Arguably one of the most underrated motorcycling destinations in the United States, Tampa, Florida, has no shortage of scenic routes, motorcycle clubs, and moto events.
From the Tampa Riverwalk with scenic views of the Hillsborough River to the Gulf Coast's stunning beaches, its diverse topography is only trumped by popular motorcycle events like the annual Thunder by the Bay and Daytona Bike Week in nearby Sarasota and Daytona Beach.
Our favorite Tampa area attractions include the Tampa Riverwalk, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and the Ybor Historic District.
Tampa, located in Tampa Bay on Flordia's Gulf Coast, is naturally situated for beach visits, touring Central Florida, and enjoying the sun. The city has undergone a renaissance in recent years, converting from old-school commerce into a vibrant hotspot of food and fun.
Plus, Tampa averages 361 days of sun every year!
Whether you’re renting a Harley-Davidson, Triumph, or Indian, Tampa provides the landscapes and roads for any type of ride!
Riding from Tampa to Clearwater
Where to Rent a Motorcycle in Tampa, Florida
Hands down, the best way to rent a motorcycle in Tampa is using Twisted Road. Using the Twisted Road App or your computer/phone's browser, you’ll find plenty of motorcycles for rent from our member community.
We have all of your favorites, including touring bikes, sportbikes, cruisers, and even adventure bikes are available. Choose the ride that matches your vacation style; the opportunity is here. Don’t trailer your bike down here. Just fly in and rent with us. You won’t regret it.
What are the Best Motorcycle Rides in Tampa?
You honestly can’t go wrong riding around Central Florida. The interstates are crowded and fairly boring, but if you get onto some of the backroads, you’ll be rewarded with orange blossoms, wildlife, and even some beautiful swampland in the area. Here are some quick recommendations.
North Tampa Circuit
This is a great ride through the rural countryside near Tampa. You can follow the specific directions here, or get to the general area and just relax. Start the route in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, at SR54 and Collier Parkway. Follow Collier Parkway north until it terminates at Ehren Cutoff. Stay on this road to the end, then turn right, East, on FL52.
From here, you just take the long rural roads crossing the freeway to see the countryside away from the interstate. Take note, this route doesn’t have a lot of services, so start out with a full tank and a full belly. Also, pack a sandwich because you’ll want to stop somewhere and contemplate the serenity of rural life.
Swamp Tour
You won’t believe how remote this ride feels. Right next to the big city Tampa, you’re suddenly in wetlands, hardwoods, and nature on the kinds of old-style roads that seem built for motorcyclists. This could be the best ride in Florida. The route starts about 50 miles north of Tampa, in Zephyrhills, and goes for about 140 miles on two-lane roads. Plan for a full day on this one.
Take I-75 north from the city until you hit Highway 50 towards Mascotte. Get on Bay Lake Road, which is Highway 565. Stay on 565 until Lake Erie Road, and follow that until Highway 33. Turn onto Green Pond Road, where you stay right until you reach Rockridge Road. Rockridge takes you across Highway 98 to Old Dade City road. Stay on Old Dade City until you meet up with 98 again, then follow Highway 54 west back to the starting point. See a map of the ride here.
St Petersburg Loop
This 100-mile round trip truck starts in Tampa and takes you to St Petersburg, crossing important sites like the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, downtown St Petersburg, Salvador Dali Museum, and historic neighborhoods.
- Distance: ~60 miles round trip
- Road Conditions: Long, well-paved stretches of coastal road
- Scenic Highlights: Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Downtown St. Petersburg, Fort De Soto Park, Coastal Roads
- Restaurants/Hangouts: Occ Road House & Museum, Mahuffers, Dead Bobs
Sarasota Bay Loop
This route takes about 150 miles round trip, starting in Tampa and going south toward Sarasota Bay, with jaw-dropping views of the Gulf of Mexico. Planning a short break? Head to Longboat Key, home to pristine white beaches, sweeping Gulf of Mexico views, and an oversized mangrove population.
- Distance: ~70 miles round trip
- Road Conditions: Smooth, well-paved road
- Scenic Highlights: Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Sarasota's Cultural District, St. Armands Circle
- Restaurants/Hangouts: Straggler's Salty Jim's Island Bar & Grill, The Ridehard Saloon
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Loop
The Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Loop is a super scenic 70-mile route that takes you north from Tampa towards Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. It is known for its crystal clear blue waters and quaint nearby small towns like Brooksville, Dade City, and Tarpon Springs, where you can rest your helmet for a quick eat and rest.
- Distance: ~100 miles round trip
- Road Conditions: well-maintained road conditions in a rural area, highways, and farm load
- Scenic Highlights: Weeki Wachee Springs
- Restaurants/Hangouts: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Captain's Quarters, Pirate's Grubb
Motorcycle Hangouts in Tampa
Tampa is great for motorcyclists. The main culture here is beaches. There aren’t many biker-specific bars or restaurants, but here are some great choices for your trip.
Microbrew Tour
If you like microbrews, you won’t be disappointed. Start by visiting the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, where they do craft beers and ales. They’ve been around since 1995, making a name for themselves in Tampa.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company (photo courtesy of yelp.com)
Cigar City Brewing is next. They’re probably the oldest in the area, having been in business since the 19th century. Some classic flavors here, as well as some new ones you’ve got to try. Angry Chair Brewing is another in the city you should try. They’re tiny but mighty with a devoted cult following. Check out their marshmallow-flavored beer.
