11 of the Best Places to Visit Near Las Vegas

I love Las Vegas. It’s one of my favorite cities in the United States. The energy of the strip is like nothing else anywhere. But I’ll admit after a few days of crowds and slot machine noise, I kind of crave a change of scenery. The good news is you don’t have to go far to include other places to visit near Las Vegas. Southern Nevada is full of plenty of amazing historic towns and stunning desert scenery that’s anything but boring. Best of all, many of these Las Vegas day trips are just a few miles from the strip. And all of them are less than three hours from Las Vegas.

How to Get to These Places to Visit Near Las Vegas

This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you book or buy something through a link I provide. That keeps Southerner Says online and on the road. Thanks for your support.

Some of these places near Las Vegas can be visited by public transportation or an organized tour but the best way to see them is with a rental car. If you flew into Las Vegas and didn’t rent a vehicle at the airport – no worries – there are plenty places to rent on the Las Vegas strip.

Many resorts and casinos conveniently have rental agencies right on the property. So even if the your hotel doesn’t have a rental agency onsite, odds are, there’s one nearby. You can also book through a third part like Rentalcars.com or Expedia.com and choose your location pick-up in the city. Driving in Las Vegas is easy and most of the places on this list are very simple to get to.

If you absolutely don’t want to rent a car, Las Vegas has a ton of a tour operators and most will pick you up right at the hotel. Use Viator.com or Expedia.com to search for tours that interest you.

Springs Preserve

You came to Vegas to gamble but you’d also like to learn a little about the area while you’re here – then Springs Preserve is where to get your education. This cultural institution campus, just minutes from the strip, has 180 acres of trails, museums, galleries and attractions to educate about – and commemorate – Las Vegas.

Start your visit at the Nevada State Museum. The museum guides visitors through the decades of Las Vegas history and development. You can find everything from mammoth bones to vintage showgirl costumes. The Botanical Gardens and surrounding grounds on the Springs Preserve campus have trails that will introduce you to desert life and its flora. Kids will love the Butterfly Habitat and the splash pad for those hot summer days.

Springs Preserve is one of the easiest places to visit near Las Vegas since it’s so close to the strip. You can even get there via public transportation.

• located 6 miles from the strip
• Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday 9am – 4pm
• Tickets are $9.95 for adults $4.95 for ages 3-7 free for 2 & under

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

If you only have time for one place to visit near Las Vegas, then my pick is Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Especially if you are a national park lover. Trust me when I say this park unit is amazing. It’s full of gorgeous views, scenic drives and easy hikes but for some reason it’s often overlooked by people visiting Las Vegas.

The best way to see Lake Mead is by getting out on the water. Rental boats and jet-skis are available to rent for the day at most of the marinas in the park. For a slower pace, you can book an organized guided kayak tour on the Colorado River at the Willow Beach Marina on the Arizona side of the park or book a dinner and sunset cruise aboard the lake’s paddle boat – the Desert Princess.

For those that prefer to stay on land, Lake Mead National Recreation Area has plenty of trails and hikes. The Historic Railroad Trails are perfect for an easy walk and some of the best views of the lake. The trails follow the railroad tracks that carried supplies during the Hoover Dam construction. While you are there, keep an eye out for big horn sheep that frequent the area.

And if you only have time to drive through the park, Lakeshore Drive is best route to see the lake and snap photos. Northshore Road – even though it’s a longer drive – takes you through the western side of the park and through some of the most diverse and fascinating features of the park. Also, don’t miss the park’s visitor center for info about the park and souvenirs.

• Located 20 miles from the strip
• Open 24 hours
• Admission is $25 per car or free with an America the Beautiful park pass

Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is one of the best places to visit near Las Vegas. If you’ve only seen it in movies or photos, do yourself a favor and make the short drive over to see it in person. You really need to see in real life to truly appreciate it just how large it is.

The dam is located within the boundaries of Lake Mead Recreation Area so you can easily see it and some of the park all in the same day. Named after Herbert Hoover, the Hoover Dam was constructed during the Great Depression and completed in 1935. Even though a dam like it had never been built before, it was actually completed two years ahead of schedule. The construction of the dam shaped the future of the entire Southern Nevada area.

There are a few ways to see the dam. To get a quick look and snap some photos – the best way is to drive across the dam on Highway 93, park in one of the provided parking lots and walk the short distance to the dam. Parking is free in these lots however, there is accessible and paid parking closer to the dam. As you make your way down to the dam, there are viewpoints and you can actually walk over the dam on the sidewalk along the road.

To take an actual tour of the dam and the visitor center, there are two different organized tours you can arrange. Check the dam’s website to verify that they are currently offering tours during the pandemic. Each tour offers something a little different.

