Listed here are 15 superb highway journeys from Las Vegas that can assist you to discover extra of the USA’s western wonders!
Las Vegas, famously often known as “Sin Metropolis”, has a lot to supply travellers. Although the town is most well-known for its casinos, leisure, and nightlife, Las Vegas is located within the coronary heart of the breathtaking desert panorama of the American Southwest.
A highway journey outdoors Sin Metropolis can carry you to magnificent canyons, charming cities, and rugged mountain ranges. Broaden your horizons by getting out of Las Vegas for a day or a weekend and taking up one in all these superb highway journeys!
Enterprise to close by cities equivalent to Salt Lake Metropolis or San Diego. Go to well-known sights just like the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon.
You may highway journey to among the USA’s most iconic nationwide parks, together with Zion, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Joshua Tree, Loss of life Valley, and extra.
A Las Vegas highway journey provides you the possibility to journey slowly and deliberately via actually spectacular surroundings, so take a break from the hustle and bustle and hit the highway!
15 Greatest Highway Journeys From Las Vegas
From seeing the long-lasting London Bridge in Lake Havasu Metropolis to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, you’ll be able to discover a lot of the USA’s highlights on these highway journeys from Las Vegas.
Try a ghost city in distant Nevada deserts, or spot bighorn sheep within the forests of Yosemite. Spend a weekend on a lake attempting water sports activities, or trek via canyons in Arizona and Utah.
No matter your pursuits could also be, lease a automobile in Las Vegas and get out to discover the magnificent environment!
One of the simplest ways to get round is to lease a automobile and discover by yourself! We suggest Rental Vehicles, which has the most important vary of autos for the most effective worth in the marketplace.
1. Zion Nationwide Park
- Distance from Las Vegas: 152 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
A highway journey from Las Vegas to Zion Nationwide Park is an unforgettable journey that takes you thru the beautiful desert panorama of the American Southwest. You may full your complete drive in simply a few hours, leaving you loads of time to discover the unimaginable wilderness of Zion Nationwide Park.
Crimson sandstone cliffs rise steeply from the valley flooring, and luxurious greenery contrasts with the encircling desert of the breathtaking Zion Nationwide Park. Zion’s well-known mountain climbing trails and towering rock formations just like the Watchman and Angels Touchdown assist make this probably the most stunning nationwide parks within the nation.
Spend a weekend right here for extra time to benefit from the enjoyable actions within the park, equivalent to mountaineering, horseback driving, tenting, and stargazing. Proceed your highway journey via the park and take a look at among the scenic drives such because the Zion Mount Carmel Freeway.
The highway journey isn’t just a journey between two locations, however an expertise of the numerous and majestic pure fantastic thing about the Southwest.
Try our detailed information for driving from Las Vegas to Zion Nationwide Park!
2. Hoover Dam
- Distance from Las Vegas: 36 miles
- Driving time: 45 minutes
One of many best highway journey routes from Las Vegas is a visit to the Hoover Dam. The drive, about 40 minutes southeast of Las Vegas, takes you alongside U.S. Route 93, a clean freeway that winds via the arid desert terrain.
Cease in Boulder Metropolis on the way in which to take a look at the distinctive museums and galleries earlier than heading onto the world-famous Hoover Dam on the sting of Lake Mead.
Straddling the border between Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover Dam is an iconic image of American innovation and ambition. The construction itself, a large concrete arch-gravity dam, towers over the Colorado River, holding again the expansive waters of Lake Mead.
Guests can cease at varied viewpoints alongside the way in which to admire the dam’s grandeur or discover the Hoover Dam Customer Middle to find out about its historical past and building.
3. Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park
- Distance from Las Vegas: 260 miles
- Driving time: 3 hours and 50 minutes
One other top-of-the-line highway journeys from Las Vegas is to Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park. Go away the loopy metropolis lights behind and drive via the magnificent rock formations of this beautiful nationwide park.
Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park is famend for its otherworldly panorama, characterised by its putting hoodoos. These tall, skinny rock spires are shaped by hundreds of thousands of years of abrasion and are a mesmerizing sight.
