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The Best One-Day Tour from Las Vegas to Hollywood

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The Vegas Strip is just 4 hours from southern California, so consider taking a  day trip from Las Vegas to Hollywood . LA was one of the first cities I wanted to see when I came to the US, so believe me when I say there are countless things to do in Los Angeles !

Ideally, I recommend spending more than one day there, and I even have a guide on  where to stay in Los Angeles . However, if you’re short on time, a visit to Hollywood is one of the best  day trips from Las Vegas . To make the most of it, I suggest taking a full-day  Las Vegas tour to Hollywood .

In this article, I’m sharing my favorite  Los Angeles tour from Las Vegas , which includes transportation, tour guides, breakfast, and lunch. You’ll see iconic attractions like the  Walk of Fame , the  Hollywood sign , and movie studios like  Pixar Entertainment ,  Paramount Pictures , and  Warner Bros . It’s a full day of beaches, famous landmarks, and sightseeing on Rodeo Drive , Sunset Strip , and Hollywood Boulevard .

One day in Hollywood is better than not visiting at all, and I’m here to help you make the most of it. Ready to see the best  day tour from Las Vegas to Los Angeles ? Let’s go!

Los Angeles full-day tour, the best Hollywood day trip from Las Vegas

A  Hollywood tour from Las Vegas  is a wonderful way to experience LA without getting overwhelmed. I recommend  this full-day tour , which includes a round-trip bus ride, guided tours, breakfast, and lunch.

Enthusiastic guides will take you to iconic venues like Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, and the Sunset Strip. The day will be full of memorable photo ops and visits to some of the top attractions in LA, like famous movie studios.

• Highlights : Hollywood Boulevard, Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, Sunset Strip
• Duration : 14-15 hours
• Number of Participants : 14
• Price : $247+
• Description : Take a  tour from Las Vegas to Los Angeles , where you’ll get a glimpse of Hollywood magic. Visit famous theaters, studios, and attractions around the city while a guide shares interesting facts and history.

Day trip to Hollywood from Las Vegas – Departure & return

This  Hollywood day tour from Las Vegas  starts with hotel pick-up at 6 am. It returns to the original pick-up location at around 8:30 pm.

Itinerary of this Los Angeles tour from Los Vegas

There is so much to see in LA, but this tour has a plan to maximize your time. I like the idea of taking a day trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles because you’ll have an experienced guide who can take you to the best spots and keep you on track. Here’s what you can expect from your one-day tour of Hollywood from Las Vegas !

Vegas to LA day trip – Morning itinerary

This  Las Vegas to Hollywood tour makes the most of the day by departing from Vegas, Nevada at 6 am. Your group will board a comfortable bus and  travel from Las Vegas to Los Angeles . Along the way, you’ll pass through the Mojave Desert and the southern tip of Death Valley.

Soon, the Joshua trees will transform into palm trees as you make your way into LA. The energy will rise as your tour guide points out iconic sights like the Santa Monica Pier and Sunset Boulevard. Be sure to have your camera ready as you cruise down the famous Rodeo Drive!

Las Vegas to Hollywood – Afternoon itinerary

Your  Las Vegas day tour to Hollywood  continues with a lovely lunch on Santa Monica Pier. Afterward, you can take a stroll along the sandy beach, the same one where they filmed the  Baywatch  series.

Then, head into the city, where you can explore Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards. Check out Guitar Center and the music stores and see the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Drama aficionados will love visiting Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Dolby Theater, and Kodak Theater, which offers a beautiful view of the Hollywood sign.

Las Vegas day trip to Los Angeles & Hollywood – Evening itinerary

For the tail end of your trip, you’ll go to Beverly Hills, home to some of the most notable film locations in history. Capture photos of famous spots like the Baltimore Hotel, Hollywood United Methodist Church, and Greystone Mansion.

You’ll also walk by Pixar Entertainment, Walk Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Studio, where the behind-the-scenes magic happens. Before heading back to Vegas, stop for a photo at the Beverly Hills sign.

Los Angeles tour from Las Vegas price

You can find tours once you’re in LA, but there aren’t too many Los Angeles tours from Las Vegas . I’m recommending my favorite  Hollywood tour from Vegas  because it takes you to several areas around Los Angeles.  The tour  shows you a bit of everything, and it costs less than $250.

What’s included on this Hollywood tour from Las Vegas

I also like this  day trip from Las Vegas to LA because it includes everything you need for a complete tour:

• Round-trip transportation
• Expert tour guide

FAQs – Los Vegas day trips to Los Angeles

Maybe you still have questions about taking a  Las Vegas tour to Los Angeles . Don’t worry because I’ve answered the most common concerns below.

How far is Los Angeles from Las Vegas?

Los Angeles is about 270 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

How long does it take to travel from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?

It takes a little over 4 hours to travel from Las Vegas to Los Angeles .

How do you get from Las Vegas to Hollywood?

Here is the fastest way to get from  Las Vegas to Hollywood :

• Take I-515 N/US-95 N to I-15 S
• Merge onto CA-210 W
• Continue to El Monte Busway W into Los Angeles
• Take Exit 2B from US-101 N

How much does a Vegas to Los Angeles tour cost?

The  full-day tour  I recommend costs $246, which is great considering it includes round-trip transportation from  Las Vegas to Hollywood , breakfast, lunch, and tour guides.

Which is the best day tour from Las Vegas to Hollywood?

This   is the best  day trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles  to experience the most attractions in one tour. You’ll see Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of Fame, and much more.

What is the cheapