Day Trips From Las Vegas

One of the best things about living in Las Vegas is the access to incredible natural destinations within a short drive. The city sits at the center of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by mountains, canyons, lakes, and historic sites. Here are popular day trips from Las Vegas.\n\nRed Rock Canyon National Conservation Area\n\nDistance from Las Vegas: 20 minutes. Red Rock Canyon is the closest major natural attraction to the city. The 13-mile scenic drive takes you past dramatic red sandstone cliffs against the Spring Mountains. Hiking trails range from easy walks to strenuous summit climbs. The visitor center has excellent exhibits on the area's geology and wildlife. Rock climbing is world-class here. The best time to visit is early morning, when the light on the rocks is most dramatic and the temperatures are cooler.\n\nMount Charleston\n\nDistance from Las Vegas: 45 minutes. Mount Charleston offers a completely different environment from the desert floor. At over 11,900 feet, the mountain is covered in pine and fir forests. Summer temperatures are typically 20 to 30 degrees cooler than in Las Vegas. The hiking trails here take you through alpine meadows and stands of aspen. The Mount Charleston Lodge, a historic structure, offers dining with mountain views. In winter, the Lee Canyon ski area provides skiing and snowboarding.\n\nLake Mead National Recreation Area\n\nDistance from Las Vegas: 30 minutes. Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir in the United States, created by the construction of Hoover Dam. The recreation area offers boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The Alan Bible Visitor Center has exhibits on the area's natural and human history. The Historic Railroad Trail is a relatively flat, shaded walk through tunnels that once carried railway cars carrying materials for Hoover Dam.\n\nHoover Dam\n\nDistance from Las Vegas: 45 minutes. Hoover Dam is one of the great engineering marvels of the 20th century. Guided tours take visitors inside the dam to see the massive generators and learn about the dam's construction. The Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge offers a pedestrian walkway with views of the dam and the Colorado River gorge. The visitor center provides historical exhibits.\n\nBoulder City\n\nDistance from Las Vegas: 35 minutes. Boulder City was built to house the workers constructing Hoover Dam and has maintained its historic small-town character. The downtown area features locally owned shops, restaurants, and the historic Boulder Theatre. The city is also the gateway to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Its strict zoning laws have preserved the city's unique character.\n\nValley of Fire State Park\n\nDistance from Las Vegas: 1 hour. Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest state park, established in 1935. The park features stunning red Aztec sandstone formations that date back 150 million years. Ancient petroglyphs carved by the Ancestral Puebloans are visible on several trails. The park's scenery is some of the most dramatic in the state. Photography enthusiasts, hikers, and campers all find plenty to explore.\n\nThese day trips make Las Vegas a convenient home base for anyone who loves the outdoors. The ability to visit a national conservation area, a state park, an alpine forest, and a massive reservoir all within an hour of home is one of the best kept secrets of living in Southern Nevada.