New Cruise the Coast: Ontario’s Southwest Coastal Route is a Must-Ride Motorcycle Destination

From beach towns to backroads, this revamped scenic motorcycle route delivers the ultimate road trip through seven stunning counties.
motorcyclists ride along a smooth beachfront highway at sunset by Lake Huron.

If you're a rider who usually points your bike north in search of open roads and rugged landscapes, it's time to consider a fresh direction—southwest. The newly revamped Cruise the Coast motorcycle route is putting Ontario’s Southwest on the map as a go-to motorcycling destination with epic waterfront roads, charming small towns, incredible eats, and plenty of photo-worthy moments.

Whether you’re into twisty country lanes or breezy shoreline cruising, Cruise the Coast offers a scenic, rider-friendly loop that winds through seven diverse counties—Haldimand, Norfolk, Elgin, Chatham-Kent, Windsor-Essex, Sarnia-Lambton, and Middlesex. This is a full-on sensory experience, complete with beach vibes, historical gems, and culinary surprises around every corner.

A beachfront and walkway in Windsor-Essex at sunset, next to an illuminated cityscape. a sandy beach with palm trees and blue sky, covered with sunbathers in Norfolk County, Ontario. A sandy beach covered in sunbathers on turquoise water in Elgin County. The beachfront is edged with beach houses and green trees.
Get a dose of the beach in Windsor-Essex, Norfolk County and Elgin County.

Cruise the Coast Is the Motorcycle Route With Variety

Each county brings its own unique flavour to the trip:

a covered wooden patio with tables and chair surrounded in greenery and vines a restaurant patio with wooden ramp and deck, tables and umbrellas under green trees and a blue summer sky. a clean, spacious cabin with white walls and shiny wooden floors and furniture, lit by bright windows.
Eat, drink and lounge at Quai du Vin, Tacos & Tequila and Willow Barrell Retreat.
Point Pelee National Park; two people walk on a long boardwalk stretching to the horizon, through a lush green wetland under an orange summer sunset. Ipperwash Beach Club; a large white historic building surrounded in green trees with red beach umbrellas on an outdoor patio, lit up on a rainy summer evening. The Clocktower Inn; a beautiful historic brick clock tower turned Inn, surrounded by lush green trees and lit up on a summer night.
Don't miss Point Pelee National Park and iconic stays like Ipperwash Beach Club and the Clocktower Inn.

More Than Just a Scenic Ride: Cruise the Coast's Unbeatable Stops

What makes Cruise the Coast special isn’t just the beauty of the roads, it’s what’s waiting at every stop. Historic towns with character, waterfront patios, eclectic breweries, and small-town charm combine to create a motorcycle touring experience that’s as social as it is scenic.

“The riding here surprised me,” says Andrew Scott of What A Ride, who toured the route with motorcycle influencers Cyndi Martin of Chicks and Machines and Cecilia Lai of The Moto Social. “Even places I thought I knew looked totally different once we slowed down and took the scenic way in. I’ve discovered towns I didn’t even know existed.”

Plan Your Cruise the Coast Motorcycle Adventure

The Cruise the Coast route is self-guided and customizable. You can do the full loop, or break it into weekend segments. Riders can access:

Whether you’re riding solo, with a group, or with a pillion who loves patio hopping as much as scenic roads, this route is built for exploration.

Get out there. Ride it. Explore it. Cruise the Coast is calling.

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