Motorcycling Guide to Texas

Everything’s bigger in Texas. That includes steaks, cars, and—of course—motorcycle roads.

Texas is America’s largest state, and it only makes sense that it has a stupendous amount of motorcycling fun on offer. The Lone Star State rewards you with an astounding variety of terrain, road types, scenery, and climate to make for unforgettable motorcycle adventures.

However, due to its sheer size, finding Texan riding destinations that suit your tastes can be a challenge. In this Texas motorcycling guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get on the road with confidence.

Geography of Texas

Although its size is often exaggerated (typically by Texans themselves), Texas is huge. Being the largest state in the U.S. with nearly 270,000 square miles, it’s bigger than most European countries.

Texas offers a fantastic breadth of terrain and scenery to entice motorcycle riders. However, the sheer variety makes Texas difficult to categorize geographically, especially without upsetting some group of Texans. 

In general, however, Texas is split into four regions: Gulf Coastal Plain, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province.

The Coastal Plain is located in the eastern and southern parts of Texas, covering roughly one-third of the state. With some rolling terrain, its features consist mostly of flat plains, marshes and bayous, forests, and Gulf Coast barrier islands. The weather in these parts is notoriously hot, rainy, and humid, which can make motorcycling challenging during the summer.

Moving inland, we arrive in the Interior Lowlands, also known as the North-Central Plains. This region stretches from the Red River in the north to the Colorado River in the south, while in the west it is constrained by the Caprock Escarpment. Here, the ground begins to undulate more, with hills and limestone mesas alternating with grass-covered plains.

The Great Plains region covers many subregions, such as the Llano Estacado, the Texas Panhandle, and the Edwards Plateau. This area is Texas’ notorious, endlessly flat agricultural plain, where the ranches and farmland stretch as far as the eye can see (especially in the Panhandle). 

Although it’s called plains, this region also has hillier parts, like the famous Texas Hill Country, where you’ll find many excellent motorcycle roads like the Twisted Sisters.

In the far west of the state, you’ll find the mountainous Basin and Range Province. In this arid region, mountains rise up to 9,000 feet, with canyons and desert valleys gouging their way through them. A true ADV rider’s playground, the Basin and Range Province has dramatic rock formations that rival those in New Mexico and Arizona.

But what about North, East, Central, West, and South Texas? Well, although important distinctions within Texas, they are not physical geographical regions but cultural ones. However, their mere existence demonstrates the incredible variety found within the Lone Star State.

Top Routes and Destinations in Texas

If any state has a section of Route 66, it tops the list of motorcycling destinations. In a bit of an ironic twist, the Texas stretch of the Mother Road is among its shorter ones, but there’s still plenty to see along it. Some of the most famous stops include the Conoco Tower Station and a piece of the Blarney Stone in Shamrock, the Cadillac Ranch, and Route 66’s midpoint in Adrian. For more detailed information, read the Texas section of our Ultimate Route 66 Guide.

Riding along Route 66, you’ll motor through Amarillo. Should you have time to spare, you can pop off the Mother Road for a side trip across the Great and Central Plains to see far-reaching scenery, wandering longhorns, and the majestic Palo Duro Canyon. Read our plains tour article for more info (though note that the story starts at the end opposite from Amarillo). 

Following the above route, you’ll find yourself in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro area. Although it is a heavily urbanized region, there are still many good rides to be had outside the twin cities. West of the city, you’ll find a relaxing rural route. You should also check out the city of Arlington while you’re there.

But perhaps the most renowned road in Texas (that’s not Route 66) is the Twisted Sisters. It consists of three farm-to-market roads that form a 100-mile twisting technical loop in the beauty of Texas Hill Country. Learn more in our Twisted Sisters Classic Road guide.

On top of the Twisted Sisters, Texas Hill Country boasts an endless feast of fantastic riding routes. Our Fredericksburg Shamrock Tour® details four one-day routes in the region that take you to museums, caves, and natural beauty spots.

For more travel inspiration in the Hill Country, you could ride a loop out of San Antonio, go visit the town of Luckenbach which was once for sale, or simply ride around the hills to appreciate your surroundings.

The Big Bend National Park in western Texas is your prime destination for exploring the rugged Basin and Range Province. Our Big Bend tour explores the cowboy history and modern life in the area along jaw-dropping scenery. If you have time only for a shorter ride in Big Bend, make sure to put your wheels on FM 170. You should also remember to check out what’s around El Paso.

But we can’t forget about the Gulf Coast! Galveston is an ideal basecamp for motoring up and down the coastline. I recommend getting on Seawall Boulevard and Bluewater Highway, which combine into a great jaunt south of Galveston along the barrier islands.

