Toronto to Las Vegas July 3 to 25th any route suggestions or sights

[dogman]

Hello all, I am soon to be planning my first long ride of this sort. I'll be leaving Toronto, Canada on Sat. July 3rd. and checking into a condo in Las Vegas on Sun July 11th for a week then returning to Toronto for Sun July 25th (Yes this is the time frame as the International Rally, so I will be missing it)

 

I will be riding down on my own, and my wife will be flying down to Las Vegas for the week and I will be on my own for the ride home.

 

I have just purchased a leesurlite tent trailer that I will be towing down for my nightly sleeping while on the road. ( I do not have possession of the trailer yet for any pictures)

 

One of my many questions would be; roads, or sights that would be regretable for me to miss out on. Just looking at the maps it would look like the following States would be the most straight forward route: Michigan

Ohio

Indiana

Illinois

Missouri

Kansas

Colorado

New Mexico

Arizona

Nevada

 

The route home I was hoping to take a different way which may include different States.

 

Any thoughts, suggestions or ideas, would be greatly appreciated as I soon want to start planning my route.

 

Thanks Dave

Dogman

[OB-1]

I'd recommend a trip through Yellowstone and over Bear-Tooth pass and also a trip through the Black Hills. We live bewteen Moorcroft & Sundance Wyoming just north of I-90. You're welcome to stop in if you pass this way, but you will have to ride 4+ miles of gravel to get to our place.

[utadventure]

Beartooth and Yellowstone are both great!!! Coming from Yellowstone to Las Vegas will take you down I-15 and Zions National Park is just off the freeway a little in southern Utah.

 

Swing by on your way through.

 

Dave

[Gary N.]

Wow Dave, that's a tall order. So much to see, so little time. I will say it was fun to tour the strip on the bike at night. Also a nice ride from Vegas over to Lake Mead and down to the Hoover dam. Also Fremont Street at night has a blast. Just pull into one of the casinos' vallet parking and slip the guy a couple of bucks for a good safe place to leave the bike. We used the Fremont Casino valet parking and went in there for the buffet dinner.

[Guest retusn]

While in Vegas, you can also ride thru Red Rock, over the Hump to Pahrump (50 miles west of Vegas) Ride to/thru Death Valley, plus all the aforementioned rides. Give me a ring if you get in the area (Pahrump) and a couple of us will meet and ride with ya, IF we are in town.

[Zfrebird4]

if you're dipping into CO and can flip through Ft. Collins, I'll tag with you over Trail Ridge Road, and west and south from the top back to I-70 and you're on your way. If you need to sleep in a house, shower, mine is available with a bed and some kind of pillow. Just in case I didn't change the address to my new house on my profile (I'll check that) it's 806 Kimball Rd; PM and I'll give you directions if you come this way if you need them. I might be able to get several of my local riding buddies to join us over the hill, too. And would company you if you're ust I25 to I70, or passing through junction of I-80 and I-25. Then I'd snag south on the country roads to Grand Mesa and over, or do the Colorado Monument before other places. Just thinking out loud. Keep all of us posted.

 

JackZ

 

The guy who rides in all directions except down, and is ready any time to go UP but in no hurry! Jz

 

[YYZ]

Starting a little closer to home, I'd suggest crossing at Sarnia since Detroit seems to have a never ending highway construction project going on.

[Evan]

Hey Dave - You ride sounds fabulous and I am really impressed with the info and offers from others. Anne just agreed to join me for a ride to the west although in our case, we need to go by way of Calgary to spend some time with my daughter and grandkids. I am looking for a trailer for this trip, but probably not a tent trailer. How much does your new trailer weigh? Also, are you on the road yet? I have been riding quite a bit lately and expect to be back on Tuesday from a quick trip to the cottage for some snowmobiling. I hope to do some more riding when I get back as the weather should still be warm enough for that.

[dogman]

Gentleman, thank you for the suggestions so far.

 

JackZ, I will definitely keep you in mind and your very kind offer. I want to start some route planning so I will be in touch in the next couple of weeks.

 

Evan, you are living the dream. Motorcycling one day and snowmobiling the next. Life is good, you are a fortunate man. I am chickening out on getting my bike out so soon. I see all the salt stains on the road and my bike is still so new, I want to keep it for many years so I am fearful of what the salt will do to it. The trailer weighs in at 255lbs.