Arizona's 15 Best Motorcycle Rides From Desert Passes to Scenic Mountain Roads

Mar 10, 2026

Arizona has 11 different climate zones packed into one state, so you could start your morning in the desert and be riding through forest at 9,000 feet by lunch. Not a lot of states give you that kind of range, and it is a big reason why riders keep coming back here. In this blog, we are covering 15 of the best scenic motorcycle rides Arizona has to offer, with the distance, difficulty, best season, and a route map for each one.

What are the Best Motorcycle Rides in Arizona?

1. Jerome to Sedona via Highway 89A: 59 miles, Northern Arizona
2. Sedona Red Rock Loop: 41 miles, Northern Arizona
3. Coronado Trail (US 191): 122 miles, Eastern Arizona
4. Apache Trail (SR 88): 19 miles (paved), East of Phoenix
5. Historic Route 66, Seligman to Oatman: 116 miles, Northwestern Arizona
6. Carefree Highway (SR 74): 41 miles, North Phoenix
7. Catalina Highway to Mt. Lemmon: 30 miles one way, Tucson
8. Monument Valley (US 163): 43 miles, Northeastern Arizona
9. Prescott to Jerome via Mingus Mountain: 35 miles, Central Arizona
10. Patagonia-Sonoita Scenic Road: 55 miles, Southern Arizona
11. Tucson to Tombstone and Bisbee Loop: 204 miles, Tucson
12. Beeline Highway to Payson (SR 87): 76 miles, East of Phoenix
13. Oatman Highway (Route 66, Kingman to Oatman): 29 miles, Northwestern Arizona
14. Salt River Canyon (US 60): 88 miles, Eastern Arizona
15. Flagstaff to Page via US 89: 129 miles one way, Flagstaff

1. Jerome to Sedona via Highway 89A

Start/End: Prescott to Sedona (via Jerome and Cottonwood)

Approximate Distance: 59 miles

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Best Season: October through April

Route Map

The section of 89A between Jerome and Sedona is the part of this highway that riders talk about most. You drop over 4,000 feet in elevation in about an hour, going from pine trees and mountain air to Sedona's red rock, with stops like Jerome (an old mining town with tasting rooms and valley views) and Oak Creek Canyon along the way.

• ADOT has an active improvement project in Oak Creek Canyon with lane restrictions and intermittent closures expected into 2026. Check for updates here.

2. Sedona Red Rock Loop

Start/End: Sedona (loop)

Approximate Distance: 41 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy

Best Season: October through April

Route Map

If you're in the Sedona area and want something easy, this 40-mile loop won't disappoint. You'll head out on 89A toward Page Springs and Cornville, then come back through the Village of Oak Creek on SR 179, which holds an All-American Road designation from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Courthouse Butte are all visible from the 179 side, and there are a few wineries near Page Springs worth stopping at if you've got the time.

• Flat, paved, and comfortable at any experience level. Plan about 90 minutes to two hours with stops.

3. Coronado Trail (US 191)

Start/End: Clifton to Springerville

Approximate Distance: 122 miles

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Best Season: May through October

Route Map

The Coronado Trail has over 400 switchbacks across 120 miles, and the Federal Highway Administration considers it the curviest road in the country. You'll climb from about 3,400 feet near Clifton to over 9,300 feet at the Mogollon Rim, and on most days you can expect to see another vehicle about once every 19 minutes. It's not a ride you'll want to rush, so plan at least four to five hours one way.

• There are no gas stations for about 90 miles between Clifton and Alpine, and cell service is poor for most of the route. Fill up and download offline maps before you head out.

4. Apache Trail (SR 88)

Start/End: Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat

Approximate Distance: 19 miles (paved, one way)

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Best Season: October through May

Route Map

The Apache Trail motorcycle ride is one of the easiest day trips you can do from Phoenix, and it's one of the most popular scenic motorcycle rides Arizona has near the city for that reason. SR 88 was originally built in 1904 as a supply road for Roosevelt Dam, and the paved section takes you from Apache Junction through the Superstition Mountains past Canyon Lake to Tortilla Flat, a tiny stop with a restaurant, a saloon, and walls covered in dollar bills.

• Past Tortilla Flat, the road goes unpaved and is currently restricted to high-clearance 4WD and UTVs due to flood damage. If you're on a street bike or cruiser, Tortilla Flat is your turnaround. Check ADOT for the latest SR 88 conditions.

Is the Apache Trail Open to Motorcycles?

The paved section of SR 88 from Apache Junction to Tortilla Flat is fully open to motorcycles and was repaved in 2024 and 2025. The unpaved section beyond Tortilla Flat was partially reopened in 2024 after a $4 million restoration project, but it's currently limited to high-clearance 4WD vehicles and UTVs.

