Nevada
2020 Dual-sport Ride: California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada (June 6-24)
2840 miles on DR-Z400s motorcycles
1. Parker, AZ -- Quality Inn (263)
2. Wikieup, AZ - Trading Post Motel (180)
3. Kingman, AZ - BW plus A Wayfarer's Inn (99)
4. Flagstaff, AZ - BW Pony Soldier Inn (227)
5. Page, AZ - BW View of Lake Powell (159)
6. Escalante, UT - Circle D Motel (122)
7. Hanksville, UT - Whispering Sands Mtl (156)
8. Green River, UT - Comfort Inn (106)
9. Price, UT - Legacy Inn (127)
10. Ferron, UT - Big Mtn Lodge (134)
11. Hanksville, UT - Whispering Sands (122)
12. Torrey, UT - Austin's Chuckwagon (102)
13. Richfield, UT - Quality Inn (125)
14. Panguitch, UT - Purple Sage Motel (108)
15. Mesquite NV - Best West, Mesquite (200)
16. Las Vegas, NV - Hampton Inn LV (137)
17. Big Bear, CA - B.W. Big Bear Chateau (231)
18. Idyllwild, CA - The Fireside Inn (117)
19. Home (123)
Bikes: 2020 Suzuki DR-Z400s
Tires: Dunlop D606 Rear and Pirelli MT21 front
Luggage: Wolfman Mini Beta Bag
Navigation: Garmin Montana 610 GPS
Cameras: Canon G7X Mark II and Sony RX100
Route Planning Resources: Garmin BaseCamp, Google Maps, Google Earth, TripAdvisor
Dual-sport ride on 2017 Suzuki DR-Z400s motorcycles
Mar 31 - Apr 11, 2019
1,890 miles
1. Blythe, CA (BW Sahara) 235 miles
2. Needles, CA (BW Colorado Inn) 160
3. Shoshone, CA (Shoshone Inn) 191
4. Beatty, NV (Exchange Club Motel) 142
5. Lone Pine, CA (BW+ Frontier) 153
6. Bishop, CA (BW Bishop Lodge) 91
7. Tonopah, NV (Mizpah Hotel) 123
8. Beatty, NV (Exchange Club Motel) 145
9. Primm, NV (Primm Valley Resort and Casino) 166
10. Needles, CA (Red Roof Inn) 111
11. Palm Desert, CA (Holiday Inn Express Palm Desert) 189
12. San Diego, CA 133 / 1,890 total
When should I ride in Nevada?
Planning dual-sport motorcycle rides across multiple states requires balancing weather conditions to avoid snow, cold temperatures, and other seasonal challenges. Below are recommendations for the best months to ride in Nevada—while avoiding snowfall, unmelted snowbanks in high mountain passes, and temperatures below 45°F, or excessive heat. These suggestions focus on optimal riding conditions, considering elevation, regional climate variations, and typical weather patterns.
Nevada
Recommended Months: April, May, September, October
Details:
April: High desert warms to 50s-70s°F, with rare snow above 7,000 feet melting out. Mountain ranges (e.g., Ruby Mountains) become accessible.
May: Consistent 60s-80s°F, snow-free statewide. Pre-summer heat makes this a sweet spot.
September: Post-summer cooling (60s-80s°F), with clear trails. High elevations stay rideable before fall cold.
October: Cooler but dry (50s-70s°F), ideal for desert and mid-elevation rides. Early snow is rare.
Avoid: June-August (90s-110°F in deserts), December-February (sub-45°F nights).
Recommended Best Month: April
Summary: Nevada’s mostly desert climate warms early, with April bringing 50s-70s°F across the state, including higher elevations like the Toiyabe Range. Snow is rare except in the highest peaks, which melt out by spring. Avoid summer (June-August) due to 90s-100s°F heat, and winter for occasional cold snaps below 45°F.