Texas Motorcycle Road Trips to Take This Summer
The long, lazy days of summer are in full swing, and those who love to ride are making the most of every minute they can spend in the saddle. Texas offers a plethora of choices when it comes to scenic highways and beguiling back roads. If you’re starting from Dallas, here’s a list of rides to enjoy whether you have a day, a weekend or several days in a row.
Motorcycle Rides Near Dallas
If you just have an afternoon for your weekend adventure, these rides offer scenery and adventure while still allowing you to sleep in your own bed.
The Lizard’s Tail
Put in 7433 Jacksboro Highway, Lake Worth, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, 76135, USA and pick the route that goes around the west side of Lake Worth. Pack your own drinks and snacks so you’ll have something to enjoy along the way.
The road is narrow and twists and turns along the shoreline, offering one lakeside vista after another. Stop half way around at Love Circle Park to stretch your legs on the walking trail. On your way back, The Point on Lake Worth has a patio on the water, and Bullfrog Grill does a decent job of barbecue and down home basics.
Texas Turns, Turns and More Turns
Start from McKinney and head north toward Bonham for this winding tour of the Texas countryside. While you’re always encouraged to ride safe, riders warn to watch your speed around Wolfe City. The ride is accurately named, with lots of S-curves and 90 degree corners. You’ll see some of the area’s prettiest large acreages and agricultural spreads and sleepy picturesque towns and end up at Bonham State Park, where there’s a 65-acre lake, trails for hiking and gathering areas if you want to take a picnic lunch.
Possum Kingdom
This one is a little longer, but well worth making the trip. The route takes you through Lake Worth, Azle, Perrin, Mineral Wells and Weatherford offering mountain views and a ride around Possum Kingdom Lake with its impressive cliffs. Roads are mostly well maintained and offer a combination of twists and turns and straightaways.
The lake itself is a reservoir off the Brazos. It sprawls over 1700 acres and has 310 miles of craggy shoreline. If you want to make a weekend of it, the park has kayaking, trails, camping and a marina. Hell’s Gate, a cove protected by soaring cliffs is a noteworthy place to visit. Red Bull uses it for annual cliff diving competitions. Scuba diving and snorkling are also popular because of the lake’s depth and clarity. Find Possum Kingdom State Park here.
Tyler State Park
This comfortable fall motorcycle ride near Dallas winds you through the Piney Woods and ends beside a tranquil, 64-acre spring fed lake surrounded by 100-foot-tall trees. Once you arrive at Tyler State Park, stretch your legs on 13 miles of trail, rent a boat or take one of their free weekend classes.
The lake is stocked with crappie, perch, catfish and bass, and the park loans fishing rods and tackle for free. You don’t even need a fishing license to fish from shore in this Texas state park.
To get there, from the center of Dallas, you could take the direct route via 80 and 20, but there’s a more scenic route. Take 175 toward Kemp and cruise by Cedar Creek Reservoir. From there, take 198 to Canton (a great place for shopping and food), then take 20 the rest of the way to Tyler. Follow signs to Tyler State Park.
Turner Falls State Park
If you take the most efficient route, you can be sitting at the base of Oklahoma’s largest water fall in just over two hours. And it’s so hot in Texas a ride that includes a waterfall sounds pretty good almost every day. Turner Falls State Park is open every day from 7 a.m. to sunset except for on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The park boasts several rock castles to explore, a 77’ waterfall and pool, swimming in creeks fed by cool springs and plenty more. There are also concession stands and eateries within the park, so you don’t have to pack a lunch to enjoy a picnic by the waterfall. On your way back, visit WinStar World Casino, the biggest casino in the U.S.
Beaver’s Bend State Park
The Broken Bow/Beaver’s Bend area has skyrocketed in popularity in the past decade. If you haven’t been there recently, you’ll be astounded how much the area has grown. What used to be an enormous and little-known nature area next to a tiny mountain community is now a top destination because of its mountain scenery, hiking opportunities, pristine nature views and spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities.
To get to Beaver's Bend State Park from Dallas, head toward Paris. It’s mostly city landscapes and small town centers until that point, but then as you turn toward Idabel, you become surrounded by rural acreages and farmland. It’s an easy, meandering ride to the state line, and almost immediately after the road starts to twist and turn, and eventually climb as you approach Broken Bow. You’ll find several quaint cafés and restaurants in Hochatown, along with shopping and cabins for rent.