RVs and Motorcycles: Adventure Awaits at the Grand Canyon

RV Life

The Grand Canyon is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. And rightly so. If you’re RVing Grand Canyon National Park while hauling your motorcycles, you will want to see it all—and you nearly can!

Taking your motorcycle on an RV trip is ideal, especially for RVing the Grand Canyon. After traveling around the U.S. (and other countries) full-time over the last five years, we have found that where you take your RV is not necessarily where you want to ride, and vice versa. However, when you take your motorcycle to the Grand Canyon, you can ride to places you could never take your RV.

A motorcycle on the road with a couple of Class C motorhomes. Photo: Shutterstock.

RVing the Grand Canyon: A Motorcyclist’s Perspective

One of the first things you will want to do is book a campground. Be aware that some campgrounds do not permit motorcycles. Check on ALL the campground rules before booking. It is not necessary to find a campground in the national park. Several campgrounds around Williams and Flagstaff will have competitive pricing. They are around 1–1.5 hours away from Grand Canyon National Park. So, you can enjoy the ride there, too. If you have a toy hauler for motorcycles, you may need to camp outside the park because there is only one RV park that takes RVs up to 50 feet long. Since you have specific needs for carrying motorcycles, we recommend booking a year in advance if you can. You can always use RV LIFE Campgrounds to see if there are any last-minute sites available.

Once your RV is safely parked at an easily accessible campground, purchase your park access pass. The entrance fee for motorcycles is $30, making a motorcycle entry cheaper than that of an auto or RV. The pass is good for seven days for both rims. Be sure to take your credit or debit card because cash is not accepted and you can’t purchase online.

North Rim Motorcycle Rides

Start at the Grand Canyon Lodge riding north. Stop at the North Rim Visitor Center for restroom and questions. It is a scenic 55-minute ride but you will want to see the North Rim Lookout Tower which will make it an hour and 40 minute ride. There is a North Rim Picnic Area so pack some lunch if you want to take a break. Or, you can dine at the lodge before heading out. There are fuel stops at the beginning and end of this route in Jacob Lake. A fuel station is at the North Rim Country Store after you pass the North Rim Lookout Tower. This is a good add-on ride if you are close to this location.

U.S. Hwy 89A (North of the Grand Canyon)

If you want to extend your Grand Canyon Highway ride, you can add 47 minutes. This one starts at Jacob Lake and ends in Marble Canyon. There are several sites to see along this route. Stop for views at the House Rock Valley Overlook. Visit the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and the Dominguez Escalante Expedition Monument. If you want to do a little hiking, you can see the Sand Hill Petroglyphs north of 89A in this vicinity. A little past Marble Canyon, you can walk the historic Navajo Bridge. Ride the Lees Ferry Road and enter the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area if you have time. You can see the Cathedral and Balanced Rock sites.

Cape Royal Road

Instead of riding Highway 67 (Grand Canyon Hwy), veer off at Fuller Canyon and take Cape Royal Road. These are some of the highest views. It is about a 35-minute drive but stops will make it much longer. The first part of the ride is just beautiful scenery, great riding, and curvy roads. There is a picnic stop at the Vista Encantada Picnic Area if you want to bring some nibbles. The first scenic stop will be at the Roosevelt Point Overlook. Enjoy that break because it will be a while before you stop at the Walhalla Ruins. Then you are a short distance from Angels Window. You can stop at the viewpoint for it and then to the walkable ledge that juts out into the canyon.

U.S. Hwy 89A (South of Flagstaff)

If you are camping around Williams or Flagstaff, Arizona, this southern curvy extension of 89A is worth the trip. This ride starts at the Tuzigoot National Monument Visitor Center in Clarkdale, Arizona. Visit the Jerome Ghost Town if you like oddities. Halfway through this 40-minute ride, there is the Mingus Summit Rest Area and Picnic Site. The map ends the curves at the edge of the Coconino National Forest. End your ride there, turn around, or head into Prescott Valley for refueling.

South Rim Motorcycle Rides

The South Rim will be your more touristy area. There will be access to more fuel stops, restaurants, and shops here. But it will also be more crowded.

