From Parks to Scenic Roads

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park is one of America’s greatest treasures and about a four-hour drive from Sin City. For a shorter road trip, Grand Canyon West is only a two-hour drive away. While the site is best known for its glass-bottom Skywalk bridge, there are opportunities for zip lining, hiking, and whitewater rafting on the Colorado River here, too. And since Grand Canyon West is located on the Hualapai Reservation, you can also learn more about the area’s Indigenous culture. Go on a self-guided village tour, shop for handcrafted souvenirs made by local vendors, and try one of the eateries serving traditional dishes.

If you’re pressed for time but still want a glimpse of the Grand Canyon, Brunelle suggests taking a helicopter ride with a flight time of under an hour. Companies like Maverick Helicopters provide flyover tours that include aerial sightseeing over the Las Vegas Strip, all in one glorious trip.

Lake Mead

Brunelle says the greater Las Vegas area offers a plethora of activities that are ideal for trips during the warmer months. “A great way to cool off in the summer is to take advantage of the many watersport activities,” he tells Travel + Leisure. “Lake Las Vegas provides family fun with a 40,000-square-foot floating Aqua Park. Watersport activities are also available at Lake Mead or you can venture to Laughlin for water fun on the river.”

Lake Mead—the country’s largest human-made reservoir, set on a 1.5-million-acre recreation area—is about a 40-minute drive from Sin City. Here, you can explore the perimeter by bike, check out the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail, or take to the water on a kayak, canoe, or sightseeing cruise.

Willow Beach

Who says the desert can’t have a beach? Roughly an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, Willow Beach offers visitors a refreshing respite from the heat. At this section of the Colorado River, you can plunge into the waters, explore the area by boat, go fishing, or just enjoy a day on the shore. The marina here is also a popular kayak-launching point for guided tours to Emerald Cave (also called Emerald Cove), a scenic spot where the water glows bright green due to algae content and the sunlight’s reflection on the surrounding rock walls.

Valley of Fire State Park

Seek out one of the most beautiful natural sights at Valley of Fire State Park, about 45 minutes outside the city. Here, the landscape resembles a watercolor painting made with neutral tones thanks to the ever-shifting sandstone that gives the area its distinct swirls. While visiting the 40,000-acre park, you can also spot several petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years if you look carefully enough. Stop by the visitor center to learn more about the area’s fascinating ecology, geology, and history.

The Extraterrestrial Highway

Anyone interested in UFO sightings and all things extraterrestrial should plan a day trip to Area 51. Or at least to the nearby town of Rachel, about two hours north of Las Vegas, which is as close as you can get—the actual spot is still a highly classified military site, after all. Lean into the subculture fun by taking a drive down State Route 375, known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, and visiting kitschy pit stops like the Alien Research Center gift store and The Little A’Le’Inn, a bar, restaurant, and motel.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Perhaps the easiest day trip from Las Vegas—as little as 20 minutes’ drive from the Strip—is to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It’s so popular, in fact, that you’ll need a timed reservation to drive the 13-mile scenic route from October 1 through May 31. The park also offers opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding, among other outdoor activities, plus a bookstore and visitor center.

Seven Magic Mountains

Visitors seeking outdoor art and culture can find it about half an hour outside Sin City. “[For those driving in] from California, a perfect stop on the way into Las Vegas is capturing a photo at Seven Magic Mountains: the bright neon boulders stacked in the middle of the desert make for a great social media photo opp,” says Brunelle.

The colorful art installation, echoing the hoodoo rock formations found throughout the Southwestern United States, was created by artist Ugo Rondinone and opened to the public in 2016. According to the website, the location of the work, situated between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, is meant to symbolize the space “midway between the natural and the artificial.”

Hoover Dam

Check out one of the world’s most impressive engineering marvels by driving just 40 minutes east of the city to see the Hoover Dam. Visitors can take a guided tour of the whopping 726-foot-tall structure that spans the Colorado River to learn all about how it generates power for thousands of people.

Mount Charleston

Las Vegas may be a pretty hot place for most of the year, but during the winter, skiers and snowboarders can make the 45-minute drive to Mount Charleston for a little snow-filled adventure. The area, home to Lee Canyon Ski Resort, sees an average of 129 inches of snowfall a year, making it a prime place to visit if you’re a powderhound. “Higher elevation means lower temps through the trails and hikes at Mount Charleston, which offer great outdoor exercise and breathtaking views,” says Brunelle.

Cathedral Gorge State Park

The dramatic spires and slot canyons of Cathedral Gorge State Park are the result of volcanic eruptions and erosion over millions of years. About a 2.5-hour drive from the Strip, the park offers several hiking trails of varying lengths and a chance to explore the area’s unique cave-like scenery. Do the moderate-level one-mile round-trip hike on the Miller Point Trail for the best views.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Driving to Bryce Canyon National Park and back can be a bit of a haul at nearly four hours each way. But those who are up for the road trip will be rewarded by getting to spend time in one of the most beautiful national parks in the United States. Hike among the picturesque hoodoo rock formations and ride to all the scenic lookout points on the seasonal park shuttle—free and recommended for visits between early April and mid-October to help cut down on traffic inside the park. If you’re visiting from early May to late September, consider glamping overnight at Under Canvas Bryce Canyon so you can look up at the stars blanketing Utah’s night sky and get a good night’s sleep before your journey back to Vegas.

Mojave National Preserve

Make the roughly hour-long drive from Las Vegas and cross over the California border to reach the Mojave National Preserve. The landscape makes it feel like you’ve been transported to another planet, with massive sand dunes, towering Joshua trees, and plenty of hiking trails to explore. The Kelso Depot Visitor Center, set in a former railway station that dates from the 1920s, is also worth a stop, though it’s currently being renovated and expected to reopen in 2026. 

Horseshoe Bend

If you’ve spent any time on Instagram, odds are you’ve come across a photo of Horseshoe Bend. At about 4.5 hours away, it’s a lengthy drive from Las Vegas, followed by a 30-minute walk from the parking lot to the overlook (just follow the path—and the crowds). Within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Colorado River bends its way around a massive rock formation, creating a gorgeous horseshoe-shaped curve. Get your photos, but remain cautious and respectful of boundaries put in place by the National Park Service.

Death Valley National Park

Make your way over to California for a visit to Death Valley National Park, located about two hours from the city. Be aware that this place has experienced some of the hottest recorded temperatures on Earth—on July 10, 1913, it was a whopping 134 degrees Fahrenheit—so plan your trip accordingly. While there, check out the salt flats and the racing rocks for two fantastic scenes. And, if you can, stay until the sun goes down and look up at the stars, as Death Valley is well known for its delightfully dark skies.

Zion National Park

Head out on a long but scenic ride to Zion National Park, about a two-hour drive from Vegas. The park is known for its deep canyons and jagged cliffsides, which you can climb down to wade through the water on a challenging hike to the Virgin River Narrows. You’ll find more water at the Emerald Pools, where you’ll be rewarded with lush landscapes on all sides. Note that no cars are allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive—you must ride the free park shuttle—from March to November.