The Best Day Trips From Las Vegas – Take a Gambling Break
Do you need a break from the gambling and smoked filled casinos? Here are some of the best day trips you can take from Las Vegas.
Grand Canyon National Park
Now that you have witnessed some of the mammoth man-made creations (casinos) in Las Vegas, step away from the hustle and bustle and view one of the most spectacular natural creations, the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is approximately 270 miles from Las Vegas. There are many ways to get to the Grand Canyon including plane tours, bus tours, and helicopter tours. Be advised Grand Canyon bus tours usually end up being about a 15 hour day but the cost is minimal, usually less that $100. Take advantage of a buy one, get one free Grand Canyon Bus Tour special here. Many tour operators offer helicopter packages that include a limo ride from your hotel to the tour’s departure at McCarran International Airport, a bird’s-eye view of the canyon, and lunch and a return trip to your hotel when done.
The Hoover Dam
Want a quick day trip to see a fascinating engineering marvel, head on over to the Hoover Dam. The dam is located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Since 1937 people have been visiting the 6,600,000-ton hydroelectric plant.
A bonus to most Hoover Dam tours is you also get a great view of Lake Mead. Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir in the United States. Formed from the Colorado River by the construction of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead provides water and recreational opportunities for the region. The most cost effective way to tour the Hoover Dam is to take a bus tour from Las Vegas. Take advantage of this Buy One, Get One Free Hoover Dam Bus Tour promotion.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
It’s hard to believe the spectacular scenery of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is just 25 miles away from the Las Vegas Strip. Outdoor enthusiasts of both the leisurely and strenuous varieties will find something to enjoy among the 19 marked hiking and walking trails. Want to see the sights from the car instead? Many of the interesting rock formations can be viewed from the 13-mile auto loop as well. Take advantage of a guided tour from Las Vegas to Red Rock Canyon.
Death Valley National Park
Two and a half hours from Sin City is another land of extremes: Death Valley. From mountains to valleys, the 3.3-million-acre national park offers record-breaking temperatures (134 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest ever recorded), waterfalls, sand dunes, and even the nation’s largest salt pan—known as the Devil’s Golf Course. The country’s lowest point below sea level (282 feet) is Death Valley’s Badwater Basin. Petroglyphs more than two millennia old and a geological phenomenon known as “sailing stones” (rocks that slide across the earth on their own) are alone worth the trip.
Mount Charleston
Mount Charleston, also called Charleston Peak, is popular among Vegas vacationers as it is located only about 35 miles northwest of the city and offers a beautiful and serene setting, with camping, hiking, and even snow skiing options. If you’ve ever longingly gazed out your Strip suite’s window, you’ve seen Mt. Charleston’s snow capped peak off in the distance. Mount Charleston ranges from 3,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation and is usually 25-40 degrees cooler than Las Vegas. So take a trip to Mount Charleston to get away from that sizzling 115 degree Vegas weather.