Traveling Woodpecker

United States / 2024

2024 · Three-day motorcycle ride

Las Vegas to Joshua Tree

Route 66 country and the Mojave on the way to Joshua Tree National Park, a night in the Coachella Valley, then east to the Colorado River at Blythe before the ride home.

miles
~782
riding days
3
states
3
Route map of the ride
The loop as ridden, about 782 miles.

Arrive · Friday

Las Vegas, NV

Arrival night in Las Vegas
Arrival night in Las Vegas

Overnight

Tru by Hilton Las Vegas Airport

6862 Gilespie Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119

~$180/room

Day 1 · Saturday

Las Vegas, NV Indio, CA

~251 mi

Las Vegas → Primm44 mi · 41 min

Primm → Amboy91 mi · 1 hr 32 min

Breakfast at Primm & Proper inside the Primm Valley Resort & Casino. The avocado toast is good: poached egg, tomatoes and wild greens on country-grilled bread.

Past Primm, Roy’s Motel & Cafe in Amboy is a defunct 1940s diner, motel and (expensive) gas station on old Route 66.

Tru by Hilton, Las Vegas Airport
Tru by Hilton, Las Vegas Airport
Setting out from EagleRider Las Vegas
Setting out from EagleRider Las Vegas
Into the Mojave National Preserve
Into the Mojave National Preserve
Roy's Motel & Cafe, Amboy
Roy's Motel & Cafe, Amboy
Route 66 at Roy's in Amboy
Route 66 at Roy's in Amboy
Cholla Cactus Garden, Joshua Tree National Park
Cholla Cactus Garden, Joshua Tree National Park
Mexican dinner in Indio
Mexican dinner in Indio

Along the way

Overnight

Signature Inn Indio I-10

84096 Indio Springs Drive, Indio, CA 92203

~$170/room

Day 2 · Sunday

Indio, CA Blythe, CA

~251 mi

By way of

  • Warner Springs
Morning over the Coachella Valley
Morning over the Coachella Valley
The valley floor from above
The valley floor from above
Up in a glider
Up in a glider
Back on the ground after the glider flight
Back on the ground after the glider flight
The Imperial Sand Dunes
The Imperial Sand Dunes
CA-78 winding through the dunes
CA-78 winding through the dunes
A glass of wine in Blythe
A glass of wine in Blythe
Steaks 'n Cakes, Blythe
Steaks 'n Cakes, Blythe

Overnight

Hampton Inn & Suites Blythe

2011 East Donlon Street, Blythe, CA 92225

~$165/room

Day 3 · Monday

Blythe, CA Las Vegas, NV

~280 mi

Back to Las Vegas to return the bikes.

By way of

  • Parker Dam
  • Topock
  • Oatman
  • Kingman
Parker Dam on the Colorado River
Parker Dam on the Colorado River
Wild burros near Oatman
Wild burros near Oatman
Entering Mohave County on Route 66
Entering Mohave County on Route 66
At the Mohave County sign
At the Mohave County sign
Cool Springs Station on Route 66
Cool Springs Station on Route 66
Ready to ride at Cool Springs
Ready to ride at Cool Springs
In-N-Out for lunch
In-N-Out for lunch
Back at EagleRider Las Vegas
Back at EagleRider Las Vegas
Dinner at Pho So 1, Las Vegas
Dinner at Pho So 1, Las Vegas

Overnight

Tru by Hilton Las Vegas Airport

6862 Gilespie Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119

~$180/room

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