• Located 40 miles from the strip
• Admission is free to drive across the dam
• Free and paid parking

Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

Highway 93 to the Hoover Dam is a narrow winding road. Now imagine that road being the only route across the Colorado River from this busy area of southern Nevada into Arizona. Because at one time it was. Cars and tour buses made this drive super busy and and a bit unsafe. Not to mention the pedestrian traffic at the dam that caused slow downs.

To deal with the congestion, Nevada and Arizona worked together to construct the Hoover Dam Bypass. Part of that bypass is the new bridge or the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Not just any bridge – it’s the widest concrete arch in the Western Hemisphere, the second highest bridge in the United States and the world’s highest concrete arch bridge. It truly is a wonder to see.

When they built the bridge, someone had the brilliant idea to create a pedestrian path along the bridge. So not only do you get the best vantage point of the dam, you also get to experience first hand just how big the bridge is.

Along the path you’ll find interpretive signs with info about the bridge construction and also about the local area. Parking is free and there are restrooms in the parking lot.

• Located 40 miles from the strip
• Admission is free
• Open 24 hours

Boulder City, Nevada

Boulder City or “the city that built the dam” can be combined with a visit to the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead or the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge. In fact, if you get an early start, you could see a little bit of all four of these places in a day.

Since Boulder City literally only exists because of the dam – it originally was where the workers were housed – there’s tons of history and information about the dam in town. Everywhere you turn is a reminder of the past. if you have time, it’s definitely one of the best places to visit near Las Vegas if you have time.

Downtown Boulder City is so welcoming and charming. There are shops, antiques stores and plenty of restaurants to grab a bite. If you’d like to learn more about the dam construction and history of the area – then the Boulder Dam Hotel is a must. In addition to the hotel and a restaurant, it has one of the most interesting and informative museums on site. The museum focuses not just on the dam and the construction but on the people who built the dam and their stories.

Many of the restaurants downtown are in historic buildings. Don’t miss the burgers at The Dillinger, coffee at Boulder City Company Store and if you want to gamble off the strip – the Railroad Pass Casino just turned ninety years old! They’ve been serving customers since 1931.

• Located 26 miles from the strip
• Open all the time

Valley of Fire State Park

Before you ever even get to Valley of Fire you’ll see why it was Nevada’s first State Park and one of the best places to visit near Las Vegas. As it’s name implies, the park is filled with fiery red sandstone rocks that can be seen as you approach the park. Besides the sandstone, the park has a wide variety of other unique formations – domes, beehives, arches and impressive two thousand year old petroglyphs.

The park encompasses 46,000 acres but it’s easy to see a lot of the highlights in a day. Don’t worry if you don’t have your hiking boots – you can still enjoy the park. Atlatl Rock – with the petroglyphs – Arch Rock and Elephant Rock don’t require any hiking. Even if you just decide to drive through the park, there’s plenty to see from the car.

Stop at the visitor center to see the exhibits and learn more about how this area was formed. There’s also a gorgeous cactus garden and easy walking trails.

• Located 50 miles from the strip
• Open sunrise to sunset
• Admission is $10 per car

Overton, Nevada

The next closest community to Valley of Fire is Overton. Just northeast of Las Vegas, it’s located at the north end of Lake Mead in what’s called the Moapa Valley. This area has a strong Native American history and was once inhabited by the Basketmaker people and later on by the Anasazi or Ancestral Puebloans. The Anasazi were known by their cliff dwelling homes – that can be found in places like Mesa Verde National Park and Walnut Canyon National Monument – and pit homes.

The Native Americans left behind artifacts and ruins. Over the years, these objects have been collected mainly before the Colorado River flooded of the area when the dam was built. Much of what’s been discovered is displayed at the Lost City Museum. The museum was built by the Civilian Conservation Coup (CCC) for the National Park Service in 1935 and the original building that houses the 1935 Gallery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Now run by the state of Nevada, the museum features one of the most engaging displays I’ve ever seen in a museum. The Fay Perkins Gallery contains an actual archeological site that was discovered in the 1930’s. This section of the building was constructed around the dig to show the different stages of an excavation and how work is carried out when archeological areas are found and what it might have looked like when it was inhabited by Natives.

Outside the museum, there are petroglyph panels and reconstructed pueblos.

• Located 65 miles from the strip
• Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
• Admission is $6 and free for 17 and under

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Some of the prettiest sunsets I’ve ever seen in my life have been in Southern Nevada. One of my favorite places to watch the sun go down is in Red Rock Canyon. This area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is know for its diverse geological features that seem to change colors throughout the day.

