The Best Day Trips from Las Vegas

Ten Destinations Worth Trading the Strip For, All Within Easy Reach

Las Vegas is only the beginning. Approximately 45 minutes past the neon, the Mojave opens into red rock canyons, a river the color of turquoise, and ghost towns that time forgot. The Strip is built to keep you indoors and spending. The best day of your trip is very often the one you spend outside of it.

We run tours out in Eldorado Canyon most days of the week, so we have driven these roads more times than we can count. Some of these day trips from Las Vegas are self drive, some are guided, and one is a full off road destination run by our Adventure Experts. Every stop below is a genuine must see, listed roughly by drive time so you can match the trip to the day you have.

Eldorado Canyon Off Road Adventure, About 45 Minutes South

Trade the casino floor for a Polaris RZR and a private trail system that belongs to Awesome Adventures alone. No shared routes, no crowds, no waiting behind another company’s group. Just open desert, canyon walls, and a throttle under your thumb. This is the day trip that turns into the story people tell for years.

The ride winds through Eldorado Canyon toward three destinations most Las Vegas visitors never reach. Nelson Ghost Town, where rusted vintage cars sit exactly where time left them. The Techatticup Gold Mine, established in 1861. And the Colorado River, where you stop for lunch, hike down to the water, swim in the warmer months, and find the jump spot guests talk about all the way home.

Your guides are Adventure Experts who know every wash and ridge by heart, and they capture free photos and videos of the whole day. Tours are designed for all level riders, beginner friendly and season riders alike. We offer hotel pick up at 4 designated areas, and if you have 6 or more in your group we will pick up from your hotel.

Book Your Eldorado Canyon Adventure

What Makes Us Different: Perks at No Extra Charge

  • Hotel pick up and drop off included for a smoother start and finish
  • Designed for all level riders, beginner friendly and season riders, with safety instruction and guide support throughout the tour
  • All gear provided for your Awesome tour
  • Unlimited ice cold water, coolie neck ties, and sunscreen
  • Clean desert trails with breathtaking views, away from packed dunes, crowds, and time wasted stuck in sand
  • Guide captured free photos and videos with action shots, scenic canyon views, and posed group photos
  • Dusting Off Station after your ride
  • Celebration props to make a special day even more memorable
  • Adventure Zone hangout with fun outdoor games, because when the engine stops the fun does not

Nine More of the Best Day Trips from Las Vegas

Red Rock Canyon, About 30 Minutes

The closest real nature to the Strip. A 13 mile one way scenic loop through red and cream sandstone, with trailheads for every level. Timed entry reservations are required in peak season, so book ahead. Best in the cooler months and early mornings.

Seven Magic Mountains, About 25 Minutes

Artist Ugo Rondinone’s stack of neon boulders rising out of the desert floor, right off I-15 south. Free, quick, and one of the most photographed spots in Nevada. Easy to pair with a drive toward Eldorado Canyon.

Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, About 45 Minutes

An engineering marvel completed in 1935, spanning the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona. Take the dam tour, walk the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge for the best view, then drive Lakeshore Road along Lake Mead. Parking is free on the Arizona side.

Valley of Fire State Park, About 1 Hour

Nevada’s oldest state park, and National Park caliber. Fiery red sandstone, the Fire Wave, Elephant Rock, and ancient petroglyphs. The White Domes and Fire Wave hikes are short and spectacular. Skip it in the peak of summer heat, and stop at the visitor center on the way in.

Mount Charleston, About 45 Minutes

Pines, hiking trails, and temperatures often 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the valley. The Cathedral Rock and Griffith Peak trails are local favorites. Hiking in summer, snow and sledding in winter. The desert’s built in escape hatch from the heat.

Death Valley National Park, About 2 Hours

The lowest, hottest, and driest national park in the country, and closer to Las Vegas than to any California city. Zabriskie Point at sunrise, Badwater Basin at 282 feet below sea level, and Artist’s Palette. Go in the cooler months, start early, and carry plenty of water.

