Ohio’s Best Twisty Rides

Since creating the Ohio Ride Guide I have had a lot of people tell there are no good motorcycling roads in Ohio. I have also had a lot of riders ask me where the most challenging and twisty rides are. For the record, Ohio has some of the best motorcycling rides in the country and here is my top 5 list of the best twisty rides in the state.  I guarantee if you ride these roads you will not only be pleasantly surprised but challenged by the technicality of these twisties. 

Route 284 is my number 5 pick which is located just south of Zanesville.  Route 284 is a fantastic ride with a great mix of tight twisties and sweeping turns to keep you challenged for the entire ride.  You can pickup Route 284 off route 146 just south of Zanesville.  As you begin your ride on 284 you are quickly thrown into a series of twisties as you ascend up into the rolling hills of Ohio.  The really cool thing about riding 284 is the scenery constantly changes from being surrounded by dense forests to open fields for as far as the eye can see.  The road is usually in really good condition with very little traffic.  As you continue your ride stay alert to gravel in some of the tighter turns and the occasional Amish buggy. If you ride all of Route 284 it is about 20 miles long and ends in Bristol.  Also make sure you have a cell phone and full tank of gas since there are no places to stop during your ride.  While riding this route I would suggest stopping by The Wilds.  The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world. Located on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, it is home to more than 25 species of non-native wildlife from Africa, Asia and North America and hundreds of indigenous species.

My number four ride is Route 164 located in the Northeast portion of the state.  You can pickup Route 164 in Lisbon and ride it all the way to Leesville for a total distance around 40 miles. This is a great ride that delivers endless sweeping turns and exciting switchbacks while riding over rolling hills.  For most of the ride you will be surrounded by lush forests and some farms.  Also stay alert to deer on this route especially around dusk.  The road conditions on 164 can vary from smooth pavement to broken bumpy asphalt with gravel in some of the tighter turns.  Overall this is a great ride that is sure to get one’s heart racing with excitement. The other thing I like about 164 is unlike a lot of the great rides in Ohio you can quickly get to this road.

Coming in at number three is Route 258.  Route 258 is one of the more technical rides in the state.  I have personally seen multiple riders go down on this road after attempting to take some of these twisties to aggressively.  This route deserves respect or it will definitely bite back.  One particular experience that comes to mind was about 4 years ago I was following a guy on a Kawasaki Ninja.  He was hitting the turns hard and seemed to be in good control as he leaned in and out of the twisties.  We were near the end of the ride with a blind switchback coming up that quickly broke left down a steeply angled hill. As I saw him hit the top of the hill doing about 50mph it appeared as if he was going to lean the bike to his extreme left.   At that moment I thought damn that was one extreme move.  As I crested the hill I saw his bike about 100 yards down the road in a ditch and him in the same ditch a little further away.  Fortunately he was just badly shaken up and very embarrassed.  His bike was not so lucky.

With all that said Route 258 is a fun and thrilling ride but needs to be ridden with caution.  You can pickup 258 just off Route 77 in Newcomerstown and ride it all the way to Stillwater for a total distance around 20 miles.  Route 258 consists of a lot of tight switchbacks that just keep coming at you.  Also the road can narrow at different sections leaving you little room for error.  For most of the ride you are surrounded by forests and rolling hills.  The route conditions can vary from really smooth pavement to broken bumpy sections.  It really depends on how often the county fixes it up.  For the most part it is usually in good condition.  When riding 258 you can stop at Tatmans in Stillwater to grab a bite to eat and drink.  

My number two ride is Route 555 or better known as the Triple Nickel.  Route 555 could be one of the best rides in the country if the state were to fix it up.  It starts just south of Zanesville and ends in Little Hocking on the West Virginia border.  If you ride all of triple nickel it’s about 60 miles.  Route 555 is consists of non stop sweepers and sharp twisties going up and down steep hills that just keep coming at you.  You also have a lot of blind turns and ascents so you need to stay alert the entire ride.  While riding 555 the scenery changes from homes and farmland to forests. Also make sure you have a full tank of gas and a cell phone. There are very few places to stop during the ride.  The road conditions can vary from good pavement to broken pot holes with lots of gravel.  Overall this is a great ride that will leave you feeling excited, tired, and accomplished.

Coming in at number one is Route 536 located east of Woodsfield just off route 78.  Route 536 is 11 miles of non stop thrilling twisties that will keep you leaning your bike in and out of turns the entire ride.  Route 536 is only 11 miles long but has over 110 turns in those 11 miles that equates to one exciting ride. As you pick up Route 536 in Hannibal just off route 7 you quickly ascend up a steep while navigating twists and turns. When you reach the top the road continues to throw sharp twisties, switchbacks, and sweepers at you.  For most of the ride you are surrounded by farmland, forests, fields, and steep drop offs.  The road conditions on Route 536 were excellent when I rode it.  It had recently been repaved and was perfectly smooth.  I don’t remember any gravel, broken pavement, or impediments of any kind the entire ride. As get closer to Round Bottom you begin you descent while still navigating some sharp turns.  Overall this ride reminded me of Deals Gap in Tennessee.  If you aren’t familiar with Deals Gap it is a road located in the Smoky Mountains that has over 300 turns in 11 miles. Like Deals Gap Route 536 delivers great scenery, perfect pavement, and non stop twisties.

If you are interested in learning more about the great rides in Ohio check out the Ohio Ride Guide at www.ohiorideguide.com