The amphitheater, the park’s predominant attraction, presents beautiful panoramic views, with dawn and sundown being significantly breathtaking as the sunshine enhances the vivid colours of the rocks. Strive some sightseeing by e-bike or go on a horseback driving tour via the panorama to take a break from the automobile.
Mountain climbing trails, such because the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Backyard, help you discover the canyon’s intricate formations up shut. No matter actions you select to incorporate in your highway journey, this is among the coolest geological wonders of the American West.
4. Grand Canyon
- Distance from Las Vegas: 280 miles
- Driving time: 4 hours and 10 minutes
After all, the Grand Canyon needs to be on our checklist of the most effective highway journeys from Las Vegas! You may attain Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim in simply over 4 hours from Las Vegas. If you happen to’re visiting the North Rim, you’ll take a special route solely and it’s also possible to attain it in simply over 4 hours.
However one of the best ways to highway journey via Grand Canyon Nationwide Park is to go to the North and the South Rim, as every location has its personal distinctive lookouts and sights. Additionally, think about a go to to the West Rim you probably have time.
Mainly the extra time you must drive across the Grand Canyon, the higher. The South Rim is extra touristy and higher geared up with facilities, whereas the North Rim is far more distant and rugged.
Wherever you select to go, you’ll be able to admire how the Colorado River curves via the cliff edges and the way the pure colours layer via the rocks. Some significantly scenic routes to incorporate in your highway journey embrace Desert View Drive and Hermit Highway. Or you’ll be able to deal with your self to a scenic flight and see all of it in a shorter timeframe!
5. Salt Lake Metropolis
- Distance from Las Vegas: 420 miles
- Driving time: 6 hours and 20 minutes
For a lengthier highway journey possibility, head from Las Vegas as much as Salt Lake Metropolis! The drive takes you thru most of Central Utah, the place you’ll be able to admire unimaginable deserts, mountains, and extra.
Passing via cities like Cedar Metropolis and Provo, you’ll discover the elevation change because the Wasatch Mountain Vary rises to the east. The ultimate stretch towards the town presents a putting distinction between the rugged mountains and the expansive Nice Salt Lake.
Because the capital metropolis of Utah, Salt Lake Metropolis has a lot to supply by way of tradition and nature. Identified for its beautiful pure environment, the town is a hub for out of doors fans, providing easy accessibility to world-class snowboarding, mountain climbing, and mountain biking.
It’s additionally a middle of tradition and historical past, house to the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the long-lasting Salt Lake Temple and Temple Sq. attracting guests from all over the world.
Salt Lake Metropolis has a dynamic downtown space full of museums, artwork galleries, theaters, and classy eating places as nicely. So this highway journey has one thing for everybody!
6. Lake Tahoe
- Distance from Las Vegas: 455 miles
- Driving time: 7 hours and quarter-hour
For these with a couple of days to spare, Lake Tahoe makes probably the most unimaginable Las Vegas highway journeys! It’s a prolonged highway journey, however well worth the effort.
The quickest route takes you northwest via Nevada, or you’ll be able to take a barely longer route and drive up via japanese California. The California route provides you the possibility to cease and see the enormous Sequoia bushes in Kings Canyon Nationwide Park on the way in which, or the unimaginable fishing spots in Mammoth Lakes.
However you could simply need to drive straight to Lake Tahoe as there may be a lot to do right here. Most guests congregate round South Lake Tahoe, the place you’ll be able to discover the fantastic thing about Emerald Bay State Park or go on a sightseeing boat cruise.
Round North Lake Tahoe there are additionally some superb alternatives for water sports activities or snowboarding and snowboarding within the winter. You probably have 3 days to spend in Lake Tahoe, positively do it.
Learn subsequent: 21 Greatest Issues To Do In Lake Tahoe, California
7. Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park
- Distance from Las Vegas: 126 miles
- Driving time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park lies proper on the border of California and Nevada, making it a comparatively fast highway journey from Sin Metropolis.
You may attain the park’s japanese edge in slightly below 2 hours from Las Vegas, however driving via the acute and mesmerizing landscapes of Loss of life Valley is the most effective a part of this highway journey.
