David Link
Tour the Rose City and the surrounding Piedmonts on motorcycle rides Lancaster PA from REVER. Lancaster is one of the oldest inland cities in America, and you can trace its roots all the way back to 1683. Lancaster PA motorcycle rides cover rolling countryside, including Amish and Mennonite communities, for a taste of rural life outside of cities like Philadelphia. See the best the region has to offer and stay on course with the REVER App.
Pennsylvania hides some great motorcycle roads, and you can see them all on motorcycle rides in Central PA. All you need is a mobile device and the REVER App, no fancy GPS required. Start exploring motorcycle rides Lancaster PA for free right now. It only takes seconds to get started, and you can download epic routes all over the world. If you like to go your own way, REVER can record your personal rides so you can share them with your buddies. Or try out our exclusive riding challenges to push your limits and try something new. There is more to experience with REVER Pro. Upgrade today to transform your rides with features like live weather radar and alerts, turn by turn and voice navigation, “twisty roads” scenic route mode and so much more.
You can expect temperature extremes between the summer and winter on motorcycle rides in Central PA. The summers can be hot and humid with temps well into the high 90s, and you’ll want breathable riding gear for those months. The winter can swing into negative temps some days to shut down cold weather rides, and even on warmer days, you'll still want to wear layers and warm riding gear. Fall brings the rainy season with September as the wettest month. Don't forget to pack your rain gear on Lancaster PA motorcycle rides during this season!
Lancaster is best known for its nearby Amish country, but there is more to see on Lancaster PA motorcycle rides if that's not your thing. Check out the bustling Central Market for some of the best food and drink in the city. If you're in need of more horsepower in your life, the Buck Motorsports Park has what you’re craving with monster trucks, demo derbies, mud bogs and truck and tractor pulls. Baseball fans should visit Clipper Magazine Stadium, home of the Lancaster Barnstormers.
Tour the site of a critical Civil War battle just after the Battle of Gettysburg on this short ride up and over Monterey Pass. On July 4, 1863, Robert E. Lee needed to escape the Gettysburg area after sustaining heavy losses. The Confederate Army headed through Monterey Pass hoping to cross the river at Williamsport, MD and retreat into Virginia. Union forces, including General George Custer, were waiting for Lee's retreating wagon train and enacted a heavy assault on the wagons. Soon after the battle, Lee managed to escape across the Potomac River, but much of the wagon trail was destroyed. Today there is a battlefield park near Blue Ridge Summit that commemorates the site of the battle.
Aside from the rich history in the area, Monterey Pass is a beautiful ride. It takes you through a scenic valley between Monterey Peak and Clermont Crag in the northern section of the Blue Ridge Mountains. After you ride the pass, there are more scenic areas to explore in the South Mountain region of Maryland. The ride gets started in Waynesboro, PA as you ride it west to east. Start on Highway 16 riding southeast out of town. If you're hungry, grab a burger and a shake at The Waynesburger before you head out. You'll pass through Wayne Heights and Rouzerville, PA on your way into the hills. Once you reach Red Run Park, you'll pass through the narrow Hanging Valley as the ride gets exciting. Pine Hill Recreation Area just past Hanging Valley offers a chance to stop and hike around the area. Pass over a junction with the iconic Appalachian Trail, and then head into the site of the Monterey Pass battle.
Monterey Park lies at the junction with Highway 16 and Charmian Road. There is a hike to an overlook in the hills at the park, and across the road you'll see the museum dedicated to the battle. After the park, the mountains open up for a stretch through Happel's Meadow, which is a unique upland wetland environment in the area. Once through the meadow, Highway 16 circles through Blue Ridge Summit and then turns back north. Cruise through the forest and then hit another section of road surrounded by the mountains. This area is known for its skiing at the Liberty Mountain Resort. Just after the turnoff for the resort, the road bears south to cross into Maryland. End the route at Shanks Mill, PA just north of the state line. We recommend finishing the day at Frontier Bar B Q with its great patio and old school mountain atmosphere.
