9 of the Best Las Vegas Desert Road Trips

Las Vegas is aptly named Sin City as it abounds with casinos and entertainment. But if you want some reprieve from the nightlife, it is also a great jumping board for a road trip! 

Wondering what to see outside of Vegas? There are plenty of scenic Las Vegas desert destinations and canyons, perfect if you want to see nature's masterpieces. 

And hey, if you’re unable to bring your car to Vegas, it’s not a problem! You can book a car rental quickly and easily on Klook!

Now that we’ve got the ever-important vehicle covered, here are the best destinations for your Las Vegas desert road trip!

Marvel at an outstanding feat of engineering that keeps the Colorado River at bay. Hoover Dam is a great destination for a Las Vegas desert road trip, being only 37 minutes southeast of the city. This 60-story dam paved the way for cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix to develop. You can learn more about the dam’s history at the Hoover Dam Auditorium.

Lake Mead is another fantastic destination for a Las Vegas desert road trip, as it’s only a 40-minute drive. This reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam is also one of the world’s biggest manmade lakes. It’s framed by stunning rocky scenery and wildlife, perfect for going on walking tours to explore the area fully.

Red Rock Canyon features several picturesque canyons (made of Aztec sandstone) and peaks with vivid colors that geologists love to study and photographers love to capture. There are also plenty of wildlife and hiking trails to enjoy. The best part is that it’s only 20 minutes away, making it a famous destination for a Red Rock desert Las Vegas day trip.

Two hours from Vegas lies Death Valley in California, the hottest and driest spot in the Western Hemisphere. The valley is an eclectic mix of terrains — you’ll be in awe of its white sandy landscape, lush meadows, and snow-frosted peaks. You can also visit Artists Drive, a surreal multi-colored hill featured in Star Wars: A New Hope.

Zion National Park is another desert destination for your Las Vegas desert road trip. It’s adorned by canyons, red rocks, and even pink cliffs, making it a mecca for nature-lovers and photographers for its natural beauty. You can also see Checkerboard Mesa, a Navajo Sandstone elevation with an unbelievable checkerboard pattern.

Antelope Canyon may be a little over four hours away from Vegas, but it’s definitely worth the drive. This slot canyon is divided into five sections, one of its most famous being the Lower Antelope Canyon. Check out the surreal formations shaped by years of water flow and erosion, you’ll believe it’s nature’s magnum opus!

This next great Las Vegas desert road trip destination hardly needs an introduction: The Grand Canyon, which has a famous jagged 227-mile-long gorge. It’s a little over four hours away, which is worth it since you’re visiting one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It’s such a force of nature with various elevation levels that it can even influence the weather!

Joshua Tree National Park was formed due to the merging of the Colorado and Mojave Desert ecosystems. Thanks to this, it has an interesting array of flora and fauna that create stunning landscapes. Plus, it’s three hours from Vegas; totally worth the drive!

Palm Springs is a desert resort city that’s a perfect Las Vegas desert road trip stop. There are loads of natural hot springs and golf courses where you can enjoy the California sun. It’s more on the glamorous side, as it’s a famous destination for Hollywood celebs. 

So, are you ready to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas? Then it's time to embark on a Las Vegas desert road trip to enjoy the area’s most scenic stops and spend a more tranquil time with nature.

The desert around Las Vegas is the Mojave Desert. It is the smallest and driest desert in North America. 

Cool desert destinations near Vegas are Valley of Fire State Park, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and Death Valley National Park. To have a different experience, you could also visit the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.  

Boulder City in the Mojave Desert is the closest desert city to Las Vegas.