As you drive via this huge desert wilderness, you’ll encounter otherworldly options equivalent to towering sand dunes and salt flats.
The stark fantastic thing about Zabriskie Level’s golden badlands, the immense depths of Badwater Basin— the bottom level in North America—and the surreal Artist’s Palette, with its multicolored hills, all add to the park’s dramatic attract.
Regardless of its harsh setting, Loss of life Valley presents a surprisingly numerous vary of experiences, from hidden oases to rugged mountain views, making it a singular and unforgettable highway journey vacation spot.
Guide a self-guided driving tour for the most effective route via Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park!
8. Lake Havasu Metropolis
- Distance from Las Vegas: 153 miles
- Driving time: 2 hours and half-hour
A highway journey from Las Vegas to Lake Havasu Metropolis is a scenic desert drive full of wide-open landscapes and the peaceable attraction of the American Southwest. The journey takes about 2.5 to three hours, following U.S. Route 95 south from Las Vegas, with the Mojave Desert stretching out in each course.
The highway winds previous rugged mountains, cacti-dotted plains, and the occasional small desert city or ghost city. Nelson Ghost City is value stopping alongside the way in which, as this deserted gold mine in Nevada is an interesting step again in time!
The town itself is a vibrant desert oasis, with the glowing waters of the Colorado River and Lake Havasu welcoming road-trippers into the world.
A spotlight of the town is the long-lasting London Bridge, which was relocated from England within the Nineteen Sixties. It’s additionally a tremendous place to come back for out of doors adventures like boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports activities on Lake Havasu.
Discover extra of Nevada on these day journeys from Salt Lake Metropolis.
9. Valley of Hearth State Park
- Distance from Las Vegas: 46 miles
- Driving time: 45 minutes
Valley of Hearth State Park is among the hottest day journeys from Las Vegas, and it’s an epic highway journey as nicely! It’s situated proper on the outskirts of the town, so it’s tremendous simple to simply lease a automobile and spend the day cruising via the dramatic landscapes of the world.
Valley of Hearth State Park presents breathtaking scenic drives via slender canyons, open desert plains, and superb rock formations sculpted by wind and time.
Highlights of Valley of Hearth State Park embrace the well-known Hearth Wave, Elephant Rock, and the prehistoric petroglyphs etched into the rocks by historic peoples. The colours, particularly at dawn or sundown, make the panorama come alive, remodeling it right into a photographer’s dream and an awe-inspiring vacation spot for any highway journey.
As one in all Nevada’s most unimaginable state parks, a highway journey via the Valley of Hearth won’t disappoint!
10. Joshua Tree Nationwide Park
- Distance from Las Vegas: 187 miles
- Driving time: 3 hours
For extra unimaginable nature surroundings, strive a highway journey via Joshua Tree Nationwide Park.
The park is known for its putting Joshua bushes, towering rock formations, and distinctive assembly of two desert ecosystems—the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
Joshua Tree Nationwide Park has surreal landscapes filled with rugged cliffs, stark cacti, and huge starry skies. Horseback driving is an epic technique to discover the park, as is mountain climbing, backpacking, and tenting. Additionally think about a self guided driving tour of Joshua Tree to make sure you hit all of the highlights.
It’s positively one of many coolest Las Vegas highway journeys to strive. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a spot to spend the evening and refuel earlier than heading again to Vegas, you would additionally go to the close by metropolis of Palm Springs which has a lot to supply.
11. San Diego
- Distance from Las Vegas: 332 miles
- Driving time: 6 hours
If you happen to’re hoping to discover one other superb US metropolis in your highway journey, head southwest to San Diego! The drive will take you thru Mojave Nationwide Protect, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, and Palm Springs, all of that are value stopping on the way in which if you want.
Or you’ll be able to simply drive straight to the fabulous metropolis of San Diego for a couple of days of enjoyable and pleasure.
San Diego has some world-class sights equivalent to Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, the USS Halfway Museum, and varied different artwork galleries, museums, eating places, and funky neighborhoods.
Nature lovers can hike via Torrey Pines State Pure Reserve, kayak via the pristine waters of La Jolla Cove, or watch the sundown from the attractive Sundown Cliffs. There are additionally quite a few seashores round San Diego which can be good for swimming and browsing, equivalent to Pacific Seashore, Ocean Seashore, and Mission Seashore.