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For our next exploration of motorcycle rides in Central PA, you’ll visit the Ridge & Valley section of the Allegheny Front on this two-hour ride from State College to Fort Loudon, PA. This region is part of the Appalachian Mountains, although it features less dramatic peaks like the Smokies or Blue Ridge Mountains. Instead, it consists of rolling ridges covered with deep forests that are separated by smaller valleys. This means the region is a great riding destination and an easy escape from the metro areas in the east like Harrisburg and Philadelphia. This route is a bit of a ride from Lancaster, but it's worth the trip. You can take Highway 283 northwest from Lancaster to Harrisburg, PA and then Route 22 to State College, PA to reach the start of this ride.
State College, PA is home to Penn State University, and we'll start just east of town on Boalsburg Road. Take it south just past the tip of Mt. Nittany, and then cross over Route 322 into Boalsburg, PA. The road becomes Shingletown Road / 45 as you cruise just north of the foothills. Pass by several trailheads leading into Rothrock State Forest, and then watch for a right at Pine Grove Mills, PA onto Highway 26. This will take you up into the hills on a fun little stretch over the ridge. There is a pulloff at the top of the ridge where you can check out views of the area. True to its name as the Ridge & Valley section, you'll snake back down into lower terrain by Whipple Dam State Park. Hit Doan's Bones Barbecue here for some solid eats in a rural setting. When you reach McAlevy's Fort, PA in a stretch of farmland, stay straight at the junction to get on Highway 305.
Next up is another forested section through Stone Valley. The road passes through Greenwood Furnace State Park, once the site of a thriving steelworks community. Don't miss the Greenwood Lake Dam off to your left as you ride into the park. From here, 305 curves back down to the south on the other side of the ridge. Enjoy the winding road down into another valley. Just outside of Belleville, PA, 305 ends, and you'll hang a right for a short jaunt on 655. Watch for a quick left soon after onto Wills Road. It's time for another scenic climb up a ridge as the route becomes Jacks Mountain Road. There is a scenic overlook at the top of the ridge where you can gaze down at the valley below. Enjoy the view as the road follows the top of the ridge for a while until descending down the other side into smaller, rolling hills. You'll meet up with Route 22 at the end of the road, and hang a right to continue the route.
This next section is a long cruise down Route 22 through the valley with a high ridge just off to the west. When you reach the banks of the Juniata River, take the left on 522 to ride over the river into Mt. Union, PA. You'll get on the Croghan Pike for a stretch as you follow the Juniata River south. Once you leave the river behind, keep truckin' south on 522 through the valley. The highway turns to the southeast through Orbisonia, PA and then continues south towards Shade Gap. Watch for the old St. Mary's Covered Bridge on your left. Enjoy the ride through the narrow Shade Gap, and then continue south on 522 through the valley to Burnt Cabins, PA. Here you'll take a left on Grist Mill Road and then bear right at the fork onto Aughwick Road. This is one of the best parts on the ride as only rural forest lies ahead on the way to Cowans Gap State Park. The park is situated between two high ridges and features a small lake, scenic overlook trail and camping.
Once you leave Cowans Gap, watch for the left onto Richmond Road. Up next, there is a fun winding section in the shadow of Big Mountain off to the west. Richmond Road ends at Richmond Furnace, PA, so take a left on Highway 75 / Path Valley Road to continue south. Fort Loudon is just ahead, and you'll wrap the ride at Route 30. There is an old school roadside diner called the Milky Way here if you're hungry for some classic eats. You can also explore the preserved site of old Fort Loudon just south of town on Route 30. It is about a two-hour ride back to Lancaster on Route 30 once you're finished in the area, so consider adding this to your list of epic Lancaster, PA motorcycle rides.
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"You don't stop riding when you get old, you get old when you stop riding."
― Anonymous
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