Las Vegas is a city so eccentric, so unique, so unlike any other place on Earth. It is a dream destination in its own right. The bigger truth, however, is that Las Vegas makes for an amazing jumping-off point for so many amazing journeys.
Many of America’s best national parks are within reach of Las Vegas, as is the city of Los Angeles and the legendary Area 51. If you’re staying in Las Vegas, you’re in the perfect place to enjoy a few amazing day trips. These are the best day trips from Las Vegas.
Valley of Fire State Park
What a name. If you’ve never been to Valley of Fire State Park, its name certainly does the place justice. The Aztec sandstone outcrops truly give the valley the appearance of being on fire. Jagged, sharp, tall, and wide — the ancient rocks of this park almost dance in the heat like flames. A road passes right through the park, making for one of the most scenic drives from Las Vegas.
If you’re a Trekkie or you’ve ever seen the films Viva Las Vegas, Total Recall, or The Professionals, Valley of Fire State Park was used as a setting for all of them. It’s a place of modern American history as much as it is one of outstanding natural beauty. With a landscape that looks like the surface of Mars, there really is nothing quite like Valley of Fire State Park.
Hoover Dam
Straddling the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, the Hoover Dam is one of the most iconic and impressive landmarks in the entire United States. A visit to this incredible piece of human engineering is completely unforgettable, making for one of the best day trips from Las Vegas.
Located just outside Boulder City (above) and south of Lake Mead, Hoover Dam is worth a day trip from Las Vegas all by itself, even if you don’t have time to visit Boulder City. Guided tours of both the dam and the powerplant can be booked, depending on what piques your interest. Are you visiting for the sheer visual splendor of this incredible place, or are you interested in the mechanics and the engineering? Either way, there’s a tour for you.
Red Rock Canyon National Park
Another one of the most scenic drives from Las Vegas takes you through Red Rock Canyon. Before you go, head to their website and download a map which provides you with twenty-six unique hiking trails. Leave early in the morning and enjoy one of the best day trips from Las Vegas as you walk, hike, and climb across the sandstone peaks of Nevada’s rugged terrain.
While it may look barren and quiet, the atmosphere of this place is fed, in part, by the sight of Joshua tree, Mojave yucca, and banana yucca. If you pay a visit to the Visitor Center, you can even meet a few protected desert tortoises from the local area.
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon needs no real introduction. If there is one great natural landmark in America that everyone across the world knows, it’s the Grand Canyon. What many people might not know, however, is that the Grand Canyon makes for one of the easiest day trips from Las Vegas.
A scenic drive east across the state line into Arizona takes you straight to the Grand Canyon, and a day spent there is guaranteed to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life. There is nothing like a view across the Grand Canyon. Nothing at all. If you have the time, you don’t have to make a trip to the Grand Canyon a quick day trip from Las Vegas. You can take some camping gear and spend a night under the stars at one of our country’s most peaceful places. Head to Mather Campground and make the night’s sky your blanket as you sleep beside the Grand Canyon.
Death Valley National Park
One of the most scenic drives from Las Vegas takes you across Nevada to the California state line. Straddling that line is Death Valley National Park. Known for being the USA’s hottest, driest, and, in terms of elevation, lowest national park, Death Valley really lives up to its name. In the winter months, the highest peaks of Death Valley are dusted with snow, while spring and summer floods bring to life incredible wildflowers.
While the name Death Valley might conjure up certain images and ideas, the reality is that this is an area of incredible diversity that shifts and changes with the seasons. For that reason, taking multiple day trips from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park is worth it as the seasons change. This is a place of incredible natural beauty that’s worth exploring more than once.
Boulder City
Not to be confused with Boulder, Colorado, Boulder City NV is a place that exists as the polar opposite to Las Vegas. And with Boulder City being just 26 miles’ drive from Sin City, it makes for one of the easiest day trips from Las Vegas.
It was the residents of Boulder City that built the Hoover Dam (more on that below) and Boulder City also has plenty of exciting experiences for you to discover. The nearby Lake Mead offers opportunities for scenic drives, camping under the stars, and even wakeboarding on the lake itself. In the city, you can enjoy some downtime away from the bustle of Las Vegas. Eat, drink, and be merry at the city’s cafes, bars, and restaurants. Enjoy the wide open spaces and the peace of Boulder City before you head back to Las Vegas.
Area 51
Where to even begin talking about Area 51? The very real, very private ASAF facility is so synonymous with alien conspiracy theories and secret government projects that a road trip to the surrounding area gives way to ET-themed hotels and diners, as well as plenty of alien-shaped signposts. The nearby town of Rachel even has a flying saucer on its “Welcome to Rachel” sign.
While nobody can get inside Area 51, a drive down State Route 375 — popularly known as the Extraterrestrial Highway — is one of the most scenic drives from Las Vegas. Along the highway, you’ll pass by Crystal Springs (now a ghost town), as well as the iconic Black Mailbox (now white) which signposts the track which leads to Area 51 itself. If you’re planning on making this an overnight trip, you can stay at the Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is one of the world’s most famous and beloved cities. A place countless people dream of visiting. The USA’s second-largest city is the crown jewel of the West Coast and a surprisingly easy day trip from Las Vegas. Head west, across Nevada and into California, and you can be in LA within a few hours.
Once you’re there, hit up all the best tourist destinations, from Hollywood Boulevard and Universal Studios to Venice Beach and its iconic boardwalk. Visit the city’s art galleries or even spend a few hours surfing if you’ve got the time. LA is a sprawling and beautiful city of endless possibilities, making it one of the best day trips from Las Vegas.
If you’ve got a few days in Sin City, you’ve got plenty of time enough to take a drive over the state line and into Los Angeles. It’s not a day trip many people think of, which is all the more reason for you to do it.
Zion National Park
One of the most stunning views in the entire United States can be found in Zion National Park. Zion Canyon, with its tall, sheer red walls and bed of lush green is a sight unlike anything else. Despite being located in Utah, getting to Zion National Park is a quick and easy drive north from Las Vegas along interstate 15.
A visit to Zion National Park is one of the best day trips from Las Vegas, and the journey there — especially as you approach the park itself — is one of the most scenic drives from Las Vegas that you can enjoy. The mesmerising blend of red rock, blue sky, and thick, dense, greenery in Zion is uniquely beautiful. Taking in this view from different angles as you hike and climb will continue to spellbind.
Monument Valley
If you’ve ever watched a classic Western movie, chances are you’ve seen Monument Valley. When you picture cowboys riding across the American landscape, you’re picturing Monument Valley. A drive across the Colorado plateau, passing through Monument Valley, is one of the most scenic drives from Las Vegas you can take.
An almost flat landscape, broken up by enormous jutting sandstone pillars that rise like, well, monuments out of the earth. The sheer beauty and one-of-a-kind landscape will be hard to forget. Whether you plan on driving through or stopping for a hike, Monument Valley offers one of the best and most rewarding day trips from Las Vegas.
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