5. Historic Route 66, Seligman to Oatman

Start/End: Seligman to Kingman to Oatman

Approximate Distance: 116 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate (Kingman to Oatman is more advanced)

Best Season: October through April

Route Map

Arizona has the longest remaining driveable section of the original Route 66, and 2026 happens to be the highway's centennial year, so there's never been a better time to ride it. The 87 miles from Seligman to Kingman are relaxed and lightly trafficked, with stops like the Hackberry General Store and Cool Springs Station along the way. Things change once you leave Kingman and head toward Oatman, where the road climbs over Sitgreaves Pass through the Black Mountains with tight turns, steep drop-offs, and no shoulders.

• Watch for wild burros in and around Oatman. They roam freely and will sometimes wander into the road.

Is Route 66 in Arizona Good for Motorcycles?

Arizona's 158-mile section of Route 66 is the longest remaining original section in any state, and it's excellent for motorcycles. The Seligman-to-Kingman segment is wide open with light traffic and a relaxed pace, while the Oatman Highway from Kingman over Sitgreaves Pass adds 25 miles of more demanding riding through the Black Mountains.

6. Carefree Highway (SR 74)

Start/End: I-17 (North Phoenix) to US 60 near Morristown

Approximate Distance: 41 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy

Best Season: Year-round

Route Map

The Carefree Highway motorcycle ride is one of those routes that Phoenix riders come back to over and over because it's easy to get to, rideable any time of year, and just far enough from the city to feel like you've left it behind. SR 74 takes you west from I-17 past Lake Pleasant and through the Hieroglyphic Mountains to US 60 near Morristown, with saguaros lining both sides for most of the ride. If the name sounds familiar, it's the same road that inspired the 1974 Gordon Lightfoot song.

• Cave Creek and Carefree are just east of I-17 on the Carefree Highway extension. For more ideas in the area, check out our Phoenix motorcycle routes guide.

How Long Does It Take to Ride the Carefree Highway?

Most riders cover the full 30 miles in about 35 to 45 minutes without stops. With a lunch break in Cave Creek or a stop at Lake Pleasant, plan about 90 minutes to two hours round trip from North Phoenix.

7. Catalina Highway to Mt. Lemmon

Start/End: Northeast Tucson to Summerhaven (Mt. Lemmon)

Approximate Distance: 30 miles (one way)

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Best Season: Year-round

Route Map

Also known as the Sky Island Scenic Byway, this is the ride that Tucson locals point visitors toward first. You'll climb over 6,000 feet in 27 miles, starting in the desert at about 2,500 feet and finishing in a completely different climate near the summit at over 9,100 feet. The temperature difference between the bottom and the top can be 30 degrees or more, and the road passes through six different vegetation zones on the way up. Summerhaven near the top has food and shops, and Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley is the southernmost ski area in the continental U.S.

• The road is well maintained and sees over a million visitors a year. It's popular with cyclists on weekends, so give them room. Winter snow can close the upper portion, so check Pima County's road condition hotline at (520) 351-3351 before heading up between November and March.

8. Monument Valley (US 163)

Start/End: Kayenta, AZ to Mexican Hat, UT

Approximate Distance: 43 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy

Best Season: March through November

Route Map

You've seen this road in movies and photos whether you realize it or not. US 163 runs straight through Monument Valley with sandstone buttes on both sides, and the Forrest Gump Point photo stop at mile marker 13 is one of the most recognized spots in the country. The road is flat, easy, and lightly trafficked, so this one's entirely about what's around you.

• Monument Valley is within the Navajo Nation, so follow posted regulations. Services are limited between Kayenta and Mexican Hat, so fill up before you leave.

9. Prescott to Jerome via Mingus Mountain

Start/End: Prescott to Jerome

Approximate Distance: 35 miles

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Best Season: March through November

Route Map

This pairs with Route 1 if you want to keep going all the way to Sedona, but it's a solid ride on its own. AZ-89A climbs from Prescott through the national forest and over Mingus Mountain at about 7,500 feet, with over 127 turns packed into the 12-mile descent into Jerome. Prescott's Whiskey Row is a good place to start, and Jerome's Haunted Hamburger is a good place to end up.

• Jerome sits at 5,246 feet on Cleopatra Hill and has galleries, tasting rooms, and the Jerome Grand Hotel, a former hospital that's now known for its ghost stories.

10. Patagonia-Sonoita Scenic Road

Start/End: Vail (south of Tucson) to Patagonia

Approximate Distance: 39 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy

Best Season: October through May

Route Map

This is Arizona's wine country ride, and it doesn't look like anything else in the state. AZ-83 takes you south from Vail through grasslands and oak-covered hills to Sonoita, where you'll turn right onto AZ-82 and continue southwest to Patagonia. Sonoita has about a dozen wineries and tasting rooms, and the area has over 300 documented bird species, so you'll probably see as many people with binoculars as helmets.

• Patagonia Lake State Park is a short detour off AZ-82 if you're looking for somewhere to stop and take a break.