Grand Canyon West Rim and Skywalk, About 2 to 2.5 Hours

The closest access point to the Grand Canyon, owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe. Eagle Point, Guano Point, and the glass Skywalk cantilevered out over the canyon. The bucket list add on that is still doable in a single long day.

Nelson and Eldorado Canyon Self Drive, About 45 Minutes

Prefer to explore on your own? Nelson Ghost Town is open to the public for a fee, and it is a photographer’s dream. To get onto the private trails and reach the Colorado River, though, you will want a guided tour.

Zion National Park, About 2.5 Hours

Slot canyons and towering walls just across the Utah line. The Narrows, Angels Landing, and the Zion scenic drive. A long day trip, but for many visitors the payoff is the highlight of the whole Southwest.

Guided or Self Drive? How to Choose

If you have a rental car and an early start, most of these day trips from Las Vegas are easy to reach on your own. If you would rather skip the driving, the logistics, and the navigation, a guided tour handles all of it. Awesome Adventures offers hotel pick up at 4 designated areas, and if you have 6 or more in your group we will pick up from your hotel, so the Eldorado Canyon adventure works with no rental car at all.

We supply all your safety gear and water during the tour. It is mandatory to wear closed toe shoes.

  • Long sleeves and pants are strongly recommended due to desert terrain, cacti, rocks, brush, and wildlife, plus if riding an ATV your legs are next to the muffler and will get hot. Dress for the weather and desert conditions.
  • We recommend zipper clothing or fanny pack, or small backpack to hold your belongings, so they do not fall out of your pockets while riding. If you lose items on the trails, most likely it will be lost or damaged.
  • Hair MUST be flat enough to fit under a helmet.
  • Water is provided during the tour. You may bring additional snacks or beverages if desired.

Day Trips from Las Vegas: Frequently Asked Questions

For hands on adventure, an off road tour through Eldorado Canyon with Awesome Adventures is the top day trip from Las Vegas. You ride a private trail system to the Colorado River, Nelson Ghost Town, and the historic Techatticup Gold Mine, approximately 45 minutes south of the Strip, with hotel pick up included.

Most of the best day trips sit within a 30 to 60 minute drive. Red Rock Canyon is about 30 minutes, Hoover Dam and Eldorado Canyon about 45 minutes, and Valley of Fire about an hour. Bucket list trips like the Grand Canyon West Rim and Zion are around 2 to 2.5 hours each way.

For many stops, yes, but not all. Awesome Adventures offers hotel pick up at 4 designated areas, and if you have 6 or more in your group they will pick up from your hotel, so you can do the Eldorado Canyon adventure with no rental car.

Red Rock Canyon at about 30 minutes and Eldorado Canyon at about 45 minutes give you real desert without a long haul. The Awesome Adventures off road tour packs a canyon, a river, a ghost town, and a gold mine into one short drive south.

We supply all your safety gear and water during the tour. It is mandatory to wear closed toe shoes. Long sleeves and pants are strongly recommended due to desert terrain, cacti, rocks, brush, and wildlife, plus if riding an ATV your legs are next to the muffler and will get hot. Dress for the weather and desert conditions. We recommend zipper clothing or fanny pack, or small backpack to hold your belongings, so they do not fall out of your pockets while riding. If you lose items on the trails, most likely it will be lost or damaged. Hair MUST be flat enough to fit under a helmet. Water is provided during the tour. You may bring additional snacks or beverages if desired.

Fall through spring, roughly October to April, is ideal for desert day trips, with mild days and cool mornings. Summer is best in the early morning with plenty of water, and higher elevation trips like Mount Charleston stay cooler in the heat.

No. There are no gas stations, stores, or EV charging on location at Eldorado Canyon, so arrive fueled and supplied. On Awesome Adventures tours, all gear and water are provided.

Yes. The Grand Canyon West Rim is about 2 to 2.5 hours from Las Vegas and is the closest access point, home to the glass Skywalk. The South Rim is farther, around 4.5 hours, and is better suited to an overnight trip.

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Make the Drive Worth It

If you only take one day trip from Las Vegas, make it the one you will still be talking about next year. Call 702-257-8509 or book online, and let our Adventure Experts handle the trail.

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