The best day trips from Las Vegas

Last Updated on March 29, 2026

One of the best things we did in Las Vegas was get outta town. This was not only for the sake of our livers and our wallets, but for sanity’s sake as well. The landscape of the Nevada desert provides such an beautiful, peaceful day or two escape from your trip to Sin City. Here are the best day trips from Las Vegas.

The best day trips from Las Vegas

Hoover Dam & Lake Mead

If you decide against a trip to the Grand Canyon, an easy trip to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are easily done in a day, and even as quick as a morning trip out and you can be back at the slot machines after lunch. It takes under one hour to get to Hoover Dam from the Strip (by car). If you don’t have a car and don’t want to rent a car, you can take an organized tour from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam, like this Hoover Dam Highlights Tour (6 hours, $65 per person), which includes a visit to Boulder City, home of the workers who built the Hoover Dam, and of course stunning views of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

 

The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, the arch bridge crossing the dam, which opened in 2010, offers some of the best views over Hoover Dam – if you dare to walk across it. Vehicles crossing the bridge cannot enjoy these views, but it is free to cross the bridge on foot. It’s not for the faint of heart though: this bridge is nearly 900 feet above the Colorado River and one of the highest bridges in the world.

In fact, it incorporates the widest concrete arch in the western hemisphere and is the second highest bridge in the U.S., with the arch 840 ft (260 meters) above the river. The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge was the first concrete-steel composite deck arch bridge built in the U.S. This bridge is also the border between Nevada and Arizona. 

Crossing the Dam is free, the power station can be visited for $25. A guided tour of Hoover Dam is $40. A self-guided tour of the visitor center is $15.

Here’s what is included in each of these tours:

• Hoover Dam Guided Tour: A visit of the historic tour tunnels and a ride in the original elevator to the top of Hoover Dam. A walk through the inspection tunnels at the center of Hoover Dam. A view of the Colorado River through the inspection ventilation shaft. A guided tour of the power plant.
• Guided Power Plant Tour: A walk through the original construction tunnels. A visit to the viewing platform overlooking a 30 foot diameter penstock where you can feel the vibration created by water rushing through the pipe. See 8 of the commercial generators in the Nevada Powerhouse
• Visitor Center Tour: Narrated exhibits about the history of Hoover Dam. A 360 degree view of the Dam, Colorado River, Lake Mead and Hoover Bypass Bridge from the Observation Deck. A visit of the Original Exhibit Building with narrated 3D model of the region’s dams and power systems

Visiting Lake Mead

Lake Mead charges an entrance fee ($25 per car, valid for up to 7 days) for access to the recreational area and beaches, and cruises over the lake to Hoover Dam leave from the Boulder Basin marina, which is the first marina on entering the lake area.

Tip: Check the current conditions of the lake – in recent years, toxic blue-green algae blooms have become increasingly common in Lake Mead, particularly from August through December. This is due to rising temperatures, and often causes for hiking trails and beaches having to be closed. You can check the conditions on the Lake Mead National Park website.

You can also take a boat tour to the Hoover Dam on a traditional steamboat (Lake Mead Cruises offer brunch, dinner and sightseeing cruises starting at $50), or if you actually want to spend some time on the beaches (not so spectacular) – for views of the lake, there are various viewpoints on the way to Hoover Dam that can be accessed without entering the recreational area.

Here are three excellent organized tours that include Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, and last from 4 – 6 hours:

 

Red Rock Canyon

Rent a car and drive just twenty minutes westwards out of Las Vegas and you’ll find yourself in a completely different world: instead of hotels and Black Jack tables you’ll be surrounded by the red rocks of this fascinating nature reserve. There are a number of overlooks, and several trails of varying length. Many of the hikes are short, between one and two miles, but you can also find longer hikes between 2 and 4 hours. The longest trail is the The Grand Circle Loop which takes you through the entire part and is 11.4 miles long (it takes about 6 hours to walk it) – but be warned, this is a strenuous hike and only recommended for experienced hike. 

Springtime is a great time to visit Red Rock Canyon, because you’re likely to see wildflowers, but the stunning canyons and mountains are worth a visit at any time of year. Just remember that it gets extremely hot here in the summer, so a visit in the late afternoon before sunset or in the early morning is recommended.

If you only want to see Red Rock, and not really leave your car, you can drive through the park in about one hour, but if you stop at every viewpoint and take a few short hikes, you can easily spend 3 to 4 hours at Red Rock Canyon. 

It’s $20 per car + a $2 reservation fee to enter the reserve and you can simply follow a 13 mile one-way scenic drive through the mountains.

Note: If you are visiting during the winter months, timed reservations are required for each vehicle entering to park. This goes for entry between 8am and 5pm, from October through May. Make your reservation via this link.

The Scenic Drive is open October – March from 6am to 7pm, and between April and September from 6am to 8pm. This means that if you get up early enough, you’ll still be able to enter the park even if all available car slots are sold out. 

There are numerous view points during the drive, with hiking trails beginning at each one of them, varying from 30 minutes to 4 hour hikes – so don’t forget to bring your hiking shoes, and sun protection, as you’ll be exposed to the desert sun everywhere.

Helicopter or Plane Tour to Grand Canyon via Hoover Dam & Lake Mead

When looking at a map, the Grand Canyon doesn’t seem too far away from Vegas – it’s 180 miles to be precise – however, the streets that you have to take to get there add up to 280 miles – which is quite a ride.

The helicopter and airplane tours offered along The Strip are a very comfortable and exciting option, rather than sitting in a car or coach for 4 or 5 hours each way, you’ll be picked up at your hotel, driven to the airport and put in a small business plane or helicopter and flown to the Grand Canyon.

Most trips include a flight over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. Starting at around $350 per person (without landing at the Canyon), going up to $700 (including one or two landings at the Canyon and a champagne lunch there) the trips can get pricey,  but well worth it! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one of the best day trips from Las Vegas that you can take.

 

Note: If you decide to do a plane tour over the Grand Canyon, make sure you’re booked on a plane that has the wings above the windows – otherwise there’s no point in paying for the trip.