Kingman/Oatman
Long Day
This is a long ride covering some interesting country and giving you the option to ride on part of old Route 66. As in most of our runs, parts of this run go through some areas that can be subject to brutal heat in the summer. It has some fun spots and layers are recommended.
From Las Vegas you will head south on US95/93 through Railroad Pass towards Boulder City. Stay on 93 through Boulder City towards the Hoover Dam. Traffic over the dam can be an issue. I always try to cross the dam fairly early in the morning, before the tourists have a chance to wake up. Once in Arizona you are in a helmet optional state. Many bikers will stop along the way up the canyon after the dam to take their helmet off. That is your choice.
The road to Kingman becomes boring in a hurry. Four lanes allow you to fly, just watch out for the patrol cars. In Kingman, you’ll want to get gas. Many people like to visit the Cracker Barrel that is two intersections east on I-40. If you are skipping that trap, continue under the freeway and watch for the signs to Rt. 66. As you head out of town you go through a short little canyon, then along the interstate for a short ways. The route is well marked.
The road isn’t much for the first ways, but when you get into the mountains hang on. The road is narrow and has a lot of hairpins and twisties. Be careful! All types of vehicles can be on this tiny road. A couple of years ago a truck coming the other way bounced and came over into our lane almost hitting the bike in front of me.
Oatman is a neat little tourist town. Burros wander the streets and there is a gunfight on weekends and holidays. On the weekends it can get crowded, and there are usually a large contingent of motorcycles. During the Laughlin River Run it can take an hour to ride through town.
Just a little way out of town the road splits. If you go straight you can get some more fun riding over to Golden Shores, then head back along the Colorado River towards Bullhead City. Take a right will get you to Bullhead City quicker.
As you ride along Arizona 93 towards Bullhead City, you can skip some slow town riding, by taking the road over to the Avi Casino and then up to the Needles Highway. This will bypass the slower traffic of Bullhead City. You can also take Riverside Drive and visit the casinos in Laughlin or continue to Nevada Highway 163. Take this up the hill and through the mountains to US 95. This can be a fun ride with some great sweepers as you shoot up through some canyons and mountains to get out of the Colorado River Valley.
Take US 95 north to get back to Las Vegas. This road is being improved steadily. It used to be a two-lane road, but has been turned into a divided four lane north of Searchlight. From Searchlight you can take Nevada 164 towards Nipton. This short detour will bring you to I-15 at the California state line and the resorts at Primm. Heading north will bring you back to Vegas along the strip.
