Most people picture Indiana as flat. They're thinking of the northern two-thirds. Cross south of Bloomington and the terrain changes — unglaciated karst hills, dense second-growth forest, Ohio River bluffs — and the roads follow the land instead of cutting straight lines through it. You don't need to travel to the Smokies or the Ozarks to find a weekend's worth of genuine riding. It's all in the lower third of the state.

The Core Corridor: SR-46 and SR-135

Start with the SR-46 + Brown County State Park Loop. The ~35-mile core from Bloomington through Nashville to Columbus runs forested ridges with enough elevation change to keep you engaged, and the road quality is generally good. Nashville is a natural midpoint — grab gear at House of Thunder Motorcycle Outfitters on SR-46 East if you need anything before heading deeper south.

From Nashville, Indiana 135 — Brown County to Mauckport picks up and carries you south through the Hoosier National Forest. The best 25-mile section runs Nashville to Story — sweepers, S-curves, ridge climbs, and almost no commercial development once you leave town. Motorcycle Classics has cited this stretch as one of the best Midwest rides. The Brown County State Park North Gate Overlook sits right off SR-46 and adds low-speed winding park roads and forest vistas if you want a detour before pushing south.

At Story, stop at the Story Inn — a restored 1851 general store turned restaurant, tavern, and inn sitting where Brown County State Park meets the Hoosier National Forest. The parking lot regularly fills with two-wheelers on weekends. South of Story, SR-135 continues through dense forest with tight crests and off-camber sweepers, eventually connecting to the Ohio River country near Corydon.

The Ohio River Byway

The river bluff country is its own chapter. Ohio River Scenic Byway — SR-62 Crawford County is the most curve-dense section of the state's 302-mile byway — the karst hills between Leavenworth and Corydon put you through repeated climbs and descents with Ohio River views from the crests. Watch for gravel on shaded turns, particularly after wet weather. The Overlook Restaurant, open since 1948 on a bluff above the river at Leavenworth, is the natural lunch stop on this run — 20-mile river views from the dining room and outdoor seating.

West from Leavenworth, Ohio River Scenic Byway — SR-66 Perry County follows the bluffs through Tell City and Cannelton on lightly trafficked two-lane. The Perry County segment is the rewarding part, where the road clings to the bluffs above the river. East of the Crawford County segment, Ohio River Scenic Byway — SR-156 Switzerland to Ohio County tightens along the riverbank from Vevay to Rising Sun — lower bluffs than SR-62 but intimate river views on a quiet two-lane return leg.

Madison anchors the eastern end of the byway. The town's 133-block National Historic Landmark downtown and Clifty Falls State Park — with its limestone canyon and four named waterfalls just west of the Ohio River — make Madison worth a real stop rather than a fuel-and-go.

Forest Roads West

Two roads push the network west into the quieter counties. Indiana 145 — Hoosier National Forest to French Lick runs 45 miles north from Tell City through the national forest, skirting Patoka Lake, and ends in French Lick — the middle 25-mile section through the forest is the scenic high point, with sweeping bends across forested ridgelines and very little traffic. US-150 — French Lick to Shoals Forest Run connects French Lick to Shoals through ~30 miles of north-Martin County backcountry that Rider Magazine calls a motorcyclist's paradise — tight tree-canopied two-lane with almost no commercial development.

If you want to extend the loop, SR-450 between Bedford and Shoals adds a verified 25-mile connector through Lawrence and Martin counties. The road follows the East Fork White River corridor with sweeping curves, some sharper turns near Dover Hill, and a Williams Covered Bridge stop mid-route. It begins and ends on US-50, making it easy to incorporate into a full southern Indiana day loop.

On the Rally Calendar

For events, ABATE of Indiana Boogie runs every July at Lawrence County Recreational Park in Springville — the 2026 event is the 46th annual, and proceeds fund ABATE's safety education and rider-rights work. If September better fits your calendar, the Bean Blossom BikerFest runs Thursday through Sunday after Labor Day at Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground in Bean Blossom, right on SR-135, with live music, a judged bike show, and field events. On the opposite end of the state calendar, the Jonesboro River Rally draws over 15,000 motorcycles to the small town of Jonesboro on the last weekend of September — a free event with a different character than the southern Indiana scene.

Plan Your Ride

The prime season runs late April through October; fall foliage peaks mid-October in Brown County and draws crowds to Nashville on weekends — plan accordingly if you want open roads. Gas stations thin out in the Hoosier National Forest sections, so fill up in Bedford, French Lick, or Tell City before committing to the forest segments. Cell coverage has gaps in deep ravines. SR-135 through Story is engaging road, but the crests and off-camber corners reward deliberate riding over rushed pace — and deer are active at dawn and dusk throughout the region.