A motorcycle road trip in the USA can follow the northbound story of the blues, from New Orleans through Mississippi and Tennessee to Chicago. Cotton fields, juke joints, studios and river towns give way to the electric sound of the city. This article offers musical inspiration, not a fixed day-by-day package. Planet Ride's guided Blues Route tour, introduced below, lasts 15 days and also visits Nashville and the Appalachians.
The Blues Route is less a single road than a thread connecting musical places. Highway 61 forms part of this story, but the journey does not follow one highway all the way to Chicago. Bayous, the Mississippi Delta and northern cities help explain the music and the African-American migration that carried it. Choose your stops and riding time around the actual route rather than an unverified mileage estimate.
The birth of the blues
The blues was born in the 19th century, in and around the cotton plantations of the southern United States. It became a major symbol of African-American culture—built on voices, stories, and a handful of instruments that travel well: guitar, harmonica, piano. What makes it powerful is not only the sound, but the weight of the lyrics: the humiliation and violence of segregation, hardship, work, loss. When saying it was impossible—or dangerous—people sang it instead.
Over time, the blues expanded to other themes too: love, breakups, friendship, the road itself. And that’s the point of riding this route today: you’re not “visiting” music. You’re crossing the places where it was lived.
In the footsteps of music legends
A motorcycle road trip in the USA is one of the best ways to chase the blues without rushing it. Names like B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy are tied to these states and cities—early gigs, recordings, and the long climb from local stages to worldwide influence.
Along the way, you’ll find venues and tributes dedicated to specific artists—places where the pilgrimage is real, especially in the evening. And then there’s Highway 61, a backbone for much of this journey and a piece of American mythology in its own right, famously echoed in Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited.”
Memphis is the pivot point. Arrive mid-afternoon if you can: it gives you time to settle, park the bike, and switch from helmet noise to guitar feedback. In Memphis, you’re also in Elvis territory—museums and his home draw fans from everywhere. And at night, Beale Street is the obvious move: a tight strip of bars, restaurants, and live music where you can keep it casual—walk, listen, pick a door that sounds right.
Planet Ride rider tip (pace): On this kind of cultural route, don’t stack long riding days back-to-back. A good rhythm is one “long” riding day, then one shorter day that leaves room for a late afternoon visit and a real night out. It’s safer—and you’ll remember more than your GPS track.
Why not ride the Blues Route on a Harley-Davidson?
For a journey with that classic American riding feel, discover our 15-day guided Blues Route motorcycle tour. It starts in New Orleans and finishes in Chicago, combining music, cultural stops and scenic riding.
The published itinerary includes Natchez, Indianola, Memphis, Muscle Shoals and Nashville before continuing through the Appalachians, Asheville, Kentucky and Champaign. Riding highlights include the Tail of the Dragon and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a guided tour, not a direct ride along Highway 61 or a confirmed self-guided package.
Check the tour page for the complete day-by-day itinerary, available departures, guide language and inclusions. The places discussed elsewhere in this article are travel inspiration and are not all guaranteed stops or included visits.
Mini-guide: making the ride smooth (without over-planning)
- Time on the bike: even on paved U.S. highways, plan for real riding time plus stops. Long straight segments can be deceptively tiring—wind noise and heat build up.
- Road types: expect mostly asphalt, a mix of interstates for transitions and iconic highways for atmosphere. When you choose smaller roads, you gain character—but add time.
- Heat & storms: the Deep South can be humid and hot; summer thunderstorms can be sudden. Pack layers you can vent, and keep rain gear accessible (not buried).
- Fuel & services: services are generally easy on this corridor, but avoid rolling into the evening on a low tank—especially outside major cities.
- Navigation: download offline maps before you leave city Wi‑Fi. Signal is usually fine, but it’s the wrong moment to depend on it when you’re hunting a small venue at dusk.
Explore the guided Blues Route tour from New Orleans to Chicago and contact our specialist with your preferred dates, number of travellers and expectations. The itinerary and price details provide the basis for your quotation.
FAQ
How many days do you need for a motorcycle road trip USA on the Blues Route?
The linked Planet Ride guided tour lasts 15 days. It includes Nashville and the Appalachians as well as the Mississippi music stops, before finishing in Chicago. A personal itinerary may differ, but it should not be confused with this published tour.
When is the best season to ride from New Orleans to Chicago?
Spring and fall usually offer the best balance. Summer can be very hot and humid in Louisiana and Mississippi; early winter can bring colder conditions as you approach Illinois.
Is the linked Planet Ride trip self-guided?
No. The tour presented here is guided. If you have a different itinerary in mind, ask our team to check its feasibility rather than assuming that an equivalent self-guided package is available.
Before you travel
Planet Ride's guided USA motorcycle tours include a local SIM card for each traveller. Check phone compatibility with our team and download offline maps as a backup. Confirm the documents required for your booking, motorcycle rental and insurance conditions, and the opening hours of any independently planned visits. Consult the tour's departure calendar and guide-language information before requesting your quotation.