... one of the most beautiful motorcycle roads
Although
it's not nearly as iconic as Route 66, an American mainstay found in
culture-rich songs, movies and even television shows, but US-62 connects three
countries in North America together. Depending on where you begin your journey,
US-62 starts life in Niagara Falls at the Canadian border. If riders choose to
cover the entire length of this 2,248-mile highway, they'll finish in El Paso,
TX and the Mexican Border.
Covering
10 states in total, riders can cover some serious ground if they decide that
the entire US-62 is worth the trip. And it certainly is, in case you were
wondering. While a majority of this highway system runs from East to West, as
marked by the signage, New York and Pennsylvania are the only two states where
US-62 travels North and South a majority of the time. August and September seem
to be ideal months to ride the Northernmost section of US-62 in New York, as
the Erie County Fair is active, temperatures near Niagara Falls are calm and
the scenery is simply magnificent. No matter when you plan on visiting this
section of US-62, you'll be sure to find a memorable experience.
From
Pennsylvania, US-62 moves west into Ohio and eventually Kentucky. From there it
picks ups in Illinois and Missouri, but not before crossing the Ohio River and
linking Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois borders together. Likewise, US-62 then
crosses the Mississippi River and takes riders into Missouri. This stretch of
US-62 provides riders with a rustic journey over some of the most recognized
river systems in the country. Naturally, the bridge rides are quite amazing,
and you'll be hard-pressed to find more iconic tours anywhere in the world.
Arkansas,
Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico are the remaining states that the US-62 visits,
in that specific order. However, US-62 only enters New Mexico for a brief
period of time: 110 miles. It then re-enters Texas right before completing its
U.S. journey and continuing into Mexico as MX 45.
Similar
to Route 66, US-62 covers quite an expansive stretch of land. Because riders
can find themselves leaving Canada at the beginning of the week and entering
Mexico by the end, proper attire and
riding gear is needed for all conditions and climates. Even in the summer
months, the northernmost section of US-62 can feel cool and breezy while Texas
can be painfully brutal in terms of temperatures. The Dainese D-Dry
Jacket is plenty light, and it's certainly protective during rain and other
wet weather conditions.
The
vast amount of country and cultural attractions you'll see along the US-62 should
be plenty enough reason for you to make this trip at least once in your
lifetime. The highway system covers so much ground that it's nearly impossible
to leave off your bucket list. While Route 66 is certainly an iconic ride and
shouldn't be missed, US-62 is right there in terms of riding and experience.
Remember to always plan ahead, because you never can predict when a tornado,
hurricane or other natural disaster will rear its ugly head!
