Las Vegas is not only one of the most popular travel destinations in the United States, but it’s also globally recognized. Known for its hotels, casinos, shows, restaurants and nightlife, Las Vegas has evolved over the years and offers attractions for all types of travellers. Best of all, when you need a break from the action, there’s much to see outside the city. Here are six-day trips from Las Vegas that shouldn’t be missed.

Hoover Dam

Without a doubt, Hoover Dam is one of the most popular day trips from Las Vegas. Hoover Dam is an engineering masterpiece that attracts over seven million visitors annually. The 60 stories high dam is worth a visit and is located only 40 minutes of drive east of Las Vegas. Visitors can book guided tours or visit the visitor center. Parking is free and if you walk around and on the Dam, you’ll get great views of the Lake Mead area.

Since travellers need to drive over the Hoover Dam from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, it’s the perfect stop for a quick break while you snap that iconic picture. If the dam looks familiar, that’s because it was used as the opening location in Goldeneye, Pierce Bronson’s first film as James Bond.

Grand Canyon

Since the Grand Canyon is arguably the most well-known Las Vegas day trip, there are many options for those looking to visit. You can drive yourself, take a bus tour or even ride a helicopter.

Most Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas visit the west rim of the Grand Canyon because it’s only a two to two and half hour drive. Located in the Hualapai Indian Reservation, the west rim offers great canyon views, including the famous Skywalk, and you can learn more about Native American culture.

The West Rim area of the Grand Canyon is privately managed and is not part of the National Park. At around $50 USD per person, admission prices are higher than the south rim. Skywalk tickets are not typically included in your tour, so you must budget some extra cash to experience it.

The most visited area of the Grand Canyon is the south rim which is part of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The National Park area at the South Rim is about four hours east of Las Vegas and offers visitor centers, breathtaking viewpoints, and many trails. Due to the distance, most people make it a two-day trip with an overnight stay. Make the drive on the first day, including stopping at Hoover Dam and seeing the sunset over the canyon at one of the many viewpoints. You’ll want to spend the night near the Grand Canyon so you can hit a trail the next morning before driving back to Las Vegas during the afternoon.

An overnight day trip is not ideal for many travellers, but the Grand Canyon is worth the detour and extra day.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park may not be as well known as the Grand Canyon, but it’s still an all-star National Park that’s well worth the visit. Located in southern Utah, Zion is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Las Vegas. Contrary to the Grand Canyon, where the park is located at the top of the canyon, when visiting Zion, you enter at the bottom of Zion Canyon, which gives you a very different vantage point.

If you park at the entrance, a free shuttle runs through the park and stops at the most iconic features, including Emerald Pool, Weeping Rock and many trail start points. Make sure to go to the last shuttle stop which stops at the beginning of the Riverside Walk, guiding you to the Narrows. The Narrows is arguably the most iconic hike in Zion. The hike is at the bottom of a narrow canyon. You’ll be walking on a shallow rocky riverbed surrounded by multi-colour stones that will give you some epic pictures. If you’re worried about the hike, you can rent canyoneering equipment in Springdale to help you with your home.  

It’s possible to make Zion a day trip from Las Vegas, but you might only have time to do one hike, and it’ll be rushed. I recommend overnighting in Springdale to have more time to enjoy Zion National Park. This will allow you to hike a few trails and see sunset and sunrise.

Death Valley National Park

Located a two hours drive east of Las Vegas in California, Death Valley National Park is the land of superlatives. Death Valley National Park holds several records, including:

• Hottest temperature recorded
• Lowest elevation point in the USA
• Driest area in the USA
• Largest National Park in the Lower 48
• Largest salt flats in the word

Death Valley covers a huge area, but you can still see many unique and iconic features in a day trip from Las Vegas, as many are concentrated in an area close to the nearest entrance. Some of the best places to stop in Death Valley National Park include:

• Zabriskie Point: A great lookout view of the Badlands.
• Furnace Creek: This is where the hottest temperature was ever recorded. There’s a visitor centre where you can read about the history.
• Devils Golf Course: This isn’t an actual golf course, but rather a very unique rugged salt flat terrain with sharp glass ground. Bring good shoes.
• Badwater Basin: The lowest point of the continent at 282 feet under sea level and a very cool salt flat landscape.
• Artist’s Palette: A stunning multicolour rock formation that’s a bit of a detour but worth it.
• Golden Canyon: A short hike within a narrow canyon.