On the lookout for extra enjoyable actions? Try the Greatest Issues To Do In San Diego, California
12. Lake Mead
- Distance from Las Vegas: 31 miles to the closest level
- Driving time: 45 minutes to the closest level
Lake Mead is located proper outdoors Las Vegas, so you may make this highway journey as lengthy or as quick as you need! You may attain the closest shores of the lake in below an hour, or you’ll be able to spend a number of days driving round this huge lake and all it has to supply.
Lake Mead, the most important reservoir within the U.S. and a part of the Lake Mead Nationwide Recreation Space, offers a surprising distinction to the arid environment of the Nevada desert.
Water lovers can lease boats, kayaks, or paddleboards to discover the lake’s huge shoreline, whereas others would possibly want swimming in designated areas or enjoyable on the seashore. Fishing is one other common pastime, with alternatives to catch bass, catfish, and trout.
For hikers and nature lovers, trails just like the Historic Railroad Path supply scenic walks with views of each the lake and the encircling desert.
You may additionally discover close by sights such because the Hoover Dam and the Black Canyon, the place you’ll be able to strive enjoyable actions like guided dam excursions and river rafting. Whether or not you’re in search of journey on the water or beachside rest, you are able to do all of it at Lake Mead.
13. Sedona
- Distance from Las Vegas: 3280 miles
- Driving time: 4 hours and quarter-hour
Among the finest weekend getaways from Las Vegas is the magical city of Sedona in Arizona. This charming city lies amidst some unimaginable mountains, canyons, valleys, and crimson rock formations.
Sedona is house to numerous superb hikes, equivalent to Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Satan’s Bridge, and Oak Creek Canyon. There are day hikes, multi-day treks, and funky locations to camp, swim, and discover.
Spend a while within the quaint downtown space of Sedona as nicely, the place you’ll be able to feast on scrumptious meals and store for mystical souvenirs within the trinket outlets and artwork galleries.
You probably have numerous time, mix Sedona and the Grand Canyon into one unimaginable Arizona highway journey itinerary!
14. Yosemite Nationwide Park
- Distance from Las Vegas: 340 miles
- Driving time: 5 hours and quarter-hour
One of the iconic nationwide parks within the USA, Yosemite is a lengthier however positively worthwhile highway journey from Las Vegas.
You may attain the outer fringe of the park in below 6 hours, nevertheless it’s nicely value spending at the very least few days touring via the immense wilderness of Yosemite when you arrive.
Driving via Yosemite Nationwide Park is an awe-inspiring expertise, full of among the most iconic landscapes on the earth. You’ll get to see pure wonders like El Capitan and Half Dome, in addition to lush meadows, large sequoia bushes, and tumbling waterfalls.
A number of the most scenic locations to drive within the park embrace the well-known Tunnel View, which offers a sweeping vista of Yosemite Valley, and Tioga Highway with its high-altitude alpine surroundings.
Additionally make sure you cease at Glacier Level for top-of-the-line overlooks of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, or take a detour to go to Mariposa Grove, house to among the park’s historic, towering sequoias. Many trailheads are accessible by automobile, permitting you to embark on some superb hikes throughout your highway journey.
15. San Francisco
- Distance from Las Vegas: 570 miles
- Driving time: 9 hours and quarter-hour
A drive from Las Vegas to San Francisco is an extended one, nevertheless it’s the proper journey for anybody with a while to spare and the urge to sightsee via California!
You may hit lots of the locations on this checklist as you head from Las Vegas to San Francisco, together with Loss of life Valley, Yosemite, and even Lake Tahoe. Stretch the drive out into every week or longer, particularly since you’ll need at the very least 3 days in San Francisco earlier than you drive again.
San Francisco is house to numerous world-famous landmarks just like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Sq., and one of many USA’s oldest and largest Chinatowns. With its distinctive structure, hilly streets, and pure magnificence, San Francisco stays one in all California’s most picturesque cities.
Plan your highway journey to San Francisco from Las Vegas with our full information!
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