In the east of the state lie wetlands and marshes, with hundreds of lakes and bayous that have a unique mystery about them. Caddo Lake is a unique riding destination where you can get on a boat tour to see birds, alligators, and more. For a more widespread moto tour of eastern Texas, you can draw inspiration from our Jefferson Shamrock Tour®, which features four routes around the area’s bayous.

Texas is perhaps at its most beautiful in spring when wildflowers bloom across the state. The Bluebonnet Trail near Ennis is the place to be in April as the stunning blue flowers cover the land. Find out more in our Bluebonnet Trail guide.

If you’re really wanting to test your bravery, you can challenge Death Highway which starts in the Texas oil country. Be aware, though, that the name is no joke—this is one of the most fatal roads in America due to its deteriorated condition and heavy oil traffic.

Finally, I should mention the many motorcycle museums you’ll find around Texas. The Haas Moto Museum in Dallas features more than 200 motorcycles from the 1910s onward. Meanwhile, the Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum in Johnson City is a smaller but still comprehensive look into the past of motorcycling.

ADV Motorcycle Routes in Texas

With its huge tracts of land, Texas has plenty to offer for dual sport and ADV riders. Simply motoring around the state’s rural areas, you’ll find nice dirt backroads to roam.

The aforementioned Big Bend National Park has great paved riding, but it also boasts hundreds of miles of legal dirt. Some noteworthy trails to highlight include the 26-mile Old Ore Rd, the highly challenging 9-mile Black Gap Rd, and the 51-mile River Rd.

You can also find plenty of unpaved country roads in the Texas Hill Country. Start with one of the routes from above, and you can easily find gravel along the way.

Sam Houston National Forest offers around 85 miles of multi-use OHV trails that are open to dirt bikes. The trails range from gravel to sand and mud. This is one of the places in Texas where you can engage in true forest riding.

Texas ADV Rally organizes multiple events during the year that take motorcyclists to explore the Lone Star State’s paths less traveled. You’ll have to ride in a group, but company only makes the trip better.

Finally, put your bravery to the test and go ride through the Old Stagecoach Road. Along this dirt road through the eerie woods near Marshall dwell the victims of past accidents and stagecoach robberies. It’s reportedly among the most haunted roads in America.

But what if you’re learning to ride dirt? Learn it Texas style! Colin Edwards' Texas Tornado Boot Camp packs everything the Lone Star State is known for into an unforgettable four-day experience—two wheels, guns, 24-hour brisket, and racing under the stars. Between small-group riding instruction and Superpole sessions, you'll find yourself on the gun range running a five-gun competition before pulling up to a barbecue pit.

Tips for Motorcycling in Texas

Texas is an all-year-round riding destination—depending on where you go. The state is one of the best places in the country for spring motorcycle rides. As I already mentioned, the bluebonnets are something you simply shouldn’t miss.

Winter rides are also possible in Texas. However, be aware that the western parts of the state, alongside the Hill Country, get cold and snowy in winter. Sudden snowstorms are possible throughout Texas.

Going against common sense, summer can actually be one of the most difficult times for motorcycling in Texas. In the southern and eastern parts of the state, the weather can be unrideable with heat and humidity.

It also bears reiterating that Texas is huge. Distances can be long, so pay more attention to your fuel gauge than you usually do, especially in the backcountry. Cell service may disappear in the most remote regions.

Texan weather can also be quite fickle. On the plains, high winds may appear seemingly without warning. On the coast, late summer and fall storms will make being on the road dangerous.

According to Texas law, you’re required to wear a helmet if you’re under 21. Older riders don’t legally have to use a helmet if they carry written proof of completing a motorcycle safety course or motorcycle injury insurance. Those papers won’t protect your head, though, so lid up.

If you choose to ride helmetless, the law dictates that you must wear eye protection if your motorcycle doesn’t have a windscreen.

Lane splitting is illegal in Texas, and two motorcycles may not ride side by side in a single lane.

Some motorcycle events in Texas include:

• Texas ADV Rally (events throughout the year)
• Lone Star Rally (late fall)
• Republic of Texas Rally (future uncertain)

Off-Bike Activities in Texas

Besides motorcycling, there’s more for you to see and do in Texas than you have time for. Whether you enjoy indoor or outdoor activities or are a history buff or a sports fan, there’s something for you.

Major tourism destinations in Texas include:

• El Paso
• Houston Museum District
• Dallas Arts District
• San Antonio River Walk
• Galveston Island Historic Strand District 
• Palo Duro Canyon 
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Padre Island National Seashore
• Caddo Lake
• Hamilton Pool Preserve (reservations required)
• The Alamo
• San Jacinto Battleground
• NASA Johnson Space Center