The Ultimate Las Vegas Nevada Road Trip
The list of things to do in Las Vegas is huge; Las Vegas casino hopping is the best way to experience the Las Vegas Strip. Five-star hotels, elaborate casinos, celebrity chefs, A-List nightclubs, World Class entertainment, Broadway shows, and high-end shopping… Las Vegas has it all and flaunts it. Vegas is America’s Playground, full of glitz and glamour. If you are looking for neon lights, old casinos, the mob, and iconic wedding chapels head to Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. Check out Las Vegas street art at Fremont East, breweries, restaurants, and shopping at Container Park. While downtown, go to the top of the Stratosphere to take in the view and watch the insane people hanging off the edge. These are all classic Las Vegas Nevada to-do items. Yet, there is so much more to explore! You will find red sandstone rock formations, Joshua trees, bighorn sheep, slot canyons, rock climbing, a glass walkway over the Grand Canyon, a gorgeous lake, an iconic dam, painted mountains, and an alien hiding military base on a road trip through the area surrounding Las Vegas Nevada.
Read Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas
Red Rock National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon sits in the Mojave Desert 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. You will find a 13-mile scenic loop drive, petroglyphs, ancient firepits, seasonal waterfalls, slot canyons, Joshua trees, hiking trails, rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Be prepared for desert conditions and be sure to get out of the car. The Lost Canyon Trail is an easy hike even children can enjoy. Combine Red Rock National Conservation Area with a visit to the 1880 mining town replica in Bonnie Springs for a perfect day trip from Las Vegas.
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is the lowest, hottest, and driest place in North America. It is huge; 3.4 million acres with 1,000 miles of road. You will find mountains with colors that look as though they were painted, sand dunes, an enormous salt flat, and hiking trails through canyons and under arches. This isn’t a quick trip, plan to spend two days in the park to see it all. Bring water, snacks, and toilet paper with you. Be prepared to get out of the car, you will want to take a walk on the Badwater Salt Flat, through the Artist Pallet, and walk under the Natural Bridge formation. If you visit mid-April will likely have good weather and may see the desert in bloom. I believe it would be a mistake to exclude this in a Las Vegas Nevada road trip.
International Car Forest of the Last Church
The International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield Nevada is a three-hour drive from Las Vegas. It is an easy stop while doing a road trip between Death Valley and Area 51. You will find outdoor art installations of 40 graffiti adorning cars sticking out of the sand or balancing on top of one another. Nearby Goldfield is a great inhabited ghost town worth stopping to explore on the way to your next road trip stop.
Area 51
I love a good conspiracy theory! Nevada’s Area 51 is a super-secret alien-hiding military base 100 miles from Las Vegas. It is in the middle of nowhere and there is no one or anything around… accept cows and Joshua trees. Yet this search for mysterious black mailboxes, cameras, and gates guarded by ‘cammo dudes’ is a must-do while road-tripping through Las Vegas. Be sure to stop for an alien burger at Little A’Le’Inn and chat with the locals, photograph the sticker-filled Extra-Terrestrial Highway sign, explore the Alien Research Center, and buy some alien jerky as a souvenir.
Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is 40k acres of bright red sandstone in the Mojave Desert one hour northeast of Las Vegas. You will find rock formations, arches, petrified trees, petroglyphs, slot canyons, and bighorn sheep. The park is most known for its red and white swirled formation named the Wave. There are miles of hiking trails and 3 campgrounds in the park. This trip is best done early in the day. Bring your sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, and water, the desert temperatures average 100 degrees.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead sits on the Colorado River 24 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The lake is actually a reservoir that serves 20 million people in the Arizona, Nevada, and California areas. Start the day off early to avoid huge crowds and catch the sunrise over the lake from Lake Mead Overlook in Boulder City. Then drive down to the Las Vegas Boat Harbor for a few more photos of the lake before moving on to Hoover Dam. Enjoy a cruise around the lake if time allows. Lake Mead combined with Hoover Dam is a great Las Vegas Nevada day trip.
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam sits on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. It was built during the Great Depression to provide clean water. Drive across Hoover Dam to Arizona and continue winding up the hill past the parking lots. Turn around and slowly make your way back down stopping at various points to take photos. Park at the bottom and walk across the dam. Move on to the parking lot next to the Colorado River Bridge. Walk up a short hill to the access point and walk out on the bridge for the classic photo opportunity of Hoover Dam. Check out the museum if time allows.
Grand Canyon West Rim
Grand Canyon West Rim is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. The West Rim is an easy two-hour drive from Hoover Dam; allow for 3-4 hours in the area and bring plenty of water and sunscreen. This area is undeveloped. There are no guardrails or rock walls to obstruct your view. It is the home of Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge suspended 70 feet past the rim and 4000 feet above the canyon. While in the area take a helicopter to the floor of the canyon, a pontoon ride on the Colorado River, hang out on the cliff at Eagle Point and ponder life, check out the Native American Village exhibit, eat a BBQ lunch and watch a tribal dance at Hualapai Ranch. This is a perfect addition to your Las Vegas Nevada road trip.
Check the Nevada Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
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