Southwest Region

Travel Guide

10 Fun Things to Do In and Around Fredericksburg, TX

If you haven’t already ridden your motorcycle in Fredericksburg, TX, you’re missing out. Located in the hill country of central Texas, this city is close to great riding roads, from the Willow City Loop to the Twisted Sisters. The fun doesn’t end when the ride does, though.

Travel Guide

10 Things to Do Near Albuquerque, NM

If you’re visiting Albuquerque, you might be wondering what there is to see and explore. From the winding roads of the Turquoise Trail to the ancient petroglyphs of Petroglyph National Monument, there's no shortage of sights to see and adventures to experience within a day's

Classic Roads

Beware the Highway of Death—US 285

Many famous motorcycling roads have nicknames that describe their characters. The High Road to Taos takes you to the mountains, the Skyline Drive shows off the scenery of the Shenandoah Valley, and the various Dragons promise curves aplenty. And then you have Death Highway. It’s exactly what it sounds

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New Mexico: The Land (and Sky) of Enchantment

There is an inexplicable sense of magic in the air as soon as you enter New Mexico. This sacred land is a Southwestern gem, a place where the natural world, culture, and spirit are entwined. I wanted to find out what made this place so magical in the first place,

Classic Roads

Wichita Mountains National Scenic Byway

The uninitiated generally perceive Oklahoma as one big flat wheat field—remember that Rodgers & Hammerstein musical that celebrated the land “where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain?” In reality, however, the Sooner State does have several “mountainous” regions. Although the peaks are more like speed bumps compared to

City Escape

City Escape: Flagstaff, Arizona

As the youngest state to be admitted into the contiguous U.S., Arizona still can still feel like a frontier. From tourist luxury in Sedona to semi-abandoned history in Skull Valley, central Arizona offers a wide range of options for motorcycle travelers to explore. Tourist-friendly natural beauty can be found

Destinations

The City with Everything—Arlington, TX

Big cities aren’t typically motorcyclists' first choices for riding destinations. There’s an exception for everything, though, and in Texas, that’s Arlington. Sitting almost smack-dab in the middle between Fort Worth and Dallas, this city of nearly 400,000 residents forms a crucial part of the Dallas-Fort

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Valley of the Gods—A Good Adventure for Father and Son

“The adventure leads the ride.” —JJ Lewis It was July, 107 degrees, and not a sliver of shade in sight. My son Ben had just ripped a gash in his rear tire on the razor-like rocks so common in this part of the northeastern Arizona desert. It was a “good

Classic Roads Premium Content

The Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway

Appearing in opaque shades of blue, bluish green, green, and yellowish green, turquoise is a mineral that has been a treasured gemstone for thousands of years. The stone’s value derives from its use in jewelry and other decorative applications. It is usually found in dry climates, which is why

Travel Guide

10 US Riding Destinations with Bizarre Names

Some riding destinations in North America have evocative, awe-inspiring names, like the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Sea to Sky Highway. The names for some other places are… Less so. Many locations in the U.S. have decidedly mind-boggling names. But that makes them worth taking your bike to—if

Classic Roads Premium Content

El Camino del Diablo—A Baptism of Fire

El Camino del Diablo, or the Devil’s Highway, has earned its ominous name. This Native American and pioneer trail snakes through the formidable Sonoran and Yuma Deserts in Arizona, uniting Ajo to Yuma amidst the Tinajas Altas Mountains. During our ride through the devilish road, our friends Beth and

Destinations

The Wickedest Town in the West—Jerome, AZ

Motorcyclists riding into Jerome, AZ, can expect this small, charming mountain town to get the good times rolling as soon as you arrive. Had your visit taken place some 120 years earlier, though, you may not have received such a warm welcome. At the time, Jerome had the dubious honor

