GREAT PLACES TO VISIT NEAR LAS VEGAS BY CAR

One of the most well-liked vacation spots in the US is Las Vegas.

A genuine adventure retreat is Las Vegas. You may discover hundreds of amazing sites to explore around Las Vegas by automobile, including state and national parks, wildlife refuges, and picturesque monuments, within a few hours of the city. 

Distance: 16.5 miles from Las Vegas 

Best time to visit: Red Rock Canyon is stunning all year round, but between October and April is the best time to go due of the summer's intense heat.

Locals refer to this area, which is known simply as Red Rock, as one of the most well-liked driving destinations around Las Vegas.

About 25 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock provides an incredible combination of breathtaking scenery, a ton of easy-to-moderate hiking paths, and chances for rock climbing. 

One of the greatest day excursions from Las Vegas is to Red Rock Canyon, but it may become crowded. It's not unusual to see the Red Rock's main gate closed during popular holidays and weekends due to the high volume of tourists! You should visit in the morning because of this.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area admission is $15 per car. 

Those visitors who don't have a car but still want to appreciate this natural wonder can take guided tours of Red Rock Canyon, which is fantastic. Daily departures from Las Vegas for organized trips include stops at all significant Red Rock Canyon locations and are led by knowledgeable tour guides.

50 miles separate this place from Las Vegas. 

Hotels nearby Valley of Fire State Park are unfortunately not available. Most people stop here on their way between Utah, California, and Nevada, either as a stopover or as a day excursion from Las Vegas.

Mid-fall through April are the best months to visit. Valley of Fire State Park experiences triple-digit summertime temperatures, which makes hiking difficult. 

Valley of Fire, the largest state park in Nevada, is a genuine photographer's paradise with its vivid orange outcrops, constricting slot canyons, and otherworldly vistas that make for breath-taking photographs!

from Las Vegas, the best excursions to Valley of Fire

You must rent a car to go to Valley of Fire State Park because it is situated in a far-off location. However, Valley of Fire is one of the top attractions within two hours of Las Vegas, so the trip is definitely worth it.

Alternatively, if you don't want to hire a car, you may take a guided tour of Valley of Fire. Before returning to Las Vegas in the evening, a tour will pick you up in Las Vegas and show you around the park.

Distance from Las Vegas: 35 miles

Best time to visit: Year-round 

The Lake Mead National Recreational Area, which is home to Hoover Dam, provides access to a ton of great activities including hiking, kayaking, bicycling, and jet skiing. 

Additionally, you may visit Hoover Dam for a day trip to discover its unique past. Hoover Dam is one of the most well-liked tourist destinations close to Las Vegas because of its closeness to Sin City, and it can get very crowded, especially in the summer, which is the busiest travel season.

Black Canyon is among my favorite locations in the Lake Mead National Recreational Area. The ideal location for kayaking and boating. You may hire a kayak here and explore the area's picturesque canyon, hot streams, and warm pools of water.

The Black Canyon, which is a part of the Lake Mead Recreation Area, and the surrounding Emerald Cove are two of the greatest undiscovered attractions outside of Las Vegas. Due to its close proximity to Las Vegas and breathtaking landscape that gives the impression that you are hundreds of miles away from the city, Black Canyon is one of the greatest spots to visit nearby.

I suggest taking a half-day kayaking excursion in Black Canyon, which should include a stop at the stunning Emerald Cove, which serves as the boundary between Arizona and Nevada. The journey starts at the picturesque Willow Beach, where you may equip your kayak with paddles, life jackets, and other gear. You and your guide will paddle the last 5 kilometers down the Black Canyon starting at Willow Beach.

Don't forget to bring your camera, since this location is quite picturesque. The region is home to natural hot springs, steep, craggy cliffs, and ancient Native American town ruins. Make careful to check it out because many visitors to Las Vegas overlook it.

Alternatively, you may take part in an off-road ATV or UTV trip that departs from Las Vegas and lets you visit El Dorado Canyon and the Techatticup gold mine. You will get the option to visit this breathtaking area's back canyons and outlying areas while on the trip.

Best time to go: Despite being a few hours north of Las Vegas, it can still get rather hot during the summer in Cathedral Gorge State Park. The best time to visit Cathedral Gorge is between August and November because the winters there are a little bit colder.

Go to Cathedral Gorge State Park if you want to find a destination that is off the beaten path. 

You must bring your camera with you when you visit this secret location since it has scenery that seems like it belongs on Mars. The advantage of visiting Cathedral Gorge State Park is that it is small and easy to see everything on foot.

Distance from Las Vegas: 142 miles

The best time to visit is from mid-fall to mid-spring, as is the case with many picturesque locations in the Mojave Desert. Death Valley, which boasts some of the highest temperatures in North America, is a case in point.

Do you want to visit one of the Southwest's trendiest locations?

Visit California's Death Valley National Park! 

While this location has gained notoriety for its sweltering heat (summertime highs in the park may reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit), Death Valley is also home to a number of mysterious landscapes, including Racetrack Playa, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie Point.

One common alternative for those who don't have a rental car is taking a day trip to Death Valley from Las Vegas. You may explore the park with a certified guide and see all the attractions when visiting Death Valley with a group trip that departs from Las Vegas.