The best way to see the park is via the thirteen mile scenic drive. However, if you are visiting between October 1 – May 31 you’ll need a reservation for entry between 8 am -5 pm local time. Reservations can make reservation at recreation.gov, or by calling 877- 444-6777.

At Red Rock Canyon you’ll find a variety of hiking trails and you can even arrange to tour the park by horseback. The visitor center is a must see with its interpretive exhibits and a store for souvenirs.

• Located 17 miles from the strip
• Open various hours.
• Admission is $15 per car or free with an America the Beautiful park pass

Mount Charleston

There’s nothing more surprising than leaving the heat of the Las Vegas strip behind and finding snow. Yes snow! Mount Charleston – part of the Spring Mountain Recreation Area – is the fourth highest peak in Nevada and receives about 100 inches of snow a year. That’s enough for a small ski resort. Even thought the snow doesn’t stick around all year, if you’re lucky enough to be visiting Las Vegas in the fall or winter, you might just get the chance to see some.

Even with no snow – the mountain is a welcome escape from the hot desert. Drive the forty one mile scenic loop road and watch the scenery change from arid desert scrub to wooded alpine. This route has plenty of lookouts and viewpoints along the way and there’s also a new visitor center to check out as well.

One of the other surprises you’ll find atop Mt. Charleston is a lodge that looks like something right out of the Swiss Alps. There’s even has a huge fireplace that logically seems out of place in the desert but somehow works. The lodge restaurant serves pub food with plenty of homemade options and desserts. On Sundays, there’s a brunch as well. Pair that with live music and a huge deck and you can easily sip the day away in the mountains of Las Vegas. Who knew?

Southerner Says: Unfortunately, Mount Charleston Lodge had a fire that burned the restaurant in the summer of 2021. They are in the process of rebuilding but no word on an expected reopen date.

• Located 40 miles from the strip
• Open 24 hours
• Admission is free to drive the scenic highway

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

In 1933 workers unearthed some mammoth bones in a low lying area just north of the Vegas strip. This discovery led to even more exploration and now Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the largest fossil beds in North America. In addition to the mammoth bones they have unearthed camelops bones – which are a larger version of today’s camel – sloths as big as a car and an 1100 lb. lion bone.

Since Tule Springs Fossil Beds is a newer park unit in the National Park Service family, there’s no visitor center or any facilities on site. But don’t let that keep you from visiting one of the most interesting places to visit near Las Vegas. There’s not too many sites where you can actually walk among the exploration trenches and look for fossils. It’s also a great place for sunset too.

Free public parking is available on the street in front of the park. Always remember to use Leave No Trace principles while exploring and just in case you do find a fossil or anything else – there’s an online form you can fill to let the National Park Service know.

• Located 22 miles from the strip
• Open during daylight hours
• Admission is free

Seven Magic Mountains

For a fun easy day without a lot of effort, another one of the places to visit near Las Vegas is Seven Magic Mountains. Just a few miles south of the strip on I-15, this art installation is a colorful display in the desert by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. The seven towers of painted boulders stacked up like totem poles signifies the mix of life and human presence in the desert.

The art was slated for removal in 2018 but because it’s so popular – thanks mostly to social media – that’s been extended and there are plans in the works to leave it indefinitely. There’s no facilities and not much else nearby but you could combine a visit here with the the Welcome to Las Vegas sign or the nearby city of Primm that has some casinos and restaurants.

• Located 10 miles from the strip
• Admission is free
• Open 24 hours

More Places To Visit Near Las Vegas

Nevada is such a special unique state and these places to visit near Las Vegas are just a sampling of things you can do on a Las Vegas vacation. Besides what’s listed here, there are other interesting towns near the strip to visit. Henderson, Summerlin and Beatty – which could be combined with a visit to Death Valley National Park – are all fun stops.

And there are plenty more nature and public lands like Gold Butte National Monument, Mojave National Preserve and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area that are close enough for day trips or tours from Las Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Next time you visit Las Vegas – get off the strip and explore. There’s so much more out there to see.

• For flight info and tickets prices for these South American cities shop Skyscanner.com.
• To book a package with a flight and a car all at once use Expedia.com.
• My absolute favorite website for hotels, hostels and even some long term stays is Booking.com.
• To check out home stays and long term places try VRBO.com.
• For cars and vehicle rentals – Rentalcars.com.
• See real reviews and what other travelers are saying at Tripadvisor.com.
• For local tours & experiences use the helpful Viator.com
• And finally, one of the most important pieces of your travel plans is travel insurance. Browse a variety of options at TravelInsurance.com.

like it? pin it!