Ah, Las Vegas—the world-renowned city of sin, known for its gambling, entertainment, nightlife, and top-tier vacations. So long as you’re into hot days and long, sleepless nights.
The city oozes personality, though it generally uses it to charm its way into your bank account.
Fortunately, blowing money on the nightlife isn’t the only thing to do in the Desert Oasis. By day, Vegas serves as an appealing starting point for road-tripping, which is even better on two wheels.
If you’re en route to Vegas but prefer the open road to the poolside bar, rent a motorcycle in Las Vegas and check out our favorite self-guided motorcycle tours in and around Sin City!
Hoover Dam Motorcycle Tour
In 1931, President Franklin D. Roosevelt commissioned the construction of one of the most impressive feats of civil engineering the world had ever seen: the Hoover Dam. The massive dam—the largest of its kind upon its construction—was completed in 1936 after an arduous yet timely 5-year build.
Though construction claimed the lives of over 100 laborers, the project was viewed as a massive success, as it solidified the practicality of several previously untested engineering techniques.
The dam sits on the border of Arizona and Nevada, forming Lake Mead from the backed-up Colorado River. The project provides irrigation, drinking water, and electricity to California, Nevada, and Arizona—and it’s only a 31-mile ride Southeast of Las Vegas.
Rent a Harley-Davidson or BMW motorcycle, or whatever you need—they will all cater to the easy rides out to the Hoover Dam.
The ride takes approximately 60 minutes one-way, making it an easily feasible day trip from Vegas.
Plus, who wouldn’t want to visit one of the accomplishments that helped to solidify the United States’ position as a technological great? During a depression-ravaged period when the country most needed validation.
Valley of Fire Motorcycle Tour
If you’ve already trekked from Vegas to the Hoover Dam, consider expanding your ride Northeast to Valley of Fire State Park.
Valley of Fire lies just six miles from Lake Mead and holds the title of Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, comprising nearly 46,000 acres.
While not the lushest or greenest state park, Valley of Fire’s miles of vibrant red Aztec Sandstone are sights to behold. The rust-colored terrain resembles the surface of Mars more than anything earthly.
The park is known for its hiking and camping, though if you’re stopping through mid-ride, take a rest, grab a bite, hit the bathrooms, and rehydrate at the park’s day-use sites.
The ride to Valley of Fire from Las Vegas covers around 55 miles in 60 minutes, while the ride from Hoover Dam to the state park takes around 80 minutes.
If you’re interested in taking the full loop, you’re looking at around four hours of riding, not including stops.
Death Valley Motorcycle Tour
If you’re itching for a more arduous trip and weather permits, consider trekking to the lowest region in the Western Hemisphere: Death Valley. I have a group of friends who religiously plan a tour through Death Valley yearly, and this barren land becomes more appealing every year to them.
The national park resides near the California-Nevada border, East of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Death Valley’s Badwater Basin is the country’s lowest point, at 282 feet below sea level.
But what may come as a shock is that the nation’s tallest point—Mount Whitney—sits just 76 miles away at a whopping elevation of 14,505 feet.
Death Valley is also home to the world’s highest recorded temperature: 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Thankfully, these scalding conditions only occur in dead summer. We’d recommend visiting the park in spring, as temperatures average in the high 80s, and grabbing the sites from a Ducati Multistrada or BMW GS adventure-style tourer or an Indian Chief.
The ride to Death Valley from Vegas spans approximately 247 miles and takes an average of 2.5 hours one-way. If you attempt to make the full 5-hour round trip in a day, get back to your hotel room at a decent hour the night before and stay hydrated throughout the ride.
City of Sin to City of Angels Motorcycle Tour
If you’re feeling ���too rare to live and too rare to die,” use that confidence to trek from Las Vegas to Los Angeles along Highway 15.
Though technically a reversal of the trip popularized by Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the 270-mile ride takes you on a relatively straight shot between two of the nation’s most notorious cities.
Along the way, you’ll find countless gas stations, ghost towns, quirky shops, and rest stops, breaking up the lengthy ride.
If you’re renting your bike, stay the night in LA and make the reverse trek in the morning—you’ll be back in plenty of time to get into more trouble in Vegas.
And watch those bats…
Red Rock Canyon Motorcycle Tour
Lastly, if you’re strapped on time but need to get a quick ride in, check out Red Rock Canyon.
The trek takes you only around eight miles and 20 minutes West of Las Vegas, making it the shortest trip on the list. Once you reach your destination, you can stop at numerous vista points featuring breathtaking views of the canyon’s vibrant red sandstone.
Red Rock Canyon is perfect for a mid-day lunch with a view or a short getaway amidst a bachelor trip or vacation. Including an hour-long stop for lunch, you’ll be back in Las Vegas well within two hours.
Of course, the best way to ride around Vegas is by renting a Twisted Road. Considering most trek to the city on vacation, leave your bike home and check out our Las Vegas motorcycle rental options.
We offer several rentals for as little as $52 a day, allowing you to enjoy the total Las Vegas experience regardless of your budget.
