Las Vegas Day Trips By Car: Natural Wonders & Outdoor Activities

Las Vegas, Nevada, is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Visitors often get caught up in the bright lights, massive hotels, and casinos, but plenty of attractions are outside the city limits. Southern Nevada offers a variety of natural wonders, outdoor activities, and hidden gems that are perfect for a day trip or a long weekend getaway. Here are our top recommendations for day trips from Las Vegas.

• Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas
• Nevada State Railroad Museum
• Hoover Dam Guided Tours
• Pioneer Saloon, Goodsprings Nevada
• Nelson Ghost Town: Techatticup Mine Tour
• Valley of Fire State Park: Out of This World
• Beatty Nevada Gateway to Death Valley
• Mount Charleston: Escape The Desert Heat
• Pahrump Valley Wine Tasting in The Desert

Red Rock Canyon: A Stunning Natural Attraction

Red Rock Canyon is just a quick 20-mile drive from Las Vegas. You can enjoy various activities at Red Rock Canyon, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and photography. The canyon is about 3000 feet in elevation, so it’s a few degrees cooler in the summer, and in the winter, it can get quite cold. It’s important to bring plenty of water, wear comfortable shoes, and sunscreen. The scenic loop may be closed on busy days due to high traffic. Reservations are required to drive the loop road from October 1 through May 31. https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City

If you want a fun day trip from Las Vegas, consider visiting the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City. Make sure to plan your visit for the weekend when the museum operates excursion trains along the Boulder City branch line. Additionally, every other weekend, they offer complimentary miniature train rides. After enjoying the train excursion, take some time to explore the Boulder City Historic District. The downtown area showcases well-preserved 1930s architecture and reflects the city’s rich history. You can wander through the charming hotels, diners, and shops, which provide a nostalgic journey back in time. https://nevadasouthern.com/

Hoover Dam Guided Tours – Amazing Views

The Hoover Dam is an easy day trip from Las Vegas. Many tour operators offer guided tours from the Strip. If you have a car, it’s cheaper to drive yourself, and you’re not restricted in what you can do and where you can go. There are several points of interest along the way that are worth checking out. A typical tourist tour will take you to the dam and back. After visiting the dam, you can head to Lake Mead and cruise on the Desert Princess paddlewheel steamboat to get a close-up look at Hoover Dam from the water. Lake Mead is about a thirty-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip. https://www.lakemeadcruises.com/cruises/desert-princess/

Step Back in Time at Pioneer Saloon

The Pioneer Saloon is rumored to be haunted, but whether or not you believe it depends on how many cold beers you’ve had. Inside the Pioneer Saloon, there’s a memorial room with photos of celebrity visitors and a tribute to Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Lombard. Carole Lombard tragically passed away in a plane crash in the nearby mountains. Goodsprings has only a few permanent residents, some crumbling buildings, the Saloon, and nothing else. The Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada, makes for a great road trip from Las Vegas. The Saloon is family-friendly during the day, but the atmosphere becomes more adult-oriented at night. https://pioneersaloonnv.com/

Nelson Ghost Town: Techatticup Mine Tour

Nelson Ghost Town is in the middle of Eldorado Canyon, a once-thriving gold mining district near the Colorado River. Tours of the largest and most productive gold mine in Eldorado Canyon are available for groups of four or more people. The mine property has been featured as a backdrop for several movies and music videos. Although most people refer to the mine as Nelson Ghost Town, the actual town of Nelson is situated 2 miles up the canyon. The Techatticup Mine and the surrounding buildings appear like a ghost town. Hence, the name stuck. https://nelsonghosttown.com/

Valley of Fire State Park: Red Sandstone Formations

Valley of Fire State Park is located 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, making it an easy day trip from the city. The park features stunning red sandstone formations, ancient petroglyphs, and a unique desert landscape resembling something from a science fiction movie. The main road in the park, Valley of Fire Road, runs east to West and is just under 11 miles long. Most of the park’s popular attractions are on or near this road. The nearby Lost City Museum is designed to look like the original pueblo that was situated here hundreds of years ago. Visiting the Lost City Museum can make for an excellent side trip while exploring the Valley of Fire State Park. https://parks.nv.gov/parks/valley-of-fire

Beatty Nevada Gateway to Death Valley

If you’re heading to Death Valley, you’ll likely pass through Beatty, Nevada. Most visitors to Beatty are en route to the park, but there are some interesting nearby attractions. The town offers several motels, dining establishments, and small casinos. Take advantage of the Beatty Museum, where you can learn about the history of the city and the surrounding Bullfrog Mining District. The museum is on US Highway 95 at the junction of Nevada Highway 374.

Mount Charleston: Escape The Desert Heat

Towering 11,000 feet above the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and just 40 minutes from the bustling slot machines of the Strip, Mount Charleston, formerly named Charleston Peak, offers visitors plenty of winter activities and a wonderful escape from the summer heat of the Mojave Desert. Fresh air and tranquility await at the state’s eighth-highest mountain peak, located northwest of Las Vegas. Towering juniper, aspen, and ponderosa pine trees, along with wildlife such as wild donkeys, deer, and squirrels, create a serene getaway that feels like a world away from the busy Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pahrump Valley Wine Tasting in The Desert

Pahrump Valley Winery is located about 60 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The winery is in the Mojave Desert and is Nevada’s largest-producing winery, although several small vineyards are scattered around the Silver State. In the middle of the desert, you would expect to find ghost towns, not a winery, but it’s here, along with a small vineyard. Pahrump Valley Winery’s award-winning wines include a limited production of Nevada-grown, produced, and bottled wines.
https://visitpahrump.com/explore/wineries-coffee/

Each day trip offers a unique experience, whether exploring natural wonders, visiting historical sites, or enjoying a scenic drive. Be sure to check the weather, pack essentials such as water and snacks, and consider the time of year, as some destinations can become extremely hot or cold depending on the season.

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