Arizona’s Most Spectacular Motorcycle Ride
Our favorite motorcycle ride in Arizona is from the western town of Wickenburg to the old mining town of Jerome.
Just under 99 miles one way through granite boulders, two National Forests and the Mingus Mountains. An hour of the ride will be hairpin turns and switchbacks.
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How to Get to Wickenburg
From Phoenix it is roughly 65 miles to Wickenburg. The quickest route is to take I-10 west to 303. Drive north for about 30 miles to U.S. 60 and take Exit 119. Follow U.S. 60 for another 30 miles before you’ll reach Wickenburg.
What You’ll See Along the Way
The drive from Wickenburg to Jerome has hairpin turns and gorgeous scenery. If you don’t stop it will take you about two hours one-way. If you do decide to stop below are a few of our favorite stops.
- Explore Wickenburg
- Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park
- Yarnell
- Prescott
- Watson Lake
- Jerome
Southwestern Scenic Drive from Wickenburg to Jerome Ride
Wickenburg is a cool town to explore. A friendly place to stop and eat is the Mecca Bar & Grill. They have a nice outdoor eating area too.
If you have some time explore Wickenburg.
To start your scenic ride take U.S. 93 north to the traffic circle, then take 89 north towards Congress and Yarnell.
From Wickenburg you will drive through Yarnell. If you want a great hike you’ll get a great workout at Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park.
One of our favorite stops on the way is at Burro Saloon. The people here, employees and customers, are always friendly.
From you will wind your way through 16-miles of the Prescott National Forest. This is a really fun ride, but you really have to mind the curves. Every year there are a lot of accidents in this area. If you don’t like heights this may be an unnerving ride.
Prescott is a really cool western town to explore. It is also a good spot to top your tank off and grab a bite to eat.
As you leave the downtown area of Prescott you’ll pass Watson Lake. If you don’t have much time you can stop to take in the views and continue on. If you need to stretch your legs we recommend the Flume Trail & Watson Lake Loop trailhead.
From Prescott you’ll want to follow 89A to Jerome, which means you’ll need to turn right on Pioneer Parkway. If you pass the airport you’ve missed your turn.
Take 89A for about an hour. The ride through town and out the other side is about 30 minutes, after this you will enter the Coconino National Forest and start gaining elevation.
Switchbacks and hairpin turns make this a really fun ride. Views of the Mingus Mountains and red rocks make this a very scenic ride. We never get tired of these views.
Right before Jerome there is a large pull off area where you have a great view. Jerome is popular among bikers. If you visit on the weekends expect a line to find parking.
If you continue down 89A you will drive through Cottonwood to Sedona to Flagstaff. If you want to get back to Phoenix the quickest route possible take 89A to 260 over to I-17 south or you can drive back the way you came.
Places to Eat
Our favorite places to eat on this route:
- Mecca Bar & Grill in Wickenburg. They have a nice outdoor eating area.
- Burro Saloon in Wilhoit.
- Bill’s Grill in Prescott has good burgers.
- Haunted Hamburger in Jerome. Great views if you’re sitting outside.
- Bobby D’s BBQ in Jerome. Outdoor seating available.
- Vaqueros Grill & Cantina in Jerome.
