6 Best Day Trips From Las Vegas
Nicknamed the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas has a ton to do inside the city. But what if the best things are not actually in Las Vegas.
You’d be amazed to learn about the scenic day trips you can take from this oasis in Nevada — unless you’re in the Marriage Capital of the World for elopement. In that case, congratulations.
For everyone else, pack your snacks and get yourself an RV because these road trips are bound to get your adrenaline flowing.
Number One: Red Rock Canyon
The Red Rock Canyon is a 23-minute drive 23 miles from Las Vegas. It’s a conservation area overwhelmed with natural wonders, offering a gorgeous view.
If you’re brought your hiking shoes along, don’t forget to hop on to one of the 26 trails in the area.
Plus, if you’re here from March to May, you’ll spot beautiful desert flowers in full bloom along the way.
Petroglyphs are a must-see in the Red Rock Canyon, and they’ll definitely take your breath away. They’re a short trek from the picnic area in Willow Springs and are about 800 years old.
So, you’re literally stepping into a history book.
Number Two: Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is one of the most ambitious projects taken on by humankind, standing at a whopping 726 feet from the ground, crossing the Colorado River.
It’s about 37 miles from Las Vegas and a 45-minute drive of absolutely stunning scenery and water sounds that will put any ASMR video to shame.
While you’re there, you can take an hour-long tour into the dam and learn all about power generation.
If you’re not interested in it, no worries. Simply take a walk around the dam and enjoy the scenery.
If you find yourself loving the dam a bit too much, book a room at the Boulder Dam Hotel, which was frequented by celebs while the dam was being constructed.
Oh, and before I forget, the hotel is haunted.
There have been reported hand-grabbing of tourists, spirit sightings, and mysterious music coming from the rooms. So, you’re in for a luxurious spookfest. Have fun.
Number Three: 7 Magic Mountains
The 7 Magic Mountains are a 35-minute drive from Las Vegas and comprise an assortment of brightly colored boulders that make perfect backgrounds for your Insta stories.
A Swedish Artist named Ugo Rondinon built this art installation in 2016, meaning for it to be a meeting point for artificial and natural.
Here’s an interesting trivia: it took 3 million dollars and five years to create this exhibition.
So, you better enjoy it.
Number Four: Lake Mead
Subscribe to the ViaTravelers YouTube channel for more great shots like these.
When you come to Nevada, you don’t expect to find lakes in the middle of a desert, but Las Vegas is known for being home to one of the largest human-made lakes in the whole world.
You can bike around Lake Mead’s trails or go in for boating.
If you want to learn more about the lake, there are many guided tours of the area. Some other activities include fishing, camping, kayaking, scuba diving, horseback riding, and hiking trails.
It’s everything you need to forget, all about the glitz and glamor of the city of lights.
Number Five: Zion National Park
Zion means ‘heavenly city,’ and the name is absolutely fitting for the national park.
Featuring an ethereal landscape, diverse wildlife, and magnificent geology, the national park is not a sight to be missed.
The park has a shuttle bus that takes you around, showing you the landscapes you wouldn’t have found on Google Maps.
If you’re an avid hiker, the park has the Observation Point Trail, giving you a bird’s eye view of the Virgin River from above.
One of the most tranquil areas here is the Emeralds Pools. The pools feature natural waterfalls flowing down three levels bordered by lush greenery — it’s almost like a fantasy movie.
Number 6: Mojave National Preserve
If you’re in for a longer ride, drive over to the Mojave National Preserve, 58 miles from Las Vegas.
It’s a seemingly never-ending expanse of desert, including elements from North American deserts, including Sonoran, Mojave, and Great Basin.
The Preserve is everything you expect to see in a desert — and much more — such as sand dunes, mountain ranges, cinder cones, lava flows, domes, and great mesas.
Some of the rocks in the area are nearly 2.5 billion years old.
Everyone has a drunken Vegas story — some of them a bit inappropriate for the dinner table.
So, for a change, the next time you’re in the oasis, take a day trip to explore the natural wonders around it. Share your adventures and anecdotes in the comment section below.
Via Travelers is a modern travel blog focused on helping you learn the best travel tips, travel hacks, and itineraries to explore the world. Find your wanderlust.