PRO TIP: Although a lot of tourists bypass Death Valley in favor of traveling directly from Las Vegas to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, I advise spending at least a day there. Contrary to popular belief, Death Valley is much more than simply a stretch of desolate land.

If you enjoy hiking and camping, Death Valley National Park in California is one of the greatest destinations to explore close to Las Vegas. 

In actuality, Death Valley is ideal for thrill-seekers!

Some of the scenery in this national park resembles scenes from a sci-fi film, and Death Valley is so barren that you could feel entirely cut off from society when driving through it.

Death Valley has a $35 per car entrance charge, like other national parks close to Las Vegas. 

Planning your vacation appropriately is important because this is one of the largest national parks in the country. Take a guided tour of Death Valley from Las Vegas if you don't have much time but yet want to visit this special region.

To help with your planning, see my list of the most amazing sites to visit in Death Valley.

Distance from Las Vegas: 87 miles

The best time to travel is from mid-fall to mid-spring.

Make a stop at China Date Ranch Farm if you're headed to Death Valley.

A little oasis located in the middle of the Mojave Desert is called China Date Ranch Farm. If you want an adrenaline rush, this desert offers several ATV trips like this one.

Only after a friend informed me about China Date Ranch did I visit and fall in love with its beautiful environment! It's the ideal, straightforward day excursion from Las Vegas that doesn't involve any driving!

One of the most popular day excursions from Las Vegas is to the China Date Ranch in Death Valley. 

At the family-run farm known as China Date Ranch, you may buy delectable goods made from fresh dates, stroll among date palms and tall cottonwood trees, and spot incredible animals. This location is south of Death Valley National Park, close to the community of Tecopa.

PRO TIP: You may arrange your excursion with the aid of my guide to China Date Ranch in Death Valley!

When to go: From late September until early March.

In Nevada, there are countless numbers of abandoned communities. They are everywhere in the state because mining was the foundation of its history!

The Nelson Ghost Town Tour is quite well-liked. Additionally, stops are made in Boulder City, Hoover Dam, and Seven Magic Mountains. If you need a getaway from Las Vegas, this is ideal.

Nelson Ghost Town is among the most well-known abandoned communities close to Las Vegas. Due to its Wild West-like setting, this location, which is situated in the rocky Nevada desert next to the famous Eldorado Canyon, has grown in popularity among photographers and videographers.

One of the most visited locations close to Las Vegas is Nelson Ghost Town, where many tourists come to take pictures and discover the area's mining heritage. 

One of the most well-liked day excursions from Sin City that provides a view into Nevada's mining heritage is Nelson Ghost Town, which is close to Las Vegas. 

A certified guide is also available for tours of the old Techatticup Mine. Online or by phone reservations are required for tours.

Learn how to obtain a permission to snap photographs at Nelson Ghost Town by reading my guide to the location.

Distance from Las Vegas: 271 miles

Year round is the best time to travel. However, summer comes sweltering temperatures that could make it challenging to be outside. 

In the past, Page was a tranquil hamlet in northern Arizona that not many people were aware of.

Following the appearance of pictures of Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon online, this location saw a surge of visitors from all over the world.

Many tourists depart from Las Vegas on an organized tour to explore Lower Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona. 

As a result of the local natural landmarks and national parks, Page, Arizona is one of the most well-liked destinations for road trips from Las Vegas. 

One of the most well-liked destinations in northern Arizona and one of the best driving destinations near Las Vegas is Page. An average visitor to Page spends two days touring Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell.

Lower Antelope Canyon tours leave Las Vegas early in the morning and return in the late afternoon or evening. They take around 15 hours. In addition to a brief lunch stop, tours now include stops at Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

Price includes entrance to Lower Antelope Canyon.

ADVICE: One of the most well-liked destinations in Page is Arizona's Antelope Canyon. If you go to this location during the busy season, you may now have to wait for several hours in line.

Read my guide to Arizona's Antelope Canyon to avoid errors and enjoy your vacation!

Distance from Las Vegas: 165 miles

Summer is unquestionably the busiest season in Zion. Plan your journey during the late spring or fall.

With so many people coming here to take a vacation from Las Vegas and enjoy picturesque hikes, Zion National Park has emerged as one of the most well-liked short day excursions from Las Vegas.

This location, surrounded by soaring red cliffs and abundant vegetation, provides a nice change of scenery from the desert of Las Vegas. A two-hour journey from Las Vegas to Zion is absolutely worthwhile!

If you don't have a rental car, take a trip from Las Vegas to Zion National Park. Many tourists who wish to see Zion on a day trip choose these trips.

All year round, Zion National Park sees a regular stream of visitors, but the summer months are particularly crowded, and lately, crowding has become a significant problem.

You will experience the ultimate adrenaline rush at Angels Landing, the highest point in Zion National Park, since the path leads along a ridge that is perpendicular to the mountain. By 2023, a permit is required for this hike.

The Narrows, a scenic trek that winds along the Virgin River and offers breathtaking scenery, is an option if you're terrified of heights. Zion should be on your list if you're seeking for the ideal day vacation from Las Vegas because it can be reached in less than three hours.