If you are choosing a destination for your next motorcycle road trip, the American West remains a classic. Vast landscapes, legendary roads and a sense of freedom: here are five places to consider for a USA motorcycle tour. This selection helps you shape your plans; it does not mean that every tour includes all five places.
Monument Valley: a western icon in the desert
Monument Valley’s red buttes embody the imagery of the American West. The approach along US-163 offers impressive views that set the scene. Morning or evening light is particularly rewarding for photographs.
Motorcycles are prohibited on the Valley Drive loop inside the park. Do not confuse it with the approach road. Check the official Monument Valley rules when organising your visit.
Yosemite: cliffs, sequoias and mountain roads
Yosemite combines granite cliffs, waterfalls and sequoia forests. Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls and the scenery along Tioga Road offer different experiences: choose your visits according to the time available rather than trying to see everything in a single stop.
Tioga Road is seasonal: its spring opening and autumn closure depend on conditions. Check Yosemite road conditions before planning a crossing of the Sierra Nevada.
Bryce Canyon: a stone amphitheatre
Bryce Canyon is striking for its hoodoos, columns shaped by erosion. Morning light brings out their colours. Allow time for viewpoints and, if you wish, a short walk: visiting the park is about more than riding through it. Adapt your plans to the weather and open access routes.
Route 66: a legend on the road
Route 66 passes through desert landscapes, small towns and landmarks of American culture. A tour of the West may follow some sections without covering the full historic route from Chicago to Santa Monica.
This distinction matters when choosing: do you want to explore western parks with a few stops on the Mother Road, or devote your journey to the complete crossing? Distances, overnight stops and logistics will be different.
Death Valley: desert scenery and contrasts
Dunes, canyons, salt flats and stark mineral landscapes give Death Valley a distinctive atmosphere. But summer heat poses a particular danger for motorcyclists. The National Park Service urges riders to reconsider travelling through the park during the hottest months.
Read its summer motorcycle travel advice and adapt your itinerary with the local specialist. Carrying water and planning fuel stops alone does not make a crossing suitable in extreme conditions.
Planning a motorcycle trip in the American West
- Motorcycle: choose a comfortable machine you can handle confidently, suited to the planned stages.
- Schedule: leave room for visits, weather and unexpected changes.
- Season: there is no single perfect period for every place: desert conditions differ from those on mountain roads.
- Support: check the guide’s role, assistance and services actually included in your chosen tour.
- Respect for places: review park and Navajo land rules before each visit.
Which tour should you choose for your USA motorcycle trip?
Your priority is western scenery and parks
Explore the itinerary for Pearls of the Great West. Compare its stages with the places that interest you and confirm seasonal access. This selection of five highlights is not a list of services or visits included in the tour.
Your dream is the Chicago–Los Angeles crossing
Discover our guided Route 66 motorcycle tour, dedicated to this crossing. Riding a section of Route 66 during a western trip does not replace the complete journey.
Before requesting a quote, tell us your priority places, available time and motorcycle experience. We will help you choose a route that fits your plans, without promising to combine every site within one standard duration.