Best Motorcycle Rides in Pennsylvania 2026: Scenic Routes, Mountain Roads and Classic Loops
Apr 9, 2026
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Most cross-country riders treat Pennsylvania as somewhere to pass through on the way to the Blue Ridge or the Adirondacks. They're missing the second-darkest International Dark Sky Park on the planet, 400 miles of Route 6 that National Geographic Traveler has named one of America's most scenic drives, the largest free-roaming elk herd east of the Mississippi, and backroad twisties the rest of the country hasn't caught onto yet.
What Are the Best Motorcycle Roads in Pennsylvania?
- Route 6 (400 miles): The cross-state ride that put PA on the map, running from Milford on the NY border out to Linesville on the Ohio line.
- Route 44 to Cherry Springs (70 miles): The climb to Pennsylvania's first Dark Sky Park, once called the best place on Earth to stargaze.
- Pine Creek Gorge Loop (85 miles): An 85-mile loop around the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.
- Elk County Scenic Loop (75 miles): Route 555 through Pennsylvania's free-roaming elk herd, best ridden during fall rut.
- Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway (68 miles): The best cornering in southwestern PA, running past Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.
- Hawk Mountain Blue Mountain Loop (27 miles): A short loop that crosses the Blue Mountain ridge twice, with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary right on the route.
- Pocono Mountains Delaware River Route (80 miles): 80 miles along the Delaware River through the Pocono Mountains.
- Lancaster Covered Bridge Route (28 miles): A short loop through Amish country, hitting three of Lancaster County's 29 covered bridges.
- Gettysburg Battlefield Loop (15 miles): A short loop through Gettysburg National Military Park hitting McPherson Ridge, Little Round Top, and other major battlefield landmarks.
- Gold Mine Road to Centralia (42 miles): The weirdest ride in PA, ending at a ghost town abandoned over an underground mine fire still burning today.
| Route | Region | Miles | Difficulty | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route 6 | Northern Tier (Milford to Linesville) | 400 | Intermediate | May through October |
| Route 44 to Cherry Springs | PA Wilds | 70 | Intermediate | June through September |
| Pine Creek Gorge Loop | PA Wilds (Wellsboro) | 85 | Intermediate | May through October |
| Elk County Scenic Loop | PA Wilds (Benezette) | 75 | Beginner to Intermediate | September through October for the elk rut |
| Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway | Southwestern PA | 68 | Intermediate | April through October |
| Hawk Mountain Blue Mountain Loop | Eastern PA (Hamburg area) | 27 | Beginner | April through November |
| Pocono Mountains Delaware River Route | Northeastern PA | 80 | Beginner to Intermediate | May through October |
| Lancaster Covered Bridge Route | South Central PA | 28 | Beginner | April through October |
| Gettysburg Battlefield Loop | South Central PA | 15 | Beginner | April through October |
| Gold Mine Road to Centralia | Central PA coal country | 42 | Intermediate to Advanced | April through November |
1. Route 6 Motorcycle Ride in PA
Start: Milford, PA (New York border)
End: Linesville, PA (Ohio border)
Distance: 400 miles
Route 6 is the ride that put Pennsylvania on the map nationally, running 400 miles east to west across 11 counties. You'll cut through the Allegheny National Forest and roll right over the Kinzua Sky Walk, which is what's left of a railroad viaduct a 2003 tornado tore up before it was rebuilt as a glass-bottomed observation deck 225 feet in the air. Most riders split the full run over three days, but when you're short on time, the 100 miles between Mansfield and Kane have the best of it. Fuel stops can be 30+ miles apart through the middle section, so plan your fuel stops before leaving town.
Is Route 6 Good for Motorcycles in PA?
Route 6 has held its spot as the highest-ranked motorcycle road in the Northeast for years, thanks to well-maintained pavement across the full 400 miles, light traffic outside small town centers, and regular elevation changes through the Allegheny National Forest. Intermediate riders can handle the whole run, and the 100-mile Mansfield-to-Kane section is the highlight most riders prioritize when they can't spend three days out there.
