Tampabay Motorcycle Rides - Cruising the Sunshine Skyway's Secret Back Roads

Tampa Bay Area Motorcycle Rides near the Sunshine Skyway - Ride Route Map

The Sunshine Skyway's Secrets motorcycle rides get you out in the country and on the backroads quickly to enjoy a relaxing cruise and some of the twistiest roads in this part of Florida.

This motorcycle ride is setup to provide two easy ride options

A short half-day ride using one of two Quick Return options for a ride of about 75 miles.
A longer ride of about 110 miles that includes on of Florida's best motorcycle roads (affectionately dubbed the "Tail of the Gecko").

Either way this ride gets you out of the congestion of the city and riding the back roads of the Tampa Bay area.

Make it a grand tour

Get an early start and combine this ride with the Mine Roads Madness motorcycle ride and you'll have a nearly 200 mile tour of some of the finest motorcycle roads in West Central Florida.

Skyway Secrets Motorcycle Ride Directions

	Leg One - St Petersburg to State Road 62
1	Start at the North Skyway Bridge toll both in south St. Petersburg.
2	Cross the Skyway Bridge southbound.
3	After passing the southern toll booth (approximately 11 miles) take Exit 5 - US-19 South - Palmetto - Bradenton.
4	Just less than 1.4 miles down US-19 make a LEFT at Bayshore Drive. *CAUTION:* When making the left turn the northbound lanes of US-19 are severly crowned. Use too much speed or throttle and you may find yourself airborne or worse!
5	Follow Bayshore approx 6/10ths of a mile to the stop sign at Terra Ceia Road
6	Turn RIGHT on Terra Ceia road.
7	Follow Terra Ceia Rd to the Stop sign Bayshore Rd (Terra Ceia becomes 77th St E).
8	Turn LEFT on Bayshore under the I-275 bridge and turn left on to 79 St E.
9	79Th St E curves onto Bishop Harbor Rd.
10	Follow Bishop Harbor road as it twists and turns through the mangroves.
11	After crossing the small bridge there is a sweeping right then left followed by a short straightaway,then a tight right at the boat ramp. *CAUTION*: The tight right at the boat ramp will usually have a heavy covering of sand and saltwater from the boats being launched and retrieved. There may also be vehicles with trailers attempting to enter or exit the ramp.
12	After the boat ramp follow Bishop Harbor Rd over the railroad tracks and to the intersection with a flashing light at US-41 (note that US-41 traffic does NOT stop).
13	Across the intersection of US-41 and Bishop Harbor road you'll find a Circle K store. The store is pretty rough, but is a convenient place to pick up a cold drink.
14	Cross US-41 and continue east. The name of the road changes to Moccassin Wallow Rd.
15	Follow Moccassin Wallow Rd under I-75.
16	Approx 1.2 miles past I-75 look for CARTER Rd on the left.
17	Turn LEFT onto CARTER Rd.
18	Follow Carter Road to Buckeye Rd.
19	Turn RIGHT on Buckeye R.
20	Follow Buckeye Rd east through the Hayabusa Sweepers to US 301. NOTE: The speed limit on Buckeye Road is 40 MPH!
21	Turn LEFT on US 301.
22	Follow US 301 over the Little Manatee River to Saffold Rd on the right.
23	Turn RIGHT on Saffold Rd.
24	Follow Saffold Rd to County Rd 579.
25	Turn RIGHT on CR 579.
26	Follow CR 579 to SR 62.
	Short Day Ride Option - Quick Return to St Petersburg .
27	At SR 62 turn turn RIGHT towards Bradenton.
28	Follow SR 62 to the junction of US-301.
	See the Alternate Quick Return Option below for an alternate short return route with many of the standard chain restuarants, gas stops, etc.
29	Turn RIGHT at US-301.
30	At Mocacasin Wallow Road turn LEFT.
31	Follow Moccasin Wallow Road back through the Bishop Harbor area and St Petersburg by reversing the first the ride out.
	End of Short Ride.
	Alternate Quick Return Option
32	At the junction of US-301 in Parrish turn LEFT
33	Take an almost immediate RIGHT onto Erie Road.
34	Follow Erie Road approximately 3.4 miles to 69th Street E.
35	Turn RIGHT on 69th Street E.
36	Follow 69th Street E past I-75 to Us-41.
37	Turn RIGHT onto US-41.
38	Take US-41 to the I-275 Northbound on-ramp to St Petersburg via the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
39	Turn LEFT onto I-275 Northbound.
40	Reverse the remainder of the initial leg of the ride to St Petersburg.
	End of short ride.
	Ride Leg 2 - Connect to Tail of the Gecko
41	At SR 62 turn LEFT
42	Little Manatee River - Southfork Tract - Day Use Area Approximately 3 miles after turning left onto SR 62 is the entrance and parking lot for the day use area on the left. Although there are no facilities this area provides a pleasant stop in the cooler months.
43	Approximately 2.7 miles past the day use area (5.7 miles from CR 579) start looking for the left turn to Bunker Hill Road. This is an easy turn to miss! If you see the Duette Fire Department on your left you've gone too far! The fire station entrance provides an easy turn around.
44	Turn LEFT onto Bunker Hill Road.
45	Follow the ride route information for Tail of the Gecko.
	Last edited July 2, 2009