Some other options in the area include 7venth Sun, Coppertail Brewing Co., and Hidden Springs Ale Works. Please make sure you contact them before you go as some may be closed to the public.
Steel Horse Tavern
Steel Horse is a classic biker bar in the heart of Tampa. Live music, pool, darts, cold drinks. This is the biker bar you see in the movies. Fun atmosphere to hang out with friends for an evening after riding all day.
JTs Roadhouse Bar
A raucous bar, which is bigger than it looks. They have an outside court and karaoke. Come here for a laid-back crowd, and check to see if they still have a bike night every third Tuesday of the month.
Ybor City
We know that Ybor city isn't a motorcycle hangout, but no Tampa trip is complete without visiting this bustling area. With plenty of bars, restaurants, and cigars, it's worth a visit. Or two. We aren't going to recommend restaurants, just walk around. You'll find plenty.
Ybor City
Tampa Motorcycle Hangouts, Clubs, Race Tracks, and Communities in Tampa
Tampa offers one of the most engaging motorcycle communities on the East Coast.
Nearby cities Sarasota and Daytona Beach also host numerous bike meetups and events like Tampa Bay Bike Fest, Biketoberfest, and Thunder by the Bay, complete with charity rides, live bands, contests, and memorabilia shows that pay tribute to motorcycle lore the world over.
Here's a quick rundown of three of our favorite notable hangouts, clubs, race tracks, and communities in Tampa.
Tampa Bay Riders
Arguably the most popular motorcycle community in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas, this biker club enjoys monthly group rides, charity events, and regular get-togethers. It's a good fit no matter what type of bike you ride, from Harley-Davidson to Slingshots. One of its biggest draws is Sunday FunDay rides, a group ride that promises an energetic start to the week.
Golden Eagles Motorcycle Club
Started in 1950, the Golden Eagles Motorcycle Club is one of the oldest in the region, consisting of hundreds of members in and around the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida. Popular events include monthly social events and charity work.
For more information, visit Golden Eagles Motorcycle Club
Tampa Weather and Riding
Tampa can be muggy in summer, but September through April is a weather paradise. Rainstorms here can be intense, but they’re usually short. You can head down to enjoy Clearwater Beach year-round. The temperature rarely gets above 90 or so and rarely drops below 45. You can ride here year-round, with wintertime temperatures reaching 55 or 65 daily.
That said, the best months to visit are March to May, and October to mid-December, when the weather is ideal for sitting outside. Bring your cooling vest and a vented jacket if you can. Lightweight vented gloves will keep you out of the sun and cool on your ride.
With a subtropical climate consisting of hot and humid summers with temperatures as high as 90° F, one of the best things you can do is to go for well-ventilated jackets with perforated pants and gloves for airflow and comfort.
If you plan to ride during winter, expect temperatures to move between the mid-60s to low 80s Fahrenheit. During this season, we recommend wearing jackets with removable liners, full-finger gloves, and insulated riding pants.
As with every trip, pay attention to weather forecasts to ensure you are geared up properly!
Tampa Motorcycle Laws and Tips
Helmets are required for any riders or passengers under 21 in Florida. Anyone operating a motorcycle needs some sort of eye protection, like a windshield or a DOT-approved full-face helmet. Weirdly, headsets are against the law, but you see them quite often here anyway.
Lane splitting is illegal here, and so is lane filtering at stoplights, so keep your handlebars in your own lane or risk a conversation with law enforcement.
Before renting any Tampa-based motorcycle from Twisted Road, understand all riding requirements, especially licensing provisions.
And your driver's license must have a motorcycle endorsement. For Flordia residents, this is awarded upon successfully completing programs like the Florida Rider Training Program (FRTP) Basic Rider Course (BRC).
Remember, always respect the right-of-way, speed, and traffic signals.
Lastly, do not forget to carry complete insurance protection. If renting through Twisted Road, you can choose four plans: Premium, Standard, Minimum, and High Value. Each plan has its max out-of-pocket costs, offering damage and theft coverage and $2,500 or $5,000 in liability and theft coverage.
Likewise, owners can also take advantage of Twisted Road insurance policies with $1M in liability insurance and coverage up to their motorcycle’s cash value ($40,000 limit).
Preparing for your Tampa Motorcycle Trip
Once you know where you’re staying, plan some rides and get your friends to come along. With Twisted Road, you can find a bike to rent for everyone and have a memorable trip.
Plan to bring your gear if you can, but if you need to borrow some, let us know! We can often work with the owners to lend you some gear for your trip. Oftentimes, our motorcycle rental hosts are willing to share their jackets or helmets to make sure you enjoy your ride.
Live in Tampa? Earn Extra Money Renting Out Your Motorcycle
If you wish to help others enjoy Tampa and the surrounding areas, consider listing your motorcycle on Twisted Road and maximize your true earnings potential.
As one of the best peer-to-peer motorcycle rental marketplaces today, owners can take advantage of numerous benefits, such as setting their own rental prices and rental conditions.
Plus, all drivers enjoy a 70% share. For example, if you rent out your motorcycle for $200 daily over four days, you get to keep $560, which is an excellent deal!
Sign up and list your motorcycle on Twisted Road today!
