The state of Virginia is loaded with history. You can see places where the first European settlers landed, where presidents lived, and where Civil War battles were fought.  There are sandy beaches, cool caves, lots of national parks and of course the best scenic motorcycle road, Skyline Drive. 

MOTORCYCLE LAWS

Helmet Use:  Required

Riding Two Abreast:  No, See State Law for Specifics

Eye Protection:  Required unless equipped with windscreen

Daytime Use of Headlight: Modulating headlight permitted

More Information On Laws

BEST RIDES IN THE STATE

Skyline Drive   twists and turns 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest in Shenandoah National Park. The views over the rolling Piedmont to the east and Shenandoah Valley to the west are spectacular, especially during spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom, and in fall, when the leaves change from green to brilliant hues of rust, orange, and yellow.

Blue Ridge Parkway  A continuation of the Skyline Drive, this road continues along the Blue Ridge crest south to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Of the 218 miles in Virginia, the most scenic are north of Roanoke. 

Colonial Parkway  this 23-mile route connects the historic sites of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown. Enjoy the views of the James River near Jamestown and of the York River near Yorktown. The parkway goes through a tunnel under the heart of Colonial Williamsburg.

Snickersville Turnpike  Located in Northern Virginia between RT 7 and RT 50. Starting in Aldie at Route 50, Snickersville Turnpike travels northwest, rolling over foothills and crossing Goose Creek and its tributaries. At Bluemont (formerly Snickersville) the Turnpike climbs to 950 feet and meets Route 7 where it crosses the Blue Ridge through Snickers’ Gap.

Lexington to Hot Springs  Va. 39, which runs from Lexington to Hot Springs via the Goshen Pass, a picturesque gorge cut by the Maury River. You can make a loop by continuing north from Hot Springs via U.S. 220 to the beautiful village of Monterey in "Virginia's Switzerland." From Monterey, you can cross the mountains via U.S. 250 to Staunton and I-81.

 Western, Route 43.  Twisty, low traffic density, good road condition. Just North of Roanoke Rte 43 runs between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Rte 11 in Buchanan VA. Albeit a short run, it's a roller coaster. Very steep with continous hairpin turns. This road is not for the inexperienced rider as one slip and you will die.

Shenandoah mountains, route 250. Both scenic and twisty, good road condition. Head west on Rt. 250 from Skyline Drive. This is THE road. It goes through the Shenendoah mountains and the Allegheny mountains, twisting and turning up and down the mountains all the way. Good pavement the whole way, little gravel, very little traffic, overall an excellent road. The corners were incredible. Some corners felt like they were circling all the way back to where you started from and most turns were followed by another similar turn in the other direction! These roads are NOT for the beginner rider. You can return east on Rt. 33. 

Route 33. Off of Skyline Drive, headed west into the mountains and into West Virginia. This road is absolutely great, super tight corners, lots of elevation changes, constant switchbacks, and a great view to boot. 

Western, route 16. Very twisty, good road condition, but be careful of stone and rocks in the street. North from Marion to Tazewell, it is very twisty and unforgiving of rider mistakes. South of Marion there are some open straight stretches, with tight S-turns between them.  
 
 

NATIONAL PARKS

Blue Ridge Parkway

Colonial

Cumberland Gap

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial

Shenandoah

ATTRACTIONS TO SEE / DESTINATIONS

Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel  A man-made wonder, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel runs for 17 miles over -- and under -- the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay between Norfolk and the Eastern Shore. You can barely see land when you're in the middle.

Virginia Beach

Natural Bridge - Natural Stone Arch near Lexington that is 150 feet wide and 215 feet tall.

Jamestown - Site of the first English settlement in the US

Luray Caverns

MOTORCYCLE FRIENDLY CAMPGROUNDS & LODGING

Heavenly Acres Campground  Stanardsville, VA   Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, 15 minutes from Skyline Drive  -  Tent Sites, 2 Sleeping Cabins, Showers, and Camp Store

Harrisonburg / Shenandoah Valley KOA  Broadway, VA  Located in the center of the Shenandoah Valley area.  Tent Sites, Cabins, Showers, Laundry, Pool, WiFi and more. 