11. Tucson to Tombstone and Bisbee Loop

Start/End: Tucson (loop)

Approximate Distance: 204 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Best Season: October through May

Route Map

Two of the most well-known Old West towns in Arizona are on the same loop out of Tucson. You'll head southeast on I-10 to Benson, drop south to Tombstone (where Wyatt Earp made his name at the OK Corral), then continue to Bisbee, a former copper mining town that's become one of the best-preserved small towns in the state. From Bisbee you'll ride west through Sierra Vista and back north through Sonoita wine country on AZ-83 to close the loop.

• Plan for a full day. The riding is easy, but the stops add up quickly, especially in Bisbee and Tombstone.

12. Beeline Highway to Payson (SR 87)

Start/End: Mesa to Payson

Approximate Distance: 76 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Best Season: Year-round

Route Map

Phoenix riders know this one well. SR 87 takes you from the low desert up into the pine forests around Payson, and the elevation and terrain change steadily the whole way. It's a four-lane divided highway that moves at 60 to 65 mph, so it's not a technical ride, but the temperature can drop 15 to 20 degrees by the time you get to Payson, which in the summer is often reason enough to go.

• A lot of riders turn off at Highway 188 near Jake's Corner for a side trip to Roosevelt Lake before heading back to the valley.

13. Oatman Highway (Route 66, Kingman to Oatman)

Start/End: Kingman to Oatman

Approximate Distance: 29 miles

Difficulty Level: Moderate to Advanced

Best Season: October through April

Route Map

We covered the full Seligman-to-Oatman ride in Route 5, but the Kingman-to-Oatman section deserves its own mention because it's a completely different experience from the rest of Route 66. The Oatman Highway climbs over Sitgreaves Pass through the Black Mountains with tight turns, narrow roads, and no shoulders for 25 miles. It's the most technical section of Route 66 in Arizona, and it ends in Oatman, a former mining town where wild burros roam the main street.

• Fill up in Kingman because there's nothing between there and Oatman.

14. Salt River Canyon (US 60)

Start/End: Globe to Show Low

Approximate Distance: 88 miles

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Best Season: March through November

Route Map

People call this Arizona's mini Grand Canyon, and once you're in the canyon you'll see why. US 60 east of Globe drops down into it, crosses the Salt River at the bottom, and climbs back out the other side into the pine forests near Show Low and Pinetop. It's a solid full-day ride, and the terrain changes enough along the way that it doesn't feel like the same road from start to finish.

• The temperature difference between Globe and the White Mountains can catch you off guard, so bring a layer. Show Low and Pinetop have food and fuel if you want to extend the trip.

15. Flagstaff to Page via US 89 (Painted Desert and Lake Powell)

Start/End: Flagstaff to Page

Approximate Distance: 129 miles

Difficulty Level: Easy

Best Season: March through November

Route Map

You start at nearly 7,000 feet in the pines near Flagstaff and drop through volcanic cinder fields and the edge of the Painted Desert on your way to the Cameron Trading Post. From Cameron, the road runs along the base of the 800-foot Echo Cliffs, climbs to a high desert plateau, and ends in Page with Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell ahead. The riding is mostly straight and open, but the terrain changes so often that 135 miles goes by faster than you'd expect.

• Gas up at Cameron Trading Post (~52 miles north of Flagstaff), because there's not much between there and Page. Cameron's also where AZ-64 splits off toward the Grand Canyon's east entrance.

What is the Most Scenic Road in Arizona?

The most scenic road in Arizona is Highway 89A from Jerome through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. The route drops over 4,000 feet from pine forests into red rock canyon country, and the views change every few miles.

What is the Best Time of Year to Ride a Motorcycle in Arizona?

Desert and Lower Elevations (Apache Trail, Carefree Highway, Route 66, Patagonia-Sonoita, Saguaro National Park)

October through April. Summer in the Phoenix and Tucson areas regularly hits 110+ degrees, and that's not a comfortable ride no matter what you're wearing.

Mountain Routes (Coronado Trail, Beeline Highway to Payson, Prescott to Jerome, Salt River Canyon)

May through October. Some passes close in winter due to snow, and higher elevations can get icy even into early spring.

Year-Round Options

Catalina Highway works most of the year, though you should check for winter closures near the summit. The Carefree Highway is comfortable even on summer mornings if you get out early.

Best Overall Window

March, April, October, and November give you the widest range of rideable routes across the state. April lines up with Arizona Bike Week (April 8 to 12 in Scottsdale), so you can hit the rally and knock out a few of these rides in the same trip.

Ready to Ride? Browse Motorcycle Rentals in Arizona

Now that you've got 15 Arizona motorcycle routes to choose from, you just need the bike. Riders Share has the largest selection of motorcycle rentals in Arizona, with bikes available from local owners in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and across the state starting at $24 per day.

If you're flying in for Arizona Bike Week 2026 or just want to try a different ride for the weekend, a motorcycle rental in Phoenix puts you within day-trip range of the Apache Trail, Carefree Highway, Beeline Highway, and the Jerome-to-Sedona loop. Browse Arizona rentals to see what's available near your starting point.