Las Vegas—the Neon Oasis. Most people come here to lose their sleep and their shirts in equal measure. It’s a city with a distinct personality, but that charm is usually just a front-end strategy designed to liquidate your bank account.
If the "Sin City" nightlife isn't your speed, don't sweat it. The real jackpot isn't on the Strip; it’s in the surrounding Mojave. By day, Vegas is the ultimate base camp for high-mileage therapy. Whether you’re carving through Red Rock or iron-butting it to Death Valley, the desert is always better on two wheels.
Ditch the poolside bar and the digital noise. If you’re heading to the desert,
Hoover Dam Motorcycle Tour
Back in 1931, FDR greenlit a project that would become a global benchmark for civil engineering. They called it the Hoover Dam. It was a massive undertaking that stands as the largest of its kind from that era. Workers hammered it out in just five years, finishing the build by 1936.
The human cost was heavy. Over 100 laborers lost their lives during construction. Still, the world saw the project as a monumental success because it proved that aggressive, untested engineering techniques actually worked in the real world.
Today, the dam straddles the Arizona-Nevada border. It holds back the Colorado River to form Lake Mead, providing essential power and water to three different states. Best of all, it is only a 31-mile blast southeast of the Las Vegas Strip.
Grab a
The ride clocks in at about 60 minutes one way. That makes it a perfect, low-stress day trip when you need to escape the casino floor.
Think about the history here. This was a win for American tech during the height of the Great Depression. It gave the country the validation it needed when things were at their worst.
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 hunting for a more grit-testing trek and the weather is on your side, point your front tire toward Death Valley. This is the lowest region in the Western Hemisphere. I have a group of riding buddies who hit this route religiously every year. For some reason, that barren, unforgiving landscape just gets more appealing the more you ride it.
The park sits right near the California-Nevada border, just east of the Sierra Nevada range. It’s home to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the country at 282 feet below sea level. Here’s the kicker: the highest point in the lower 48, Mount Whitney, stands at 14,505 feet and is only 76 miles away. That’s a massive topographical shift in a very short distance.
You also need to respect the heat. Death Valley holds the world record at 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Unless you’re looking to bake in your leathers, avoid the dead of summer. Aim for a spring ride when the mercury hovers in the high 80s. This is prime territory for a
The run from Vegas is roughly 247 miles and takes about 2.5 hours one way. If you’re planning to pull the full five-hour round trip in a single day, do yourself a favor: get some sleep the night before and keep the water flowing. Dehydration is the quickest way to ruin a perfectly good 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.
FAQs
What is the best time of year to ride around Las Vegas? \
Avoid the dead of summer unless you want to find out what a rotisserie chicken feels like. Stick to the "sweet spots": March through May or late September through November. You’ll get those crisp desert mornings and perfect afternoon temps without the triple-digit beatdown.
Is lane splitting legal in Nevada?
Negative. Unlike our neighbors in California, Nevada hasn't legalized lane splitting yet. You have the right to a full lane, and you can share that lane with one other rider—side-by-side, but don't go threading the needle through stationary traffic. It’s a quick way to get a ticket or a bump to the shin.
Do I really need a helmet in the desert heat?
Yes. Nevada law is clear: all riders and passengers must wear a
What kind of gear should I pack for a desert tour?
Think layers and airflow. A high-quality mesh jacket is your best friend here. It keeps the sun off your skin while letting the air move. Also, invest in a hydration bladder. If you wait until you’re thirsty to drink water in the Mojave, you’ve already lost the battle.
Where can I rent a bike if I didn't ride mine to Vegas?
Don't let a lack of a bike stop you from hitting the canyons. You can
