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Escape the glitz of Vegas for thrilling day trips to Mt. Charleston, Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon’s West Rim, Death Valley, and Hoover Dam! Explore beyond the Strip with our guide to unforgettable adventures near Las Vegas. Plus, essential tips for planning your excursion! Happy Travels!
Mt. Charleston
Are you looking to escape from the extreme heat in Vegas??? If so, hop in the car and take a ride up to Mt. Charleston!
Mt. Charleston is part of The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. The Nuwuvi people consider this area sacred as their creation place. Be sure to visit the Seven Stones Plaza at the Gateway, honoring the 7 Paiute tribes. Made up of over 90 acres, this area offers hiking trails, camping, biking, horseback riding, and a scenic drive. You will experience a large drop in temperatures as you travel around the area. On the scenic drive, rising to over 8,000 feet, we experienced a 20-degree difference in temps. Along the route, there are multiple photo options on any of the overlooks. Although we were there in June, snow was still on the mountains!
Finally, as a great 2-3 hour escape from the city to cool off during the summer months. Mt. Charleston is worth checking out!
Mt. Charleston–Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
website—Go Mt. Charleston | Spring Mountains National Recreation Area | Las Vegas, NV (gomtcharleston.com)
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon is located only a few miles outside of the Vegas Strip. First, the conservation area consists of more than 195,000 acres to explore through a variety of ways. I recommend starting at the Visitor’s Center to learn the history of the area, visit the gift shop, and grab a map of the park. In addition, there are multiple indoor and outdoor exhibits to explore while you are there.
Next, the highlight of the park is the 13-mile loop that takes you around the entire area. You will need to buy a pass at the camp station on your way in. The cost is $20 per car/truck and you will need to make a reservation for your day. Along the loop are multiple stops of breathtaking views for pictures. Off the path of the loop road are more than 26 hiking trails if you are up for an adventure.
Unfortunately, we were not able to hike or explore much, as we went directly to the area from the airport.
Lastly, this trip was one of our favorites! Red Rock is a beautiful place! I highly recommend visiting this area. You will not be disappointed.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
website-Red Rock Canyon | Las Vegas, Nevada (redrockcanyonlv.org
Grand Canyon (West Rim)
If you are thinking about a long day trip from Vegas, you should definitely visit the West Rim of the Grand Canyon! The West Rim is around a 4-hour drive from Las Vegas. Although there are plenty of activities when you arrive at the West Rim, the drive to the area is amazing!
This area of the Grand Canyon is owned by the Hualapai Tribe. Allow plenty of time to explore the area activities while you are there. Additionally, there are multiple points of interest around the park. Moreover, there are also ziplining, river rafting, and helicopter tours! The most popular spot is the glass Skywalk which extends 70 feet over the canyon! The Skywalk located at Eagle Point offers breathtaking views 4,000 feet down to the canyon floor. Catch the bus and ride over to one of the other landmarks Guano Point or Hualapai Point.
In addition to the Skywalk, our favorite stop was Guano Point. This area is home to the remaining parts of an aerial tramway that was built in 1957. The tram stretched 7,500 feet across the canyon and allowed miners to travel into the caves to mine nitrogen-rich bat poop! Yuck!
With the spectacular drive paired with the Skywalk, this should make the West Rim of the Grand Canyon a MUST on your list of day trips! It is the ultimate trip of a lifetime!
Grand Canyon West Rim–Grand Canyon West: Experience Grand Canyon West Rim
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park was one of the most interesting destinations we visited while on vacation. This park offers stark differences in the areas that you visit. At one location, you may feel as if you are on another planet; while at the next stop, you may see lush vegetation and trees everywhere. Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest National Park.
The park boasts a MASSIVE three MILLION acres to roam! We only visited for one day and it definitely was not enough time to see very much of the park. The points of interest are located between 30 minutes up to hours apart from one another, so prepare to drive A LOT!
We chose around 4-5 points to visit and those filled our entire day.
Death Valley National Park is a must-see with interesting views and breathtaking landscapes….just be sure to plan enough time to allow for driving long distances.
Death Valley National Park—Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam was built during the Great Depression from 1931 and 1936. At over 700 ft tall, it is a grand and breathtaking sight to see!
For visitors, there are multiple types of tours offered. I recommend one of the guided tours to learn more about the history and building of the dam. Options include a power plant tour for $15 or a guided dam tour (which includes the power plant tour) for $30. While on a tour, you will see generators inside the powerhouse and view the Colorado River through the inspection tunnels. Additionally, tours will take you through tunnels that were a part of the original construction and offer multiple areas for photos.
Don’t have time to visit or take a tour? No worries! You can always park in the free lot and venture up the stairs. The stairs lead to a bridge that overlooks the entire area. However, caution! Be aware of the wind while on the bridge.
In conclusion, Hoover Dam is a historic spot that you do not want to miss! Check it out!
Hoover Dam–Hoover Dam | Bureau of Reclamation (usbr.gov)
There are lots of day trips from Vegas that can be planned. This list only includes a few ideas. Additionally, the area around Las Vegas is full of areas to explore. A few final thoughts to keep in mind before choosing the area to travel to. First, check the website of the area of interest for prices and directions. Secondly, always check for closures. Vegas weather can be unpredictable at times, and areas can be shut down for safety concerns. Finally, always pack needed supplies for the heat and first aid in case there is an emergency.
Happy Travels!