The Best-Kept Secrets of Scenic Touring: Finding Great Roads Beyond the Interstate
There's a certain freedom that comes with leaving the interstate behind.
The traffic thins out. The scenery changes. Small towns replace highway exits, and the journey becomes something more than simply getting from one place to another.
For Can-Am Spyder and Ryker riders, some of the most memorable experiences happen on roads that never appear on a list of the fastest routes.
But finding those roads takes a little curiosity, some local knowledge, and a willingness to explore.
Here's how to discover the kind of roads that make you want to turn around and ride them again.
1. Look Beyond the Fastest Route
Most navigation apps are designed to get you somewhere efficiently. They prioritize travel time, major highways, and predictable traffic patterns.
That's useful when you're commuting, but not necessarily when you're riding for enjoyment.
Instead of asking your navigation system for the fastest route, start looking for alternatives that follow:
State and county highways.
River valleys and lakeshores.
Rolling countryside.
Historic transportation corridors.
Roads connecting small towns and rural communities.
Many mapping applications allow you to avoid highways or add intermediate destinations to shape your route.
Just remember that avoiding highways doesn't automatically produce a great riding road. It may introduce rough pavement, unpaved sections, or unsuitable shortcuts.
Review the route before committing to it.
2. Follow the Geography
Some of the best scenic roads exist because of the landscape around them.
Rivers, mountain ridges, coastlines, and valleys often influence how roads were originally constructed.
These natural features can lead riders toward interesting scenery and enjoyable curves.
Consider exploring:
River Roads: Routes following rivers frequently pass through historic communities, wooded valleys, and scenic overlooks.
Mountain and Ridge Roads: Elevation changes can provide spectacular views and engaging riding, although steep grades and tight curves require additional caution.
Lake and Coastal Roads: Waterfront routes can offer beautiful scenery, especially outside peak tourist periods.
Rolling Farmland: Quiet rural roads often provide relaxing rides through open countryside and small communities.
A topographic map can reveal promising areas before you even begin examining individual roads.
3. Discover America's Scenic Byways
One of the easiest ways to find established scenic routes is through designated scenic byway programs.
The United States has nationally recognized scenic routes, along with additional state-designated byways.
These roads are selected for characteristics such as natural beauty, historical significance, cultural attractions, or recreational opportunities.
Examples worth exploring include:
Blue Ridge Parkway — Virginia and North Carolina: Mountain scenery, overlooks, and sweeping curves.
Ohio River Scenic Byway — Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois: River communities, historic locations, and changing landscapes.
Natchez Trace Parkway — Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee: A historic corridor with scenic surroundings and a relaxed touring atmosphere.
Great River Road — Multiple states: A network of routes following the Mississippi River through diverse communities and landscapes.
Canadian riders can also explore provincial scenic routes, including coastal drives, mountain corridors, and established touring trails.
Always check current road conditions, seasonal closures, vehicle restrictions, and construction before departure.
4. Ask Local Riders Where They Actually Ride
Online maps can show you where a road goes.
Experienced local riders can often tell you whether it's worth riding.
Local riding clubs and enthusiasts may know about:
Roads with especially enjoyable curves.
Scenic overlooks that are easy to miss.
Interesting restaurants and gathering places.
Routes with consistently good pavement.
Roads affected by seasonal traffic or construction.
Hidden destinations that rarely appear in travel guides.
This is one reason riding communities are so valuable.
A road that looks ordinary on a map may be a local favorite, while a promising-looking shortcut might turn out to be poorly maintained.
When asking for recommendations, be specific about your riding preferences. A rider seeking relaxed countryside touring may want something very different from someone looking for challenging mountain curves.
5. Learn to Recognize a Great Riding Road
Not every winding road is a good touring road.
An enjoyable route balances scenery, road conditions, traffic, and the rider's abilities.
Before adding an unfamiliar road to your itinerary, consider several factors.
Pavement Quality: Rough surfaces, potholes, gravel, and uneven repairs can make a scenic road unpleasant or hazardous.
Road Width: Narrow roads with limited shoulders demand extra attention, especially when encountering larger vehicles.
Curve Visibility: Blind curves, hidden driveways, and sudden elevation changes can increase risk.
Traffic Levels: A beautiful road filled with heavy commercial traffic may be less enjoyable than a quieter alternative.
Available Services: Remote routes can be wonderful, but knowing where fuel and other services are located matters.
