Las Vegas Area Travel Guide (Part 7)

The Las Vegas Area Travel Guide is a resource for Las Vegas visitors who wish to sample the Southwest's great scenery and outdoor recreation. All destinations within the guide are no more than five hours' drive from Las Vegas. Included are sites close to Las Vegas, such as Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon, Arizona locales (including Grand Canyon, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Historic Route 66), Utah (Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park), and California (Death Valley National Park, Mojave National Preserve). Details include descriptions and links to many references. Notable Las Vegas attractions also are included.

Navigating the Guide

Open the Locater Map by clicking on image at right. Place your mouse pointer on any map icon. A brief description will appear. Click on the link in the icon info window for details. You may also use the Pull-Down Menu or the Las Vegas Area Travel Guide Index at the bottom of the page.

Las Vegas Area Pull-Down Menu Hoover Dam Northern Arizona / Route 66 Grand Canyon City of Las Vegas Las Vegas Area - East Lake Mead / Valley of Fire Las Vegas Area - West Utah National Parks Loops Death Valley Area Travel Itineraries

Las Vegas Area Travel Guide - Suggested Itineraries

This symbol indicates links into the American West Travelogue.

This page offers suggested itineraries for touring the Las Vegas area described in this guide.

For a more comprehensive trip planning package, please consider purchasing our customized Travel Itinerary - Trip Planner package.

(I) Las Vegas - Lake Mead Loop - Day Trip -

Proceed south on US-93 (I-515). Take the tour at Hoover Dam (an hour or more). Backtrack a few miles and turn north on Lakeshore Scenic Drive. In a few miles, you'll reach Lake Mead Marina and then Lake Mead Cruises Landing. Guided boat tours are available here on a daily basis (call 702-293-6180).

Proceed north on NV-147, then east on the scenic Northshore Drive which provides many miles of lake and desert vistas along the way. There are several picnic areas available. There are services (food, gas) at Echo Bay and Overton Beach Marinas. Overton has a restaurant.

Take NV-169 west into Valley of Fire State Park (additional fee is required) to tour that very scenic desert area. The red rocks are most colorful late in the day. The route runs into I-15 for an easy return south to Las Vegas.

(II) Las Vegas - Red Rock Loop - Day Trip -

Head west from the Strip on Charleston Boulevard which becomes NV-159. Look for the entrance to the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area and take the scenic drive. Bicycling is also very popular on the scenic drive. If the weather isn't too warm, many miles of trails are available to sample.

Continue on NV-159 as it loops south. Take the turnoff to Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. There are tours available of the historic ranch. Also, picnic areas and trees, This would be a good place to stop for lunch.

The route soon runs into NV-160. Drive east for an easy return to I-15 just south of the airport. (NV-160 heading west offers about ten miles of very scenic driving as it climbs to Mountain Springs Summit at an elevation of 5,493 feet.

(III) Las Vegas - Mt. Charleston Loop - Day Trip or overnight -

The Spring Mountains offer relief from the desert heat during the warmer months and winter sports during the cooler months. Take US-95 north, then scenic NV-157 west to the town of Mt. Charleston which is just below Charleston Peak (11,919 feet).

Food, lodging, and camping are available in the resort area. Based on the season, winter sports, hiking, and horseback riding are available.

For the return trip, take the turnoff to NV-156 for different scenery. The route returns to US-95.

(IV) Las Vegas - Mojave National Preserve - Day Trip or overnight -

This longer drive offers a more rural setting. Take Interstate-15 south 93 miles to the town of Baker. Head south on the Kelbaker Road into the Mojave National Preserve. Stop in the town of Kelso at the Kelso Depot which houses the preserve's visitor center. Be sure to ask for a park map.

To complete the loop, head north to the town of Cima. If you want to stop for lunch, or camp, take the Cedar Canyon Road five miles east (turn is 14 miles north of Kelso), then south on Block Canyon Road to campgrounds. From Cima, it's 15 miles return to I-15.

The total drive for the loop and interstate would be about 220 miles. If you want to add about another 100 miles, consider taking the tour of Mitchell Caverns at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.

(V) Las Vegas - Utah National Parks - 3 to 5 days -

Head north on I-15 to St. George, Utah (120 miles). Just past town, take Utah-9 east to Zion National Park (camping, lodging in park or in Springdale). Continue on Utah-9 to US-89, then go north about 45 miles. Turn east on Utah-12. Red Canyon Recreation Area has nice scenic trails and a great campground. Bryce Canyon National Park is 14 miles east (camping, lodging in park or just outside park at Ruby's Inn).

