Age Requirements for Snowmobile & Side-by-Side Tours

One of the most common questions we get is "how old does my kid need to be?" — and the honest answer is: it depends on which tour you’re booking. Age rules are different for guided tours, self-guided rentals, our family Kids Course, and side-by-side (UTV) tours, so it’s easy to get confused if you’re comparing options.

Here’s the exact breakdown, so you know exactly who can drive and who can ride before you book. No one may drive if they have had a DUI or similar infraction in the past three years.

Quick Answer

Activity	Driver Age (without a guardian)	Driver Age (with a guardian present)	Minimum Passenger Age
Guided Snowmobile Tour (incl. Trailblazers 1.5-Hour Family Tour)	18, with valid driver’s license	15–17, guardian present, license/permit photocopied at check-in, no passenger allowed	4
↳ Kids Course add-on (30 min of the Trailblazers 1.5hr Family Tour only)	N/A — built for kid drivers	Ages 4–15 drive with a guardian present, in the Kids Course area only	N/A (kids drive; guardians supervise, they don’t ride along)
Self-Guided Snowmobile Rental	21, with valid driver’s license	16–20, guardian present, license photocopied at check-in; must be 18+ to carry a passenger	4
Off-Road Side-by-Side (UTV) Tour	18, with valid driver’s license	Not offered for minors	4

Guided Snowmobile Tours

Drivers must be 18 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate a snowmobile without a guardian present.
Drivers 15–17 years old may drive if accompanied by their legal guardian on the tour. A valid driver’s license or learner’s permit must be presented and photocopied at check-in. Drivers in this age range cannot carry a passenger.
Passengers must be at least 4 years old.

See guided tour availability

Self-Guided Snowmobile Rentals

Self-guided rentals carry a higher age threshold than guided tours, since there’s no guide riding along:

Drivers must be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license to rent and ride without a guardian present.
16–20 year olds may drive if accompanied by their legal guardian, with a valid license photocopied at check-in. You must be 18+ to carry a passenger.
Passengers must be at least 4 years old.

See self-guided availability

Trailblazers 1.5-Hour Family Tour ("Kids Course")

This tour is the standard 1-hour Trailblazers guided tour with an additional 30 minutes for the Kids Course, for a total of 1.5 hours. Standard Guided Snowmobile Tour age rules apply — adults and older teens drive normally (see above). The Kids Course is designed specifically for kids to drive their own machine during the Family Tour in a supervised area.

Kids Course add-on details:

Driver ages 4–15 are allowed, with a legal guardian present.
Kid drivers stay only within the Kids Course lap area.
Machines are staff-assigned (120cc or 200cc) based on the child’s size and ability — parents cannot request a larger machine than the guide deems appropriate.
200 lb max weight per rider.
Machines are governed for safety (limited speed).
Guardians watch and supervise from outside the course — they do not ride along with their child.
With multiple kids or a range of ages/sizes, riders take turns. About 30 minutes total is set aside for the Kids Course, which includes a safety briefing and instruction — so your child’s actual ride time is less than the full 30 minutes.

Don’t book this tour if: you don’t have kids, or your kids don’t want to drive. It’s built around kid drivers.

Off-Road Side-by-Side (UTV) Tours

Drivers must be 18 years old with a valid driver’s license.
Passengers must be at least 4 years old — same passenger minimum as snowmobiling.
Passengers ages 4–9 must be in a booster seat. This requirement is specific to side-by-side tours and does not apply to snowmobile passengers.

See side-by-side tour availability

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do you have to be to drive a snowmobile at Grand Adventures?

On a guided tour, 18 with a valid license to drive without a guardian, or 15–17 with a guardian present (valid drivers license or permit required). On a self-guided rental, you must be 21 to drive without a guardian, or 16–20 with a guardian present. You must be at least 18 to carry a passenger.

Can a teenager drive a snowmobile without an adult?

No. Anyone under 18 (guided tours) or under 21 (self-guided rentals) must have their legal guardian present to drive.

What’s the youngest age to ride as a passenger on a snowmobile?

4 years old, on both guided tours and self-guided rentals.

Can my child drive their own snowmobile?

Yes, on the Trailblazers 1.5-Hour Family Tour ("Kids Course"), kids ages 4–15 can drive their own machine in a dedicated Kids Course area, with a guardian present and staff-assigned machine.

How old do you have to be to drive a side-by-side (UTV)?

18, with a valid driver’s license.

What’s the minimum age to ride in a side-by-side as a passenger?

4 years old, same as snowmobile tours, and kids ages 4–9 must be in a booster seat.

Why are self-guided rental age requirements higher than guided tours?

Self-guided rentals don’t have a guide riding along, so the minimum driver age is higher (21 vs. 18) to reflect the added responsibility.

Do you accept international driver’s licenses?

Yes, a valid international driver’s license is accepted to meet the driver’s license requirement on any tour or rental.

Can I drive if I have a DUI or similar infraction on my record?

No. Drivers with a DUI or similar infraction within the past three years are not permitted to drive on any Grand Adventures tour or rental.

Is a booster seat required for kids on a side-by-side tour?

Yes. Passengers ages 4–9 are required to be in a booster seat on side-by-side tours. This requirement is specific to side-by-side tours and does not apply to snowmobile passengers.

See all Grand Adventures FAQs or book your trip online.