Lake Ridge RV Resort  Hillsville, VA  Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Tent Sites, Cabins, Laundry, Showers, Camp Store, Pool and more.

Fancy Gap KOA  Fancy Gap, VA  Located nn top of Fancy Gap Mountain,  just off the Blue Ridge Parkway (mile post 199.5, Exit 8 of I-77 and US52).  Tent Sites, Showers, Pool, WiFi 

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park    Natural Bridge Station, VA  Located  5 miles from scenic Natural Bridge, on the James River nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Interstate 81 . Tent Sites, Cabins, WiFi, Showers, Laundry, Camp Store, Snack Bar and more. 

 Willville Motorcycle Camp on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Tent Sites.

Tye River Gap Campground  Vesuvius, Virginia. One mile off the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Skyline Drive entrance. Large wooded campsites, hot showers, swimming pool and camp store.

Loft Mountain Campground  located within Shenandoah National Park at Milepost 79 along the scenic Skyline Drive. Tent Sites

Riders Rest Bed & Breakfast  just outside Lexington, Virginia on Scenic Route 39. Garage Parking available for your bike, scenic ride maps provided.

Wolf Creek Farm  Ararat, Virginia  Close to Blue Ridge Parkway  2 B &B Rooms,  1 cottage   Pool   Motorcycle Friendly

Woodberry Inn  Floyd, Virginia  located just off of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Meadows of Dan area of Southwestern Virginia

Wolf Gap Campground  Located near Woodstock, VA. This is a free USFS campground with no amenities. Directions: Take Rt. 42 west from Woodstock and at Columbia Furnace turn right onto Wolf Gap Rd. Watch your signs carefully, as there are several places where other roads fork off. Take Wolf Gap Rd all the way to the campground at the top of the mountain, which is right on the Virginia/West Virginia border. At the campground the road becomes Trout Run Rd and starts descending just past the campground. The coordinates for the entrance of the campground are 38.923677, -78.689564.  Nice paved twisty road, motorcycle accessable.

Virginia State Parks   Virginia State Parks provide comfortable and economical overnight accommodations, with 260 climate-controlled cabins and more than 1,700 campsites, ranging from primitive sites to developed sites with electric and water hookups. Many cabins are available year round. While most campgrounds are open from March 1 through the end of the first week of December, primitive campsites are available year-round.

Camping Along The Blue Ridge Parkway   There are 9 National Park Service Campgrounds located along the Parkway, open from May-October that offer restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables & grills. Five of the camp sites are located in North Carolina, and four are located in Virginia.  Brochure

RALLIES AND EVENTS

Blue Ridge Bike Fest     Held in April

Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia  April 4 - September 1  This statewide tour of Virginia has 58 stops, including travel destinations, restaurants, welcome centers and many more.   Participants can win great prizes while enjoying a leisurely tour of Virginia at their own schedule. The cost to participate is only $25.

Rumble Through The Tunnels   Held in October in Portsmouth

RESOURCES AND LINKS

Motorcycle VA  Wonderful guide put out by the state.

Virginia Biker Network  Events, News, Resources and lots more.

Virginia Motorcycle Roads 

Sunday Morning Rides - Virginia  Downloadable GPS motorcycle rides

Virginia Wind  Motorcycling news and information community

Motorcycle USA Ride Guide for Virginia

Virginia Travel Guide

Biker Road  Biker friendly bars in Virginia

Amtrak Auto Train  The Auto Train takes you and your motorcycle from  Lorton, VA (Washington D.C. Area) to  Sanford, FL (Orlando Area) nonstop. It's a great option if you are short on time. Take the train down to Florida for Bikeweek and tour on the way back.