It may sound cliché, but as a motorcycle camper, I try to remind myself that the journey is the destination. This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in motorcycling. It's not about where we’re setting up our tents, it’s about where we’re riding.
After all, there are certainly more efficient (and comfortable) ways to reach the outdoors. If we only cared about the destination, you and I would just drive a car, listening to podcasts, cranking the A/C, munching snacks, and sipping Starbucks the whole way to our campsite.
Motocamping is about pushing limits, personal and mechanical, in the pursuit of a raw wilderness experience. It’s about throwing comfort out the window, and putting your neck on the line in search of something greater… That fickle, indefinable enlightenment that comes mixed in with the sand and dirt and mud and snow.
But even seasoned riders with countless miles under their belts sometimes need a starting point. In this listicle, I’ll run through seven of my favorite places to moto camp in the Lower 48. These aren’t just pretty destinations, though. I chose them based on what there is to do besides ride your bike, start a campfire, and drink beer outside your tent…
1. Lake Mead, Nevada — Ride Trail, Snowboard, Rock Climb, Gamble, Water Ski, Repeat?
Summer in the Las Vegas area can be brutal—with temperatures routinely over 100℉ all day long—but in the winter, daytime temps are often in the 50s and 60s, and rarely drop below freezing at night. The sprawling desert flats along the western shores of Lake Mead make for spectacular free dispersed camping. There are also over 900 established sites.
I lived in Las Vegas for several years, and one thing most visitors don’t realize is that it’s not all about drinks and dice and cards. There are endless outdoor adventure opportunities around Sin City. There’s not much you can’t do here. Shoot guns, snowboard, ride bikes, go rock climbing… You name it.
Even beyond the watersports and trails at Lake Mead, there’s great riding all around Las Vegas, from the piney slopes of Mt. Charleston to the fire-blasted sandstone of Red Rock and Valley of Fire. If you’re looking for any sort of vertical adventure, from bouldering to trad and sport climbing, you can do no better than Vegas, too. (I’m a contributing editor at Climbing magazine, so trust me when I say… Las Vegas is perhaps the world's best city for rock climbers.) The nearly 12,000-foot Mt. Charleston is just a half-hour outside of town, and receives heavy snow in the winter. It’s also home to a major ski resort, Lee Canyon. Don’t miss Hoover Dam and the Las Vegas Strip, either, and remember the world-famous national parks of Death Valley and Joshua Tree are only a couple of hours away.
2. Mt. Shasta, California — Scale One of America’s Most Prominent Peaks
I spent a couple of months living off Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450 this summer, and out of the dozens of campsites I stayed in throughout Utah, Nevada, California, and Oregon, the forests around Mount Shasta (14,179ft) were perhaps the biggest highlight. Enjoy free alpine camping at the Clear Creek Trailhead, and keep your legs and lungs in shape for an ascent of the peak.
During the late summer, once the snow has dried up, you can tackle Shasta from here in a single morning. During the shoulder seasons, when snow blankets the peak, it’s infinitely more beautiful, but also much more rugged. You may have a hell of a time reaching these sites on your bike… Equip some knobbies and don’t forget your Hippo Hands!
3. Croatan National Forest, North Carolina — SCUBA Dive to Blackbeard’s Grave
Along the shores of North Carolina lies 160,000 acres of swampland, Croatan National Forest, the only coastal forest in the eastern United States. The region has both free and paid campsites, but the real interesting destination here is the wreck of the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the frigate commanded by the legendary pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard.
Contrary to what many assume, the Queen Anne’s Revenge actually isn’t the ship Teach died on, during his infamous final battle with the British Navy in November 1718. (This was a smaller sloop, the Adventure.) However, the 100-foot Revenge, which sported 40 cannons, was Teach’s flagship, and is perhaps the most famous pirate ship in the world.
Teach grounded Queen Anne’s Revenge on a sandbar in Beaufort Inlet a few months before his death, and it became sunken and lost in the years after. The wreck, discovered in 1996, today lies just a mile offshore from Fort Macon State Park. You’ll need a bit more than a motorcycle to see it, of course. It sits about 30 feet below sea level. Though much of the wreck has been salvaged and hauled out, recreationally-certified divers can visit the archaeological site of the Revenge for about $500.
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Mogollon Rim, Arizona — Ride the Edge of the World
Carved by ancient volcanic activity, the Mogollon Rim is a 2,000-foot escarpment stretching for 200 miles across central Arizona, offering breathtaking views and endless riding opportunities, both on two wheels and on horseback. Forest roads and trails crisscross the rim, leading to secluded campsites with panoramic vistas. Keep an eye out for elk, black bears, and the occasional golden eagle soaring overhead. The Rim Road (FR 300) is a must-do for experienced riders. Be prepared for changing weather conditions, as the elevation here ranges from 4,000 to 7,000 feet.
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Olympic National Park, Washington — Rainforest Riding, Surfing, and Coastal Camping
For a different kind of adventure, head to Olympic National Park, where lush rainforests meet rugged coastlines. Rain gear is a must-have here. This is the wettest area in the mainland U.S.—but if that doesn’t slow you down, you can really get after it. Ride the winding roads through old-growth forests, hike to secluded waterfalls, and camp along the Pacific Ocean. (This is one of the only places in the contiguous United States where you can backpack and camp along true wilderness coastline.
Hurricane Ridge Road offers stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. Check road conditions before heading out, as some roads may be closed seasonally. If you’re a real water dog, bring a thick wetsuit and a board, and you might be able to catch waves at beach breaks like La Push.
Olympic National Park. Credit: Michael Matti
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Twin Falls, Idaho — Watch BASE Jumpers at the Snake River Bridge
The Perrine Memorial Bridge crossing the Snake River north of Twin Falls, Idaho is perhaps the BASE jumping capital. This 1,000-foot-high metal span is the only man-made structure in the United States where BASE jumping is allowed without a permit, year-round. Because of this, it’s something of a mecca for any parachutists hoping to secure a BASE (Building, Antennae, Span, Earth) certification, which requires a jump from one of each.
I assume few of you (myself included) have several hundred skydives under your belt, so you won’t be able to sign up for a BASE course. But even if your motorcycle isn’t carrying a BASE rig, visiting the bridge and watching the jumpers is an attraction in itself. There’s a wealth of free camping around Twin Falls. Don’t miss the sprawling lava fields at nearby Craters of the Moon National Monument, either.
Snake River Bridge, Idaho. CREDIT: Murray Foubister
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Superior National Forest, Minnesota — Snowmobiling, Ice Fishing, Snowshoeing, and More
For a true wilderness experience, head to the Superior National Forest. Ride the historic Gunflint Trail, explore the one million acres of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and camp under the northern lights. In the winter, enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and generally freezing your ass off. In the summer, enjoy some of the finest wilderness paddling in the world. You can really get lost out here. Just be prepared for mosquitos and black flies...
Got a stellar motocamping destination that didn’t make the list? We’d love to plan a trip! Drop us a line on our socials to let us know.