When visiting the Scottsdale or Phoenix area, this is an exciting off-road/racing styled adventure in Arizona's Sonoran Desert you won't want to miss! With a guide, drive through some of the finest off-road trails, washes, and hillsides aboard a sand buggy for an adrenaline-filled adventure.

Drive a desert car off-road in the Sonoran Desert
Enjoy the beautiful desert scenery and look out for wildlife
Convenient meet-up location near Scottsdale
Guide handle navigation so you can relax

What's Included

U-Drive ATV Tour
Safety equipment including goggles and helmet
Bottled water
Gators

Gratuities
Hotel pick up and drop-off
Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Not far from Scottsdale, Arizona, have fun on desert trails as you drive your own ATV with an experienced guide along for the ride, with key advice and top-notch instruction in this fun and safe excursion.

Outfitted with goggles and a helmet, make your way along sandy washes and rocky creek beds, eventually crossing ridge lines for a bird’s eye view of the Sonoran Desert. Drive a "C2" Desert car, which is a 2-seat vehicle with a roll cage and seatbelts.

Important Note: Each booking must have 2 people.

Tonto National Forest

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Lake Saguaro (Pass By)

Four Peaks (Pass By)

Sonoran Desert (Pass By)

Salt River (Pass By)

Sonoran Desert National Monument (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 5 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

Minimum age for drivers is 16 years
2 people required per buggy
Transportation can be arranged for an additional fee. Call for details.
Weight restriction per buggy is 400 pounds
Tour runs rain or shine
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Christine_G

Fantastic tour with so many interesting details about the desert, history and local wildlife. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery while driving an UTV. It was so much fun! Our guide Ryan did an amazing job.

Reviews

4.5

108 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 108 reviews

Fun in the desert

Edward_F, Apr 2024

Awesome time. The instructors were safety conscious but wanted to make sure everyone had a good time. Being that it was my first time I had a blast. The instructors were great. The equipment was in great shape.

UTV Ride of a Lifetime

Judy_K, Mar 2024

We loved our UTV ride thru the Sonoran Desert! Our guide, Ryan, explained the trail so we knew what to expect on the rocky trail and water crossing. We would definitely recommend this UTV ride to others!

Awesome desert tour!

Lily_E, Mar 2024

This was a great experience for those who are new to ATV’ing and want to explore the desert. Our tour guide was wonderful making sure everyone was safe and knew how to operate the vehicle. We made a couple stops to see cool parts of the desert that the tour guide gave some backstory on. We did not go very fast (no higher than 30 mph) which was nice as we were new to ATV’ing. Overall, really great experience!

Fantastic even in rain!

Steve_V, Mar 2024

The Waterford ing was great! Anyone can do it….ATV’s are very capable….really enjoyed it… be prepared and bring gloves hot or cold….

Adventurous

Shirley_W, Mar 2024

The leaders made sure all the guests were comfortable. We enjoyed the rigorous ride through the terrain and the sights along the way. The leaders were very knowledgeable of the cactus plants and wildlife in the desert. It was very adventurous.

Amazing desert experience

Monica_G, Feb 2024

So much fun! The guides were great! Amazing view of the desert. Bring a towel to sit on the car seat after. We got very dusty and were using a car service, we left his seats a little dusty.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Sounds like Good Off-roading fun! Thank You for the 5 star review!

Must do if in Scottsdale

Lisa_D, Feb 2024

Booked this for a work team adventure. Hands down one of the best experiences! The different terrains offered a variety of scenery. Our guides were phenomenal! Very personable, passionate about what they do and knowledgeable about the area. Would definitely do this again!

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Thank you for a wonderful review! We appreciate you acknowledging the passionate guides we have.

Amazing Experience!!

Beth_L, Jan 2024

Such a great experience and would highly recommend it!! The staff and guides provided excellent customer service to make the excursion the best it could be!!

Response from Host, Jan 2024

What a great review! Thank you!

A little rain didn’t drag us down!

Erica_G, Jan 2024

We came to Arizona on our honeymoon and I picked this tour with my husband in mind and let me tell you I’m already wife of the year! We went on this tour when it was raining, it was absolutely freezing but we still had a great time - that’s how cool the desert is. It was a lot of fun! My husband said this was his absolute favorite part of our trip.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Erica! You are "Wife of The Year!" I love it! Thank you!

Fantastic Tour

Christine_G, Dec 2023

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Thank you very much! Hope you can visit with us again!

Fun, fun, fun!

Kavitha_A, Dec 2023

The whole experience was something very different from anything I have done - bumpy, dusty and fun! Would highly recommend it!

Response from Host, Dec 2023

I love the description! You explained it Perfectly! Thank you!

Desert Offroad

Chloe_C, Dec 2023

Don was great! He let us stop to take pictures and told us a lot of facts about the desert. If you are looking for an adventure, this is a great excursion!

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Thank you for the wonderful review! And Thank You for hitting the trails with us!

Four Wheel Desert Fun!

Heather_R, Oct 2023

We had the best time. The offroad experience was top-notch. Our guides were amazing and we would definitely do it again. Highly recommend

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Perfect review! Thank you and hope you can visit with us again!

ATV vacation in Phoenix

Debbie_D, Oct 2023

Two person ATV was perfect for my husband and me. Michelle was a delight to work with. She was very helpful and caring to our concerns and needs with the extreme heat. The tour guides were great! All three were professional and knowledgeable, which is needed in the desert environment. Felt very safe, and would definitely recommend going on a Desert Dog tour while visiting Arizona.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Debbie, What a wonderful review! Thank you!

Beautiful desert experience

Rachael_H, Jun 2023

We went on tour with the entire family while in town for vacation. We had a blast- the trails were great, the desert was beautiful and the guides were fantastic. Highly recommend

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Love the review! The desert is a magnificent place to see while you visit Arizona. Hope to see you again!

Great Experience!

Dameon_B, May 2023

It was amazing experience! Ryan was a great and very knowledgeable guide. We will definitely do it again on our next visit!

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you! Hope to see you again!

Great day

Will_B, Apr 2023

Very fun and easy going trip. A great day got anyone. I recommend bring something like a bandana to cover your face from the dust.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thank you for the review!

Great time!

Steven_R, Apr 2023

Great time! It was a blast. If you do this, make sure you take goggles for your eyes and a bandanna for your face

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thank you for the review!

Fun on the trails

Michael_E, Apr 2023

Just getting out and dirty on the trails. The views were wonderful. The trails where fun and not too scary. The guides where excellent and reassuring. It gets quite dusty so I would recomment a bandana and glasses.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Love your review! It is gorgeous out in the desert right now. Hope you got some great pictures!

Not for tall people

Jill_G, Feb 2023

My adult children and their 4 year old and 7 year old loved it. Unfortunately, we had to turn around as my husband was too tall to fit in the vehicle. Not our fault.....His knee was jammed against the wheel and he could not move his foot from the brake to the gas. Therefore, unable to drive and we had to turn around. I tried to drive the vehicle, but he was having the same problem in the passenger seat with his knees hitting the safety handle.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

Thank you for your review and for the feedback.