Spyder and Ryker riders should also consider how road conditions affect their three-wheel track. Debris or potholes that a two-wheeled motorcycle might avoid with a single wheel path can be more difficult to miss with three wheels.
The best road isn't necessarily the twistiest one. It's the road that fits your machine, your skills, and the kind of experience you want.
6. Make Small Towns Part of the Adventure
One of the pleasures of scenic touring is discovering places you might otherwise drive past.
Small towns often offer the experiences that make a ride memorable.
Look for:
Historic downtown districts.
Locally owned diners and restaurants.
Museums and heritage sites.
Covered bridges and historic landmarks.
Scenic parks and waterfronts.
Community festivals and seasonal attractions.
A stop for lunch can become an unexpected conversation with another rider. A roadside historical marker might introduce you to a fascinating local story.
Rather than treating every stop as a delay, consider making a few of them the purpose of the ride.
7. Explore Familiar Areas From a Different Direction
You don't always need to travel hundreds of miles to discover something new.
Sometimes the best scenic roads are surprisingly close to home.
Try approaching a familiar destination from a different direction, connecting two favorite roads, or exploring a neighboring county you've rarely visited.
Another approach is to choose a destination first—a scenic overlook, historic bridge, lakeside park, or interesting restaurant—and then find an enjoyable route to reach it.
You may discover that a road you've passed dozens of times leads to an entirely different riding experience.
8. Know When to Turn Around
Exploring unfamiliar roads is part of the fun, but good judgment matters.
If a road becomes unpaved, deteriorates significantly, or appears unsuitable for your Spyder or Ryker, there's nothing wrong with choosing another route.
Never assume a road will improve simply because your navigation system continues directing you forward.
Be particularly cautious around:
Loose gravel and freshly applied chip seal.
Standing water and washed-out sections.
Mud, sand, or debris near intersections.
Roads with steep grades and tight switchbacks.
Unmarked private roads or restricted access areas.
If you need to reverse direction, find a safe, legal location with adequate visibility and room to maneuver.
A successful scenic ride doesn't require following every road to its end.
9. Save and Share the Roads Worth Remembering
When you discover an exceptional road, don't rely entirely on memory.
Save the route or record useful details for future rides.
Consider noting:
Where the route begins and ends.
Approximate distance and riding time.
Road surface and general condition.
Scenic highlights.
Recommended stops.
Any difficult sections or seasonal limitations.
Sharing those discoveries with other riders helps build a stronger touring community.
A favorite local route could become someone else's unforgettable weekend adventure.
10. Let the Road Surprise You
Some of the best touring memories come from places you never expected to find.
A quiet valley road. A family-owned restaurant. A view that suddenly appears around a bend.
Those moments rarely happen when the only objective is reaching the destination as quickly as possible.
Leave some flexibility in your riding plans.
Be willing to explore a promising side road when conditions allow. Stop when something catches your attention. Take time to appreciate the places you visit.
Scenic touring is about more than finding beautiful roads.
It's about rediscovering the enjoyment of the journey itself.
Key Takeaways
Look beyond the fastest navigation route when planning scenic rides.
Use geography and scenic byway programs to identify promising roads.
Ask local riders and clubs for firsthand recommendations.
Evaluate pavement, traffic, visibility, and road suitability before riding.
Include small towns and interesting attractions in your routes.
Explore familiar areas from new directions.
Turn around when road conditions become unsuitable.
Save and share worthwhile routes with the riding community.
Allow time for unexpected discoveries.
Final Thoughts
The best road isn't always the most famous, the longest, or the one with the most curves.
Sometimes it's a quiet stretch of countryside that offers beautiful scenery, comfortable riding, and just enough adventure to remind you why you love being on three wheels.
Whether you're riding a touring-equipped Spyder RT, a sporty Spyder F3, or a Can-Am Ryker, there's an entire world of interesting roads waiting to be discovered.
And some of the best may be closer than you think.
The interstate gets you there. The backroads give you something to remember.
Discover More Roads With Spyder Riders Hub
Looking for your next great ride?
Spyder Riders Hub brings Spyder and Ryker enthusiasts together through riding clubs, community discussions, events, and route discovery.
Explore RideMatch™ to discover riding routes, find inspiration for future adventures, and enjoy more of what the open road has to offer.
Visit SpyderRidersHub.com and discover where your next ride might take you.
