Las Vegas: ATV Desert Ride & Ghost Town Saloon Stop

4.79

(144 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest—my palms were already sweaty before we even started the engines. There’s something about seeing all those ATVs lined up against the Nevada dust, with the Strip just a memory thirty minutes behind you, that makes your heart thump a little faster. Our guide, Mike (big sun hat, dry sense of humor), handed me my helmet and grinned like he knew I’d stall out on the first turn. He was right. The first “whoops” section nearly bounced me out of my seat—felt like riding over a row of sleeping armadillos. I laughed so hard my goggles fogged up.

The desert out here is nothing like I pictured—Joshua trees that look like they’re waving hello (or maybe warning you?), canyon walls throwing long shadows across gravel stretches, and every so often a jack rabbit darting off like it’s late for work. Mike slowed us down to point out some wild burros munching on scrub; I tried to snap a photo but mostly got blurry ears and dust. The air smells sharp—like hot stone and sagebrush—and there’s this silence between engine roars that feels kind of ancient. We hit the figure 8 track next, which is where I realized I’m way less coordinated than I thought. Still fun though—my arms are going to remember those turns for days.

After all that rattling around, rolling up to the old Pioneer Saloon felt surreal. It’s over a hundred years old and honestly looks it—in the best way. You can see bullet holes in the wall from some Wild West drama nobody really wants to talk about anymore. I grabbed a burger (greasier than I’d admit back home) and listened to one of the locals tell stories about gamblers who never left town. The place smells like wood smoke and old whiskey; it gets under your skin a bit.

I didn’t expect to feel so small out there in all that space—or to laugh so much at myself trying to keep up with Mike’s jokes and the rest of our group kicking up sand behind me. If you’re looking for an ATV tour in Las Vegas that’s more than just speed—it’s this one. Some moments stick with you longer than you’d think.