Minnesota is famously known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes—it says so right on the state’s license plates. If you want to ride to some of the best and most scenic of Minnesota’s many fishing lakes, aim your headlight toward the Edge of the Wilderness National

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Michigan: Six-times the Adventure

“Sorry, sorry, sorry…” I heard in my helmet. I tightened my grip on the bike with my thighs and pain shot through my shoulder as the ride got bumpier. Thanks to the endorphin spike, or my unhealthy sense of humor, I chuckled about the situations I tend to find myself

Travel Guide

Where We Stopped on Route 66 from Missouri to New Mexico

One of the best parts of traveling Route 66 is the abundance of quirky and unforgettable roadside attractions. Here are a few of our favorite stops along the middle stretch of The Mother Road, from our summer 2024 tour The Great American Road Trip leading up to the route’s

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

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

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

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

Accommodations

Middle of Route 66 Hotel Roundup

After a long day of riding on Route 66, nothing beats a cozy bed in which to lay your head and dream of the next day’s adventure. We’ve previously covered some unique and nice hotels on Illinois Route 66. Now, we’re continuing to the middle section of

Destinations

Where Honest Abe and Route 66 Meet—Lincoln, IL

Illinois is today widely known as the Land of Lincoln in recognition of the former president’s contributions both to the state and the country. However, one place in Illinois —along Route 66 — has carried the name of Lincoln well before his presidency. During his break from national politics, Lincoln