2. Route 44 to Cherry Springs
Start: Coudersport, PA
End: Jersey Shore, PA
Distance: 70 miles
Cherry Springs State Park sits at 2,300 feet on the Allegheny Plateau, surrounded by 262,000 acres of Susquehannock State Forest, and the Travel Channel once named it the best place on Earth to stargaze. Route 44 is how you get there, climbing through forested back country with almost no cell service. Once you arrive, head to the free Night Sky Public Viewing Area north of Route 44 for a short visit, or the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field on the south side if you've got a telescope and a permit. Either way, time your ride around a new moon for the Milky Way.
NOTE: temperatures up on the plateau run 20 degrees cooler than wherever you left that morning, which catches a lot of riders off guard. Our motorcycle trip packing list has every item we think you should pack to avoid any surprises on the road.
3. Pine Creek Gorge Motorcycle Ride
Start/End: Wellsboro, PA
Distance: 98 miles
Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon lives up to the name when you're standing at the overlook. The canyon drops 1,450 feet down from Leonard Harrison State Park, which sits about ten miles west of Wellsboro on Route 660, so most riders head there first for the view before starting the loop proper. From there you're working your way around the gorge: US 6 takes you west through Ansonia and Galeton, then Route 44 drops you south through Cross Fork, Route 414 brings you back east along the floor of the canyon (you end up riding right next to the creek you were looking down at earlier), and Route 287 runs you north from Morris back into Wellsboro to close it out. Fall weekends get busy out here, so if you've got the flexibility, ride it on a weekday. Parking at Leonard Harrison is $4 right at the overlook.
4. Elk County Scenic Loop
Start/End: St. Marys, PA
Distance: 75 miles
PA actually has a wild elk herd, about 1,400 animals roaming free through the Benezette area, which makes this one of the only places east of the Mississippi where you can ride past one on the side of the road. You'll head east out of St. Marys on Route 255 and then Route 555, which drops you into Benezette, the heart of elk country. From there Route 555 keeps going east to Driftwood, where you pick up Route 120 and follow it north through Sinnemahoning State Park to Emporium, then back west on Route 120 into St. Marys to finish the loop. September and October are the best months to ride it, since the herd is most active during mating season and you're a lot more likely to actually see them. Winslow Hill Elk Viewing Area just outside Benezette is the spot most riders pull off to look. Heads up on Route 555: elk cross it whenever they feel like, so keep your speed reasonable.
5. Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway
Start: Markleysburg, PA (near the West Virginia border)
End: Seward, PA
Distance: 68 miles
The Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway is 68 miles along Routes 381 and 711, running north from the West Virginia border in Fayette County up through Westmoreland County and ending in Seward. You pick up Route 381 near Markleysburg and head north into Ohiopyle, where there's motorcycle parking right at the waterfall overlook in Ohiopyle State Park. Keep going north on 381 and you'll hit Mill Run, home to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater (tickets run $39+ with advance booking if you want to tour the house itself). From there the byway swings through Normalville where 381 meets 711, and you follow 711 north through Jones Mills, Donegal, and up to Ligonier, a walkable historic town where most riders pull off to eat and stretch. The final leg of 711 takes you into Seward to close out the route. Pittsburgh riders treat this whole byway as their standard Saturday ride, and it's less crowded than the PA Wilds during peak season.
Are There Twisty Roads in Pennsylvania for Motorcycles?
Pennsylvania has plenty of twisty motorcycle roads, just not where most out-of-state riders expect to find them. The state's best cornering is concentrated in three areas: the Laurel Highlands in the southwest, where Route 381 through Ohiopyle is the standout for tight corners and elevation changes; Gold Mine Road up through the coal region in central PA, which opens with a couple of hairpins right off the bat; and Route 44 through Susquehannock State Forest in the north, a long run of curves that riders consistently rank among the best in the state.
6. Hawk Mountain/Blue Mountain Loop
Start/End: Hamburg, PA
Distance: 27 miles
VIEW ROUTE MAP
At 27 miles, this is the shortest ride on the list, and it's the one you do when you want a half-day Blue Mountain ride without committing to a full day out. You head north from Hamburg on PA-61, take PA-895 east, and the road climbs to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, which has been a raptor refuge since 1934 (the first one in the world). If you ride it in September or October, you'll hit the migration window when 20,000-plus hawks and eagles come through on the Appalachian Flyway. From the sanctuary, Hawk Mountain Road takes you south down the ridge to PA-143, then it's a straight run south to Lenhartsville and a quick stretch on I-78 back to Hamburg.
