Weekend Motorcycle Getaways: 5 Late-Summer Trips to Maximize Your August

Aug 20, 2025

Summer’s moving fast, but there’s still time to fit in a few more rides before it starts to cool off. Labor Day weekend is coming up, which makes it a solid excuse to get out for a longer ride without dipping into vacation days. If you’ve been throwing around some weekend motorcycle trip ideas, this is the perfect time to make one happen. A Labor Day motorcycle weekend doesn’t need much planning, just a good route and a couple of free days. In this blog, we’ve pulled together five trips that are worth checking out before summer wraps up. Here’s what we’ll be getting into:

1. Mountain & Canyon Loop Out of Denver, CO
2. Coastal Ride from Los Angeles to Big Sur and Back
3. Blue Ridge Parkway Getaway from Asheville, NC
4. Desert & Cactus Ride from Phoenix to Sedona
5. Mississippi River Bluff Ride from Minneapolis, MN

Start a Weekend Tour with Riders Share Experiences

If you’re looking for a more laid-back way to plan a weekend ride, you might want to check out the motorcycle tours available through Riders Share Experiences. These are guided rides hosted by local riders who know the roads, the views, and the best places to stop along the way. You can browse by state, pick the style of ride you want, and book everything online. It’s a great option if you’ve been thinking about a 3-day motorcycle tour but don’t want to map it all out yourself. Since this blog is all about easy weekend trips, starting with a tour like this takes out the guesswork and lets you focus on the ride.

1. Mountain & Canyon Loop Out of Denver, CO

• Day 1: Denver → Leadville
• Day 2: Leadville → Glenwood Springs
• Day 3: Glenwood Springs → Denver

This three-day loop gives you a little bit of everything Colorado is known for, without feeling overwhelming. The ride starts in Denver and climbs toward Leadville, where you’ll pass through wide valleys, open stretches of highway, and quiet backroads that gradually lead into higher elevations. By the time you pull into Leadville, the cooler air and mountain surroundings make it feel like you’ve gone much farther than you have. The second leg takes you west to Glenwood Springs, and this stretch is especially worth taking your time on. The route brings you through Glenwood Canyon, where the road hugs the river and winds between tall canyon walls, offering views that honestly don’t feel like something you’d expect to find along an interstate. Glenwood Springs is a laid-back town with hot springs, easy food options, and a relaxing spot to spend the night. On the final day, the ride back to Denver takes you along I-70, but there are plenty of ways to break it up. You can stop in Vail, grab lunch in Idaho Springs, or pull off at any number of mountain overlooks along the way. Overall, it’s an easy route to follow and one that makes late summer riding feel a little more like a vacation without needing to go too far.

Rent a motorcycle in Denver, CO with Riders Share and ride straight into the Rockies for a weekend of cool air, winding roads, and mountain towns.

2. Coastal Ride from Los Angeles to Big Sur and Back

• Day 1: LA → Santa Barbara
• Day 2: Santa Barbara → Big Sur
• Day 3: Big Sur → LA

Riding north out of Los Angeles gives you a pretty quick change of pace. Once you get past the city traffic and settle into the ride up the coast, it feels like everything opens up. The first day takes you to Santa Barbara, which has that mix of beach town and Spanish-style charm that makes it easy to settle into. It’s known for its coastal views and palm-lined streets, but what makes it interesting is how walkable and relaxed it feels compared to LA. You can park the bike, grab tacos from a local spot, and still have time to check out the waterfront or State Street before calling it a night.

On day two, you’ll follow Highway 1 past spots like Pismo Beach and Morro Bay, then make your way into Big Sur. This is where the ride really stands out. You’re on tight, winding stretches with cliffs on one side and the Pacific on the other, and there’s no mistaking it–this is one of those rides that people talk about for a reason. Big Sur itself isn’t packed with big hotels or chain restaurants, which is part of the appeal. It’s quiet, scenic, and feels a little more untouched. Even just grabbing a coffee somewhere and sitting outside for a bit feels like part of the experience.

The ride back to LA is still full of views, especially if you follow the same route in reverse. You can stop in towns you passed the first time around or take the inland route if you’re looking to change things up. Either way, the balance of coastal roads, relaxed towns, and long stretches of ocean makes this ride feel steady and unhurried from start to finish. It’s an ideal route for late summer too: temperatures stay reasonable, the fog starts to clear up a bit more, and the roads aren’t as packed as they are in peak season.

Grab a bike through Riders Share in Los Angeles, CA and follow the coast north for a weekend ride through Santa Barbara, Big Sur, and back.