Return west on Utah-12 and south on US-89. Continue south to Kanab, Utah. Proceed on US-89a to Jacob Lake, then Arizona-67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park (camping, lodging in park or outside park in Kaibab National Forest or Jacob Lake). Most direct return is Az-67, US-89a to Fredonia, Az-389 to Hurricane, Utah and return to I-15. Pipe Springs National Monument (an old settlement) is a good stop along the way.

To add an extra day or more, proceed east on US-89a from Jacob Lake. Take the short turnoff to Lee's Ferry which is extremely scenic. There is a nice campground, trails, a historical site, nearby lodging, and fishing. Continue east to US-89, then north to Page and Lake Powell. If you are short on time a tour of upper Antelope Canyon takes only a couple hours. The tour of the Glen Canyon Dam is also brief. Return via US-89 and Kanab.

(VI) Las Vegas - Northern Arizona Loop - 3 to 5 days or more -

Proceed south on US-93. Take the tour at Hoover Dam (an hour or more). At Kingman, head east on I-40. If you have more time, go east on US-66 instead and return to I-40 at Seligman. If you have more time, take the Prescott - Sedona loop (Az-89, 89a). For a quick drive-through, good stops would be the town of Jerome and Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon. Detour will add at least most of one day.

From Oak Creek, you will end up in Flagstaff. Proceed on US-180 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (camping, lodging in park or in Tusayan). If you skipped the Prescott - Sedona loop, reach the South Rim from Williams via Az-64.

If you want to see the Painted Desert, proceed east on I-40 from Flagstaff. Possible brief stops are Walnut Canyon National Monument (nice trail, lunch spot) and Meteor Crater. Tour the Painted Desert and other wonders in Petrified Forest National Park, east of Holbrook, Arizona. All services, camping and lodging at Holbrook. Very nice campground at Homolovi Ruins State Park. This side trip will take at least 24 hours.

From the South Rim, continue east on Az-64 to US-89, then north to Page and Lake Powell. You can spend one to several days here. Activities include Antelope Canyon tour, one-day Glen Canyon smooth-water raft trip, and half or full day boat trip to Rainbow Bridge.

Continue north on US-89 to Kanab, Utah, and eventually I-15. Tour Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks as described in Tour (V).

(VII) Las Vegas - Death Valley - 3 to 5 days or more -

The best way to visit Death Valley National Park is to head first to Furnace Creek (on Ca-190, about 20 miles east of Death Valley Junction on Ca-127) to arrange camping or lodging, then stop at the visitor center for information and plan your visit.

From Las Vegas, proceed north on US-95 to Beatty (119 miles). Turn west on NV-374 into the park. Stop for an hour or more at the nearby ghost town of Rhyolite. If you have a high clearance vehicle and don't mind an exciting two hour detour, take the Titus Canyon turnoff (about 7 miles west of Beatty). It is slow but fairly easy driving through this exciting canyon. You also pass through the ghost town of Leadfield. The route comes out on the park road about 15 miles north of the Beatty Road. (Furnace Creek is about 20 miles south of the Beatty Road.)

There is easily several days of touring at Death Valley. In the north end of the park, Scotty's Castle and Ubehebe Crater are must-sees. The Death Valley Dunes are north of Ca-190 and west of the Beatty Road. The absolutely best time to visit the dunes for photos is just after sunrise. South of Furnace Creek, highlights include Badwater (the lowest point) and the adjacent salt flats, Devil's Golf Course, and Artists' Drive. Heading east out of the valley on Ca-190, highlights include Zabriskie Point and Golden Canyon, the loop drive through Twenty Mule Team Canyon, and the side trip to Dante's View, the most famous vista in Death Valley and a must-see.

For the return to Las Vegas, proceed east on Ca-190 to Death Valley Junction at Ca-127. This is the site of the unique Armagosa Opera House and Hotel. Continue east into Nevada; the route becomes county-210. A side trip is available here to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The route returns to NV-160 just north of Pahrump. Proceed on NV-160 south for the direct return to Las Vegas.

If you wish to see more of the desert, turn south on Ca-127 at Death Valley Junction. There is about 85 miles of very surreal, starkly beautiful scenery until reaching Baker on I-15. Proceed south from Baker for the loop trip through Mojave National preserve as discussed in Trip IV above.

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Las Vegas Area Travel Guide Index

• Hoover Dam, Northern Arizona, Route 66, Grand Canyon
• City of Las Vegas
• Las Vegas Area - East (Lake Mead / Valley of Fire)
• Las Vegas Area - West (Red Rocks / Mt. Charleston)
• Utah National Parks Loops
• Death Valley Area and Mojave National Preserve
• Travel Itineraries

Guides to Nearby Destinations

• Northern Arizona
• Grand Canyon Area
• Southern Utah
• Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
• Lake Powell