If you start your day early, you will also be able to add stops north of Furnace Creek:

• Mesquite Dune Flats: A classic desert dunes landscape. Many Hollywood movies with desert scenes were filmed in that area.
• Mosaic Canyon: Short hike in a canyon near the dune flats.

If you still have some daylight time left, the drive to Dante’s View is rewarding since you will have a bird’s eye view of the whole valley and its immensity.  

Red Rock Canyon State Park

Red Rock Canyon State Park is located just 25 minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip, making it an ideal destination for a quick getaway from the city.

Admittedly, Red Rock Canyon State Park isn’t nearly as interesting as any other location on this list of day trips from Las Vegas, but it can be a welcome change of pace. The state park offers beautiful views and various habitats that host diverse wildlife and vegetation.

There’s a scenic drive loop that covers almost the entire park. Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center upon entering the park to get a map so you’ll know what to look for during the scenic drive.

Valley of Fire State Park

You may have never heard of Valley of Fire State Park, but it’s a great state park and a hidden gem. At just an hour north of Las Vegas, it’s a good option if you’re looking for fewer crowds.

Make sure to make most of the stops along the scenic drive. You will see many cool rock formations, such as Elephant Rock, Rainbow Vista or the Seven Sisters. There are also very interesting ancient petroglyphs around the park, with a viewing platform at Atlatl Rock.

The visual highlight of the park is the iconic “wave” which offers great picture opportunities. You’ll reach the wave from a short hike at the White Domes parking area.

Are day trips from Las Vegas worth it?

Las Vegas has traditionally been known as a party city, but now it’s become a destination suitable for many travellers. It has family-friendly attractions, an NHL team, great entertainment options, and amazing cuisine. The city is built for tourism, making it an easily accessible destination with direct flights to over 100 cities, including 10 Canadian cities and over 150,000 hotel rooms which is more than any other city worldwide.

Even though Las Vegas has so much to offer, if you’re there for multiple days, you may consider making a few day trips since there are plenty of car rental options. Uncongested highways surround the city, making road trips very enjoyable.

While planning your Las Vegas vacation, it’s worth it to budget some time to visit some state and national parks. The change of pace and awesome scenery might be the best part of your trip.

What to pack for day trips from Las Vegas

Many people will get a rental car and immediately start driving to their road trip destination. While there’s nothing wrong with that, there are a few things you should pack before you go:

• A jacket: Parks can get surprisingly cold in the morning and evening. Having a jacket will ensure you stay warm.
• Hiking shoes: Depending on which trails you’re doing, you may want to bring or rent a pair of hiking shoes.
• Water and snacks: Once on a trail, you’ll have no access to food and drink, so bring your own.
• Portable battery charger: Having a portable battery charger is essential as there will be nowhere to charge your phone in the wild.
• Binoculars: If you’re into birding or want better views, binoculars can help.
• Full gas tank: Since you’ll be driving through a desert, be sure you have a full gas tank.

Las Vegas day trip weather

Many people don’t realize that the weather can vary quite a bit once you leave Las Vegas.  There’s a 7,000 feet difference between the elevation of Death Valley and Grand Canyon. Those offer two very different temperatures. In addition, the weather will vary a lot between daytime and night since many locations have very low humidity. In an ideal world, you’ll bring some layers with you so you can’ change as needed. The time of year is also another obvious consideration. It’s warmer in the summer compared to the winter.