Scenic View Drive (Hwy 64)

The south entrance is just past Tusayan, Arizona. This ride is about 1.5 hours. Starting in Tusaya, you will end at the Navajo Parks & Recreation with Hwy 64 ending in Hwy 89. This will take you longer than 1.5 hours because there are many lookout points you will want to stop at along the way. Some require a short hike but most are right off the highway. Here are some you will encounter:

Pipe Creek Vista
Shoshone Point
Duck on A Rock Viewpoint
Grandview Point
Grandview Lookout Tower
Moran Point
Tusayan Ruin
Navajo Point
Desert View Watchtower
Grand Canyon National Park Sign
Lee Canyon View
Little Colorado River Gorge Overlook

Hermit Road

This road is the “other half” of the scenic outlooks on the South Rim. Instead of going east on Hwy 64, you will head west out of Grand Village Canyon. As an easy location, you can begin this ride at the Grand Canyon Railway and head west on Hermit Road. The ride is under half an hour but the stops will take longer! Also, this road dead ends so you will return to the same route. There is a restroom at the end. All the views will be on your right on the ride out. Choose stops you may want to do on the way back that will have good visibility for crossing. Here are some of the scenic stops you will have:

Grand Canyon South Rim
Trail View Overlook
Maricopa Point
Powell Point
Hopi Point
Mohave Point
Great Mohave Wall Viewpoint
The Abyss
Monument Creek Vista
Pima Point
Hermits Rest

General Motorcycle Tips for Riding the Grand Canyon

Keep your tank full. Gas stations are limited in certain areas of the park.
There are no motorcycle mechanics nearby, so bring your tools and ensure your bike is in top performance.
The North Rim is closed December 1st–May 15^th for traffic.
The best time to ride considering the weather, tourist crowds, etc. would be the last two weeks of May.
Unless you like bundling up and riding in wintery weather, the next best time is the end of September.
It takes about 4.5 hours to ride from the South Rim to the North Rim. That doesn’t include stops! If you plan on riding the North Rim, you may consider spending one night away from your RV to ride this area.
Only about 10% of tourists make it to the North Rim so this makes for great riding!
Download the National Park Service Mobile App. You can download the information and access it offline on your phone while riding in remote areas.
All the rides listed are paved roads.
The rides provided do not include your ride time to get there nor return ride time.

Gear and Weather

If you travel in the summer, expect thunderstorms from July–September. For ride days call Grand Canyon National Park at (928) 638-7496 for a recorded message on road conditions. During thunderstorms, lightning can be an issue. Grand Canyon National Park Service offers a few tips you will want to know if you are a motorcyclist.

Move away from your metal motorcycle, which can conduct electricity.
Remove your helmet if you have electronics or metal attached.
Move away from the canyon edge.
If in an open area and can’t find shelter, crouch on the balls of your feet with your heels touching, head down, and hands covering your ears away from your bike and other people. Your hands should not touch the ground. Do not lie flat on the ground.

When packing for your RV Grand Canyon adventure, you will have space for various weather gear. Take advantage of the room and bring supplies for rain, cold, and heat. Check the weather before your ride because it can be 20–30 degrees cooler at the higher elevations. Use the National Weather Service for extensive information if you are unfamiliar with riding in a location.

Riding at Higher Elevations

I get the question a lot about how elevation may affect your motorcycle. You experience temperature changes at higher elevations, and your bike does, too. I have ridden in elevations above 8,000 feet. I have gone from 4,515 to 8,675 feet in 30 minutes. The elevation in the Grand Canyon is around 7,000-8,000 feet, depending on your specific location. At those elevations, you barely notice any impact on the ride or the tire pressure. For older carbureted bikes, you may have trouble starting. Just keep an eye on your motorcycle’s tire pressure.

Sometimes I discover I’m holding my breath as if the scenery before me could disappear if I stirred. Don’t miss an opportunity to take your motorcycle to new heights while RVing Grand Canyon National Park. Try not to take hundreds of photos. Spend some time just inhaling the views. The ride memories will be spectacular!

Trip Planning

For help mapping out your route for your next RV getaway, look no further than RV LIFE Trip Wizard. This online planning tool makes it easy to plan an RV-safe route. It can also locate interesting sites along the way, all according to your travel preferences. Get RV LIFE Trip Wizard and the RV LIFE app, and start planning your adventure today!