Motorcycling Guide to North Carolina

North Carolina offers an unmatched playground for motorcyclists seeking varied, technical riding in gorgeous surroundings. The Tarheel State serves a smorgasbord of distinct scenic regions, excellent roads, and a long riding season.

Multiple renowned riding roads wind their way through the state. To name just some of them, you’ll find the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, and The Diamondback here.

The state is also one of the most welcoming places in the country toward motorcycle riders. Whatever kind of riding you like, North Carolina has you covered.

Geography of North Carolina

North Carolina is divided geographically into three regions: the coastal plain, the Piedmont, and the western mountains. Each provides a unique motorcycling experience with its own charm.

On the coast, you’ll find lazily meandering roads that take you through farmland and forests of longleaf pines. Many national and state forests and wildlife refuges dot North Carolina’s coastline, complementing the stunning seaside vistas. In the northeast corner of the state are the barrier islands of the Outer Banks, with their famous dunes and beaches.

The central Piedmont region, which extends south to South Carolina and Georgia and north to Virginia and Maryland, makes for a wonderful rural ride. Expansive fields stretch between woods of deciduous trees, with occasional rivers and lakes. The terrain gets hillier the farther west you ride as you approach the Appalachian foothills.

The western parts of North Carolina are dominated by the Appalachian Mountains. Tortuous mountain roads zig and zag across the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, with lovely small towns providing a break from the curves with cozy cafes and tasty local food. If you enjoy challenging technical riding, western North Carolina is a wonderland of delightful roads and jaw-dropping natural beauty.

Yet perhaps the best part of North Carolina is that you can experience all of this within a day’s ride. The state is only around 450 miles wide, allowing you to start in the midst of mountains and gorges and end the ride with the Atlantic lapping a sandy beach. I recommend taking a few days in each of the three regions to fully experience the various topographies.

Top Routes and Destinations in North Carolina

North Carolina has a lot of great motorcycling roads—so many, in fact, that you might have difficulty deciding where to go. When in doubt, you can always head to the resort town of Fontana Dam. This location in the heart of North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains offers plenty of mountain and lakeside beauty, along with easy access to eight excellent roads. You can download the RoadRUNNER GPX files for Fontana Dam’s routes here.

Possibly the most famous road in North Carolina is the Cherohala Skyway, covering the Cherokee and Nantahala national forests. It features long, smooth sweepers across a rising and falling landscape, offering a fantastic ride to motorcyclists of all skill levels.

The Diamondback boasts 200 twists that include every kind of curve imaginable, from wide-open sweepers to supremely tight hairpins, to challenge your cornering skills. This loop starts in the town of Little Switzerland, a gorgeous resort where you can relax after the curves. It’s the perfect place to bring your significant other. The Switzerland Inn is also the only hotel on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Another popular route in the state is the Moonshiner 28, which crosses North Carolina over around 112 miles from Deals Gap to South Carolina. It’s a perfectly balanced riding route where heart-pounding twisties alternate with more relaxed sections. The best part of SR 28 is between Franklin, NC, and US 74. Ride it northbound for maximum fun.

Two lesser-known but still devilishly fun roads in North Carolina’s mountains are the Devil’s Whip and Devil’s Stairs. Located near Asheville, these two roads join together, allowing you to make your ride as quick or long as you want.

But enough of the mountains, already! The Outer Banks are a unique ecoregion that stretches over sandy barrier islands. The islands are covered with beaches, seaside towns, and many interesting locations, such as the site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. Read our story about riding the Outer Banks on a Honda Trail 125.

It’s very easy to incorporate North Carolina into longer motorcycle trips. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes into the state from the north, making it possible to spend one or even two weeks on the road to experience everything along its length. Most motorcyclists agree that the best part of the Parkway is from the southern terminus near Cherokee, NC, to Maggie Valley. Remember to visit the famous Dale’s Wheels Thru Time motorcycle museum there.

For even more tour stories, road overviews, and destination highlights, check out all of our North Carolina motorcycle articles.

ADV Motorcycle Routes in North Carolina

In addition to first-class paved roads, North Carolina has plentiful gravel and dirt roads to entertain ADV and dual sport riders. The state links to the Southeast BDR, a long and technical route that will challenge any dirt enthusiast.

The Nantahala and Pisgah national forests have a wide variety of forest service roads and gravel backroads. Riders seeking Appalachian vistas away from the tourist masses can find them here.

In central North Carolina is the Uwharrie National Forest, which is also littered with easy-to-ride fire roads and technical dirt trails. Get your permit at the Eldorado Outpost in Troy, NC. It’s within easy access from both Raleigh and Greensboro, enabling weekend ADV riding trips.

On the coast, most of the dunes and other sandy areas are off-limits to motorcycles to protect the area’s delicate ecosystems. You are allowed to take four-wheeled vehicles onto the sand. Yet, Croatan National Forest has dirt forest roads and a few dirt tracks that make ADV exploration near the coast possible for registered motorcycles.

Tips for Motorcycling in North Carolina

North Carolina has a long motorcycle season. Overall, rideable weather lasts from March through November, depending on which of the state’s three regions you’re riding in.

If you’re planning to explore the entire Tarheel State over a single ride, it’s best to go either in spring or fall. The shoulder seasons are mild in the state, although you might feel the chill in the mountains or the coast (as the Atlantic warms up slowly). Fall leaves arrive in the Blue Ridge Mountains in October. 

Keep in mind that the Blue Ridge Parkway’s average elevation in North Carolina is 3,000 feet. It’s perfect for escaping the summer heat, but you can also encounter fog too thick to safely ride in.

Summers in the lower-lying regions of North Carolina can get oppressively hot and humid, but that’s not necessarily a problem if you’re cruising the coast and can jump in the ocean for a dip. Mountains have cooler summer weather, making for excellent mountain riding.

Lane splitting is not expressly prohibited by North Carolina laws, but it’s generally not accepted and may earn you a ticket. Lane sharing with another motorcycle (that is, riding side by side) is allowed, but always exercise best safety practices when doing so. Both motorcycle riders and passengers are legally required to wear a helmet in the state.

A slew of motorcycling events are hosted in North Carolina annually. Some of the most popular events include:

• Thunder in the Smokies Motorcycle Rally (spring, summer, and fall events)
• Outer Banks Bike Week (spring)
• MSTA TriStar Rally (late spring)
• National All-Female Rally (late spring)
• Myrtle Beach Bike Week (late spring)

Off-Bike Activities in North Carolina

North Carolina has many interesting things to see off-bike, whether you’re into outdoor activities, culture, or general sightseeing. Some of the most popular sights in the state include:

• City of Asheville
• City of Durham
• Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Biltmore Estate
• Outer Banks lighthouses
• Wright Brothers National Memorial
• North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh
• Grandfather Mountain
• Lake Lure and Chimney Rock
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Wilmington and the USS Carolina
• Pinehurst (if you’re into golf)
• Roan Mountain and the Rhododendron Festival