If you are planning a family vacation in Las Vegas you absolutely need to look beyond just the Strip. Public transportation is not well developed beyond the city itself so you will have to arrange your Las Vegas trips by car.
My list of 10 best road trips from Las Vegas, majority of which are day trips and easily doable with kids, is designed to give you many great ideas for visiting unique natural habitats, National Parks, historic places and man-made wonders. If you have just a little more time these itineraries would also make for excellent weekend trips from Las Vegas
I am not saying you should avoid the Strip completely if you come to Las Vegas with kids – there are many family-friendly and fun things to do in Vegas (see links to my previous Las Vegas articles at the end of this post). However, Las Vegas is also a perfect base for exploration of parts of Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah which you absolutely should not miss.
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #1 VALLEY OF FIRE, NV
Valley of Fire State Park is located 63 miles from Las Vegas. Once you get out of the city you won’t encounter any traffic so the drive should typically take you not more than 1 hour and 30 min (the last 15 miles or so are on a side road, not the freeway which accounts for a longer driving time).
Valley of Fire is famous for its amazing red rock formations. The whole landscape feels surreal as if you have just landed on Mars. There is a scenic drive through the park and a lot of pull outs where you can park and do an easy hike with kids, in fact the biggest majority of the Park’s attractions are located very close to the main road.
All kids are guaranteed to like the whimsical rocks that one can climb on and into (some rocks have interesting niches that no young explore can pass by). Additional bonuses to look for in the park: petrified wood, ancient petroglyphs and desert bighorn sheep.
Please, note that there are no food concessions in the park or anywhere nearby but lots of picnic tables so I suggest taking a picnic with you for this lovely day trip from Las Vegas.
Here is detailed information of Valley of Fire hikes.
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #2 HOOVER DAM, NV/AZ
Hoover Dam is located just 32.6 miles from Las Vegas on the boarder between Nevada and Arizona. The drive should take you about 45 minutes (considering the city traffic). Hoover Dam is a must do day trip from Las Vegas because it is a marvel of engineering. I am sure you have seen it pictured before but the real magnitude and the scale of this architectural wonder only strikes you when you are standing on top of it peering down 726 feet.
You definitely need to check out both sides of the Dam to see the Colorado River and the Lake Mead for scenic views. I also suggest stopping at the Hoover Dam museum/visitor center to learn about how the dam was constructed and how it is operated.
There are guided tours that you can book but they may be too much for younger kids.
Hoover Dam is prone to traffic jams because of the amount of visitors it gets. The best time to visit is early in the morning.
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #3 Red Rock Canyon, NV
Visiting Red Rock Canyon is perhaps the easiest day trips from Las Vegas. It could even be a half day trip, as the park is only about 25 minutes away from The Strip. Entrance fees for one day is $15 per vehicle, but is also included in the America the Beautiful National Park pass if you have one.
The Visitor Center is open every day between 8am and 4:30pm, but the scenic drive has a bit longer hours, 6am-5/7pm depending on the season. There are a good amount of trails around the park, but Red Rock Canyon is very accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility restrictions because all of the big sites are visible from the 13-mile scenic drive.
If you do decide to venture out of your car, Red Rock Canyon has dozens of great trails in varying difficulty. You could spend all day hiking in the desert and absorbing the beauty of Nevada. That said, make sure to pack sunscreen AND PLENTY OF WATER. You shouldn’t need any advanced hiking equipment, sturdy shoes and maybe walking poles for longer hikes. However, it is recommended to bring along a hiking partner for any longer trails in case of unexpected accidents. Red Rock Canyon is the perfect escape from the glitz and glamour of Neon Vegas, even just for a few hours.
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #4 Mount Charleston, NV
If you love to hike, there are hiking trails for all ages and fitness levels. The most popular hike in Mount Charleston (and for good reason) is the Mary Jane Falls Hike, which is a 3.1 out and back hike to a group of small waterfalls. Once you reach the summit, you will be greeted with a few waterfalls and a sweeping view of the Mount Charleston forest. If you continue the trail past the waterfalls, you will see a large cave you can hike into to get an even better view! Most people stop at the waterfalls, so the cave will be virtually empty!
For winter travel, you can head up to Lee Canyon Ski resort to rent a cabin, go sledding or ski/snowboard! Because the mountain is so popular for Las Vegas day trips in car, the roads are extremely well maintained. If you are nervous to drive up on your own, there are also tours that will take you there and back.