Mar/Apr '24 Premium Content

Fredericksburg, Texas Shamrock Tour®

At the heart of every great Shamrock Tour® is a vibrant hub to call home. I’m often so excited to swing a leg over my bike that I rarely think about what I’ll do when I swing it back. That’s why Fredericksburg is the perfect destination. Texas

Classic Roads Premium Content

Ride The Beautiful Texas Bluebonnet Trail

Pardon my waxing poetic for a moment, but the Texas bluebonnet season is like life—it’s a beautiful affair that’s over far too quickly. That’s precisely why you should grab your handlebars and motor to the Bluebonnet Trail to enjoy both life and the flowers while they

Destinations

Visit Oklahoma's First State Capital—Guthrie

On the morning of April 22, 1889, Guthrie, OK, was still just a dusty prairie stop known as Deer Creek on the AT&SF Railroad in the Unassigned Lands of Indian Territory. By the same evening, it had become a tent city with approximately 10,000 residents. The new

Travel Guide

5 US Destinations for an Early-Season Spring Motorcycle Ride

The winter puts an end to the riding season in many places across the U.S. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since the cold months are a great chance to maintain your motorcycle or perhaps read that motorcycling book that’s been sitting on your coffee table. Eventually,

Travel Guide

9 Spectacular Places to Visit in Arizona

Heat, sand, and cacti—that’s Arizona in the popular imagination. But the state has much more to offer for a moto traveler who knows where to point their front wheel. Arizona sports a huge variety of Southwestern environments, from its famous sun-scorched desert to tranquil lakes, awesome (in the

City Escape

Riding the Sandia Mountains—Albuquerque, New Mexico

In the high desert of New Mexico you will find one of the state's largest cities, Albuquerque. A city that weaves together a rich tapestry of culture, history, and natural beauty. With a backdrop of the Sandia Mountains and a skyline painted in hues of adobe, Albuquerque captivates

Classic Roads

The High Road to Taos, New Mexico

New Mexico has a colorful history, stretching thousands of years and covering Native American, Spanish, and modern U.S. settlement. The High Road to Taos takes you on a trip through the state’s past—and onto a stunning motorcycling road. While it is well-known, the High Road rarely makes

Destinations

Texas Vintage Motorcycle Museum—Johnson City

About an hour north of San Antonio, TX, and 30 miles east of Fredericksburg, is the town of Johnson City. It’s a typical small town in Texas Hill Country, with a couple of exceptions: it’s known as the home of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and it’s also

Roundtrip Tour

A Year In Review: Top RoadRUNNER Tours of 2023

Stories from the road are what we are known for. We don't just write about places that we think might be interesting to visit, we actually ride there. When you read RoadRUNNER's tour editorial, you know our team of experienced motorcycle travel journalists have put the

Destinations

A Year In Review: Our Favorite Destinations of 2023

At RoadRUNNER, it's about more than just the motorcycle. It's about where you go on the motorcycle. Simply put, we are addicted to exploring new places and experiencing new things. We often share short articles highlighting specific places across the country that might be of interest

Nov/Dec '23

City Escape: San Antonio, Texas

This City Escape, northwest of San Antonio, is a fun foray into the Texas Hill Country. The route is nicely curvy, features some great state and regional parks, and even a nod to the Celtic druids along the ride. SR 39 sits at the midpoint of the route and is

Travel Guide

4 Unique Desert Rides

Deserts possess a unique magic, but their serene beauty often masks inherent dangers. Yet, when you’re equipped for the ride with plenty of water, sun protection, and working high-quality maps, they can deliver unforgettable moto trips. Deserts offer properly prepared riders astonishing vistas and amazing landscapes, with sunrises and

Nov/Dec '23 Premium Content

Arizona: Cowboys, Miners, and the Devil's Highway

The red-sashed cowboy welcomed us to Tombstone, AZ. The outlaw challenged the Earp brothers as the O.K. Corral standoff began. “Wait, there are motorbikes in the street!” Joshua Manning and I were parked at Tombstone’s main street, the first stop of our epic Arizona route. The tour included