Las Vegas is one of the best places in the world for a vacation and not just because of the vast amount of entertainment in the city!
There are many natural wonders, historic landmarks, and places to see that make for perfect day trips from the Las Vegas Strip.
In fact, tours of some of these attractions can include your transportation to and from the Strip or Downtown!
Top 10 recommended locations for day trips from Las Vegas
Grand Canyon
Location: North Rim Map, South Rim Map | Recommended Tours: See Grand Canyon Tours
The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a bucket list item for the millions of people that explore, tour, and gaze at the massive canyon.
Encompassing 278 miles, there are many different options for touring the canyon including transportation by jeep, bus, or van; guided tours by the National Park Service, private tours, rafting, helicopter, and horseback tours, just to name a few options!
Tip: Explore tips to visiting Grand Canyon from Las Vegas
The Grand Canyon is roughly four hours from Las Vegas.
Red Rock Canyon
Location: See Map | Recommended Tours: Explore Tour Types
If you want to see a canyon up close and personal that isn’t hours away from the strip, Red Rock Canyon is a great choice.
Less than 30 minutes from Las Vegas, the Red Rock Canyon has self-guided hiking, a scenic drive, horseback riding with wrangler guides, and bus tours from the strip.
The canyon is a National Conservation Area, with Spring Mountain Ranch State Park just adjacent to it.
Zion National Park
Location: See Map
Located just over the border in Utah, Zion National Park features gorgeous sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, and has a scenic drive in addition to dozens of hiking trails.
Related: Things to do Outdoors in Vegas
There’s also a visitor’s center and museum, and a shuttle bus that offers guided tours along the scenic drive.
Hoover Dam
Location: See Map
Many of the tours to the Grand Canyon from the Las Vegas Strip will also feature a stop at the Hoover Dam. It is a highly recommended thing to do for first-timers visiting Las Vegas.
With more than 1 million visitors each year, this National Historic Landmark is a popular destination just 40 miles from Las Vegas.
Valley of Fire
Location: See Map
Visitors worldwide journey to the Valley of Fire’s 40,000 acres of Aztec Sandstone to see the hundreds of ancient petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back over 2,000 years.
An on-site visitor’s center offers educational exhibits on the park’s history and geology. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and an entrance fee applies.
AREA 51
Location: See Map
A place of much myth, legend, and conspiracy, AREA 51 has captured imaginations for over half a century. The area is part of an active military base that is still patrolled and protected by armed security.
Related: Free Things to do in Vegas
Visitors to AREA 51 will travel to Rachel, Nevada where the famous Little A’Le’Inn is located.
Other attractions at AREA 51 include the National Atomic Testing Museum, Nevada National Security Site, and the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Lake Mead
Location: See Map
Just 24 miles from Las Vegas, Lake Mead is a Hoover Dam reservoir on the border of Nevada and Arizona. Due to water levels decreasing, boat ramps are often closed.
Visitors should check the National Park Service website before visiting; however, the biking and cycling trails are accessible, along with fishing and swimming.
Mount Charleston
Location: See Map
Spring Mountain National Recreation Area offers year-round outdoor recreation with more than 50 miles of trails, four campgrounds, and seven picnic areas.
The visitor’s center is open seven days per week from 9 am-4 pm; however, the trails and campgrounds are open 24 hours unless closed for seasonal conditions or emergencies. Guests can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing on the mountain during the winter months.
Death Valley
Location: See Map
Less than two hours from Las Vegas, Death Valley in California is a great day trip with many viewpoints that overlook the Mesquite Sand Dunes and Badwater Basin which is the lowest point in the United States. A per-vehicle entrance fee is required.
Seven Magic Mountains
Location: See Map
Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone created the Seven Magic Mountains large-scale art installation in the desert just outside of Las Vegas in 2016.
The installation is meant to be temporary but has been so successful and popular that the Nevada Museum of Art is devising a way to make the exhibit last several years. Visitors will find the colorful, stacked boulders towering more than 30 feet in the Ivanpah Valley near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15.
Day trips from Las Vegas are a great way to spend time if you are visiting Las Vegas for longer than a night or two. Frequent Las Vegas travelers like to take day trips off the strip to mix it up and get the most out of their vacation time.
Consider one of our top day trips next time you’re flying into town.
Tom Hamilton - Author
Hi, I am Tom, and I love Las Vegas. You may see me lounging at the pool, catching a late-night show, or trying my luck at craps while out in Las Vegas.
I hope my tips and information can help people plan an enjoyable vacation and do so while saving money.