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #5 ROUTE 66, KINGMAN AZ
by Kidventurous
Get your kicks on historic Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona. Just about 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas, it’s a cinch to get there by way of US 93, which meets up with Route 66 in Kingman. Make the Arizona Route 66 Museum your first stop in town. A one-hour movie captivates with the colorful history of the 388-mile segment of Route 66 that cuts across Arizona.
Stroll the family-friendly museum for a look at vintage memorabilia, brightly-colored neon signs and creative displays. The museum draws visitors in with a fascinating snapshot of what life was like during the heyday of Route 66. A gigantic mural on the outside of the building illustrates the birth of the iconic Mother Road.
Grab lunch across the street at Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, a throwback diner with a bright pink and sea foam green color scheme. It’s a must-go for classic burgers, fries and floats made with house-made root beer. Even Oprah has stopped in for root beer. Her picture is on the wall and she later gave away cases of the root beer on her television show.
After lunch, walk two blocks to the Kingman Railroad Museum. It’s a fun stop for working model train sets and historic artifacts from the Santa Fe Railroad that date back to the late-1800’s. At Locomotive Park, kids can climb aboard a real-life historic steam engine.
When you have more time, here’s an itinerary for an Arizona Route 66 family road trip from Kingman to Holbrook, including fun-filled stops in Seligman, Williams, Flagstaff and Winslow.
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #6 ARIZONA HOT SPRINGS, AZ
Arizona Hot Springs is a hidden gem for the people traveling with kids to Las Vegas and looking for some hiking trails nearby. You can spend here half or the whole day. It is about 30-40 minutes’ drive from Las Vegas.
The best time to soak in those springs is October till the middle of May. In the summer, it’s too hot for the hike, and for the springs itself – water temperature can reach even as high as 110F! Also, if you are visiting this place in October or November, we recommend to start hiking early in the morning and get back before the sunset (if you have the whole day). Otherwise, take a lot of water with you – there are known fatalities caused by dehydration on this easy-looking hike.
How to get to Arizona Hot Springs
You must head to route 93 in direction, Kingman. After passing Boulder City and 4.2 miles past Hoover Dam, look close to the parking lot on your left (there is a dedicated lane to take the turn left). Leave the car at the lot and start your hike under the highway bridge.
The trail itself is not very well marked, but if you follow the path, you should find it. You can choose two trails – faster, and shorter keeping left and a little bit longer, but more exciting keeping right.
If you choose the left hike, you will reach the springs from the top. The good idea is to leave your stuff before entering the pools and stay only in a swimsuit.
If you choose a right hike, you will pass Liberty Bell Arch and Colorado on your way. In the end, you will encounter the 20ft ladder leading to the pools.
Additional tips for visiting Arizona Hot Springs
You can stay overnight at the Colorado River beach on the semi-formal backcountry campground for a perfect weekend trip from Las Vegas. You can reach this place, not only hiking but also kayaking the river.
There is a small risk of Lethal Amoeba – Naegleria Fowleri. Please protect your nose against the water to stay safe. Do not swim or dive in the springs! Instruct your kids to be safe.
Please be aware that it might be no clothes rule in the springs – usually evenings, nights, and when kids are not present.
Best Road trips from Las Vegas – #7 DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CA
Visiting Death Valley National Park is one of the best road trips from Las Vegas. The most direct route to Death Valley National from Vegas is 111 miles, which is technically an easy trip. However, please, be aware that sometimes traffic from Las Vegas in the direction of California can be very heavy. Early morning drive is, probably, your best bet. Potentially consider this specific itinerary as one of the weekend trips from Las Vegas.
Death Valley is a unique national park, and you can see most the main spots of Death Valley in one day. From sand dunes to salt flats to painted hills, the park’s landscape sets it apart from the surrounding areas.
Make sure to check out the Mesquite Sand Dunes earlier or later in the day when the sun is lower in the sky, especially in the warmer months. It is about 2 miles round trip to hike out to the largest dune.
Drive through Artist’s Palette to see the hills painted with colors of different minerals. Then make sure to hike out into Badwater Basin to stand at the lowest point in North America.
The best time to visit Death Valley is in the spring or fall when temperatures are more moderate. In the summer, the heat is nearly unbearable with temperatures hitting 110 – 120F. In the winter, evenings are cooler, so make sure to bring layers for the morning and evening hours.
