Great Motorcycle Rides – Carmel-by-the-Sea

Man and woman riding motorcycle by beach

If you’re looking for a beautiful place to ride your motorcycle along the California Central Coast, we recommend Carmel-by-the-Sea. This gorgeous beach town offers rich history and salty beach air that make for an enjoyable visit. Even better, the roads surrounding Carmel-by-the-Sea are perfect for riding your motorcycle. 

Read on to learn more about taking a Carmel-by-the-Sea motorcycle ride. 

What Is Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a beach town on the Monterey Peninsula in California. This town, sometimes called simply “Carmel,” has a population of just under 4,000, offering a quaint, small-town atmosphere that many visitors love. It’s situated 300 miles north of Los Angeles and 100 miles south of San Francisco, keeping it slightly secluded from these bustling cities. 

Carmel-by-the-Sea sits right along California’s central coast, providing beautiful beach views and plenty of attractions. The town is well known for its rich history, natural views, and artistry. Even though it’s a small city, Carmel-by-the-Sea is home to several celebrity residents, such as Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. It’s also a trendy tourist area. 

Things to Do In Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel has preserved its quaint, small-town atmosphere by limiting the number of tourist attractions in the city. However, there’s still plenty to do and see in this beach city. Here are a few things to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea:

Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo

Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo is a beautiful, authentically restored Catholic mission church in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This church was built in 1770 and perfectly illustrates the stunning architecture present throughout the town. 

Carmel Beach 

You can’t visit a beach town without at least dipping your toes in the water. Carmel Beach is a sprawling white-sand beach along the Pacific Ocean. It offers the perfect atmosphere to soak in the sun and breathe the salty air. 

Monterey Bay Aquarium 

Monterey Bay is home to numerous marine animals, and you can see many of them up close at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This aquarium sits on the coast and was the first U.S. aquarium with a living kept forest in 1984. 

Carmel-by-the-Sea Motorcycle Rides

You can find numerous motorcycle routes in and around Carmel-by-the-Sea that offer spectacular views of the ocean and take you throughout the small, quaint city. However, our two favorite rides near this beach town our Carmel Valley Road and the Pacific Coast Highway. 

Carmel Valley Road

If you want to take some time away from the California coast, you can ride your bike along Carmel Valley Road. This road begins at Highway 1 in Carmel-by-the-Sea, then stretches southeast through the town. You’ll pass Palo Corona Regional Park, Folktale Winery and Vineyards, Holly Farm, and other attractions. The road continues through Carmel Valley, turning into County Road G16. 

Once you reach Millers Ranch, the road turns northeast and continues until you reach Greenfield. The entire route is less than 60 miles. 

You can follow Carmel Valley Road for as long as you’d like. Then, once you’re ready, simply turn around and make the journey back to Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Pacific Coast Highway

If you’re looking to incorporate your Carmel visit into a longer tour of California, we recommend hopping on the Pacific Coast Highway. This highway spans 1,650 miles through Washington and California, but the California section consists mainly of parts of California Highway 1. 

If you want to experience a short section of this highway, you can take the Pacific Coast Highway from Carmel to Pacific Grove and Monterey. This route stretches just 17 miles along California’s coastline, providing beautiful views of the blue-green ocean waters. 

And if you are ever injured in a motorcycle accident, make sure your first call is to America’s motorcycle accident attorneys at Law Tigers – our members across the USA are standing by to help you. For a free case evaluation call (888) 863-7216.