3. Blue Ridge Parkway Getaway from Asheville, NC

• Day 1: Asheville → Little Switzerland
• Day 2: Little Switzerland → Blowing Rock
• Day 3: Blowing Rock → Asheville

Leaving Asheville puts you right into some of the best riding the Southeast has to offer. The Blue Ridge Parkway isn’t just popular because it’s scenic, it’s the kind of road that was literally designed for a smoother, slower ride, with no commercial traffic allowed and speed limits that keep things relaxed. Day one takes you to Little Switzerland, a small mountain town that sits just off the parkway. It’s not big, but it’s got a unique feel, with winding roads, a historic inn, and a handful of spots where you can sit outside and see nothing but trees and ridgelines in every direction. The second day rolls into Blowing Rock, another mountain town but with a bit more going on. The name comes from a cliff formation where wind patterns are strong enough to blow light objects upward, and while that’s mostly a fun tourist stop, the surrounding roads and views are the real draw. You’ll pass through high elevation stretches, tunnels carved through the mountains, and pull-offs that look out over the Blue Ridge Mountains for miles. On the third day, the route loops back to Asheville, giving you another chance to ride some of the best stretches in reverse. If you leave early, you can make time for a detour to Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, which isn’t far off the parkway and offers a short ride up to a summit view that’s well worth it. This route stays cooler in late summer thanks to the elevation, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a calm, steady ride with fewer crowds and plenty of stops that don’t feel overly touristy.

Book a motorcycle rental in Asheville, NC on Riders Share and spend the weekend exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway and nearby mountain towns.

4. Desert & Cactus Ride from Phoenix to Sedona

• Day 1: Phoenix → Jerome
• Day 2: Jerome → Sedona
• Day 3: Sedona → Phoenix

This ride gives you a full shift in scenery without needing to cover hundreds of miles. Starting out in Phoenix, you’ll head north toward Jerome, a small town tucked into the side of Cleopatra Hill that used to be a booming copper mining town and now feels more like an artists’ hideout. The streets are narrow and steep, and the views stretch out over the Verde Valley, which makes parking the bike and walking around feel like part of the ride. From there, day two brings you into Sedona, and that section of the route is one of the most underrated parts. You’ll pass by red rock formations, saguaro-studded hillsides, and winding roads that keep things interesting without being overly technical. Sedona itself feels different from other desert towns. There’s the obvious catch of the red rocks, but also quiet pockets for hiking, small local diners, and a ton of scenic pull-offs where you can just stop and take in the landscape. On the way back to Phoenix, you can either retrace your steps or loop through Cottonwood or Camp Verde for something new. Late summer brings hot afternoons, especially in lower elevations, but the higher parts of this ride offer some relief from the heat. Just plan for an early start, keep water on hand, and make time to actually enjoy the desert views instead of rushing through them.

Start your ride in Phoenix, AZ with a motorcycle from Riders Share and make your way through Jerome and Sedona for a weekend in the high desert.

5. Mississippi River Bluff Ride from Minneapolis, MN

• Day 1: Minneapolis → Red Wing → Wabasha (via Highway 61)
• Day 2: Wabasha → La Crosse, WI (cross the river) → Winona → Lake City
• Day 3: Lake City → Stillwater → Minneapolis

A weekend loop that follows the Mississippi through small towns, river bluffs, and quiet backroads makes for a ride that feels steady without being boring. Once you're outside the city, the road starts to hug the river in a way that feels almost constant, and the scenery shifts into tall bluffs, wide water views, and quiet river towns that haven’t changed much in decades. Day one brings you through Red Wing and down to Wabasha along Highway 61, which is packed with long, smooth stretches that stay close to the Mississippi. Red Wing’s a good first stop, especially if you want to walk the riverfront or check out a few locally owned shops before continuing on. Wabasha feels even slower paced, which makes it a solid overnight if you’re looking to park the bike and relax somewhere quiet. On the second day, you’ll cross into Wisconsin and ride south toward La Crosse before looping back into Minnesota through Winona and Lake City. The roads are easy to follow, but the views between towns are what make this ride stand out. You’ll pass cornfields, wooded bluffs, and stretches of shoreline that let you ride right along the edge of the water. On the final day, the loop brings you up through Stillwater before heading back into Minneapolis. Stillwater has a small downtown with good food, river views, and a bridge that connects back into Wisconsin if you want to explore a bit more before finishing out the trip. Late summer is a great time to ride this loop since the heat is more manageable and the roads are less crowded than peak vacation season.

Rent a motorcycle in Minneapolis, MN and ride along the Mississippi River through historic towns, bluff views, and riverfront stretches.

Need One Last Summer Ride? These Routes Have You Covered

There’s still time to get out for a ride before the season starts to shift. These routes are easy to plan, don’t take too much time, and make the most of a free weekend. If you’re looking for even more late summer short motorcycle trips, check out our blog: Best End of Summer Motorcycle Destinations to Plan ASAP. It’s got a few more spots worth adding to your list.