Always have plenty of water with you when you visit Death Valley National Park.
Best Road trips from Las Vegas – #8 ALABAMA HILLS, CA
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #9 ZION NATIONAL PARK, UT
Zion National Park is located roughly 170 miles from the city – technically, a very doable day trip from Las Vegas but it requires perfect planning. The drive to the Park is not an issue for the most part but the last couple of miles can cost you lots of time because the entrance to the park is always crowded.
To make your trip in 2 hours and 40 minutes you need either to leave Las Vegas around 6 am (and may be even a little earlier) to be one of the first ones at the entrance or leave at lunch time so that you arrive after 3 pm but then you will have to stay overnight in Springdell. The advantage of making it a weekend trip from Las Vegas, not just a 1 day trip, is that you can explore the park in the late afternoon and early in the morning the next day, both times of the day are the least crowded.
The best kid friendly trail in Zion is along the Virgin River. It is a paved road that it about 1 mile long one way. It is called, not surprisingly, the Riverside Walk and it is one of the most scenic trails too. Zion Canyon Scenic Drive leads up to the trail and it has several picturesque pull outs to stop and explore along the river. Please, note that the drive is only accessible to cars in winter (low season) otherwise you have to take a shuttle from the Visitor’s Center.
In my opinion the best time to visit Zion is in winter and the worst is in Spring (especially Spring Break time). Winter gives Zion a beautiful dusting of snow and the crowds are significantly less compared to Spring. When we visited we stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn Express in Springdell. The small town of Springdell has several perfect family friendly lodging options and several good restaurants.
Best road trips from Las Vegas – #10 ST. GEORGE, UT
If you have Jurassic Park fans in your family a visit to a small town of St. George, UT is one of the best road trip from Las Vegas for you. It is an easy 121 miles ride along HW 15.
Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm located in St. George is a must see museum that features real dinosaur tracks (hundreds of them!), bones, and fossils. Young paleontologists can participate in a site-wide scavenger hunt to discover prehistoric life and get a prize at the end.
One room in the museum is devoted to a unique exhibit: origami dinosaurs! They are amazing to look at but in addition to just observing, you can try creating an origami creature yourself (instructions ;provided).
After exploring the site kids can run off steam at a dinosaur themed playground.
Why a day trip to Grand Canyon South Rim from Las Vegas is a BAD idea and what are the alternatives
You may have noticed that I did not include a day trip to the South Rim of Grand Canyon from Vegas into my list of 10 BEST road trips from Las Vegas. This is because it is a really bad idea for several reasons:
- Day trip to the South Rim of Grand Canyon from Las Vegas is exhausting and, honestly, ridiculous. Without any traffic jams it is a 4.5 hours drive each way (almost 300 miles).
- If you take a day tour to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas you will be dropped at the Visitor’s Center for a short stop with a gazillion other tourists. You will be fighting for a viewing spot at the only overlook closest to the Visitor’s Center and what you will see most of is crowds, not the Canyon.
- Day trip to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas does not do this magnificent Wonder of the World any justice. You have to spend at least a couple of days there and explore this National Park, away from the main overlook. Do the scenic drive, hike the trails, and visit its museums for a great experience.
If you want to visit Grand Canyon’ South Rim, make it a separate trip not a quick and meaningless stop. Consider Grand Canyon journey as a 2-3 day trip from Las Vegas, at the minimum. Also check out my detailed 1 week Arizona road trip itinerary including Grand Canyon for more information.
Another great alternative – take a day trip to Grand Canyon West with Max Tour. Grand Canyon West is located 126 miles from Vegas so it is a very doable day trip which also includes a couple other cool stops such as Seven Magic Mountains and Hoover Dam.
Here are some great books for kids and adults that you will find very useful on this trip:
Need more ideas for your your Las Vegas Vacation with kids? – Check out these posts:
Family Friendly Shows in Las Vegas
Christmas Vacation in Las Vegas
If you found this information about best road trips from Las Vegas useful, please do me a little favor and share this information with others, for there’s a good chance that it will help them with their one day and weekend trips from Las Vegas. 🙂 Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram where I post many more cool photos and videos about our trips than I could include in a blog post and organize some nice giveaways!
What is your favorite Las Vegas trip by car? Let me know in the comments below!
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