7. Pocono Mountains Delaware River Ride
Start: Jim Thorpe, PA
End: Milford, PA
Distance: 80 miles
This Pocono motorcycle ride starts in Jim Thorpe, a Victorian mountain town that locals call the Switzerland of Pennsylvania. From there, Route 209 takes you 80 miles north along the Delaware River through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, with a pullout for Bushkill Falls about halfway up. The ride ends in Milford on the New York border. Weekend traffic pulls in from NYC and North Jersey, so ride midweek if you can.
8. Lancaster Covered Bridge Route
Start/End: Strasburg, PA
Distance: 36 miles
VIEW ROUTE MAP
Lancaster County has 29 covered bridges, the most of any county in PA, and this short 28-mile loop out of Strasburg hits three of the classics. You'll cross Hunsecker's Mill north of Lancaster, then Bitzer's Mill (built in 1846 and the oldest one still in use anywhere in the county), and finish at Leaman Place near Paradise. The roads between them cut through Amish farmland, so one rule matters more here than anywhere else in PA: pass horse-and-buggies wide and slow, since engine noise spooks the horses.
Lancaster sits about 90 minutes west of Philadelphia, which makes it easy to pair with a weekend out east. Check out our choice of the most memorable motorcycle routes near Philadelphia for a full two-day trip covering both regions.
9. Gettysburg Battlefield Loop
Start/End: Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center
Distance: 15 miles
This 15-mile loop through Gettysburg National Military Park covers the main battlefield: McPherson Ridge, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, Virginia Monument, Little Round Top, and East Cemetery Hill all sit directly on the route. The park has dedicated motorcycle parking at the Visitor Center, and entry to the battlefield itself is free. Show up early in the morning before the tour buses roll in (especially in summer), since the roads get congested fast once the crowds arrive. The ride itself isn't technical, but it's one of the most historically packed 15 miles of pavement in the country.
10. Gold Mine Road to Centralia
Start: Gold Mine Road, Pine Grove, PA
End: Centralia, PA
Distance: 42 miles
Gold Mine Road is a tight mountain road through central PA's coal region, and it connects to Centralia, the ghost town where a mine fire has been burning underground since 1962. The best riding sits at the start of the route, where the road twists through the mountains before opening up through Tower City, Hegins, and Shamokin. Centralia itself is the reason most people make the trip. The town was condemned in 1992 with only five residents remaining today, but smoke still rises from the ground and the pavement cracks above the fire vents. The old Graffiti Highway got covered with dirt in 2020, but the rest of town is still walkable.
What’s the Most Scenic Motorcycle Ride in Pennsylvania?
The most scenic motorcycle ride in PA depends on what kind of scenery you're after. Route 44 through Cherry Springs wins for dark skies and forest solitude, riding through 262,000 acres of state forest on the way to the best stargazing field on the East Coast. Pine Creek Gorge wins for its pure canyon views, with a 1,450-foot drop off the Leonard Harrison overlook. Route 6 wins on scope and mileage, cutting across the whole state for 400 miles end to end. For most riders, it comes down to Route 44 vs. Pine Creek Gorge, and either way you'll ride home impressed.
What Motorcycle Events Are in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Now that you know which road you want to ride, the next thing to figure out is the timing, and picking a weekend that lines up with a big rally is usually the best way to do it.
Gettysburg Bike Week
- When: July 9 through 12, 2026 (25th anniversary)
- Where: The Barn Resort, Gettysburg
- Ride pairing: The Gettysburg Battlefield Loop above is already on your doorstep if you're in town for the rally
Pennsylvania Roundhouse Rally
- When: September 3 through 5, 2026
- Where: Roundhouse Harley-Davidson, Duncansville
- Ride pairing: Gold Mine Road to Centralia runs about two hours east and makes for a good add-on if you've got an extra day
Glory Daze Motorcycle Show
- When: September 19 and 20, 2026
- Where: Pittsburgh Brewing Company, Creighton (just outside Pittsburgh)
- Ride pairing: The Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway is the ride to build around this one, since you're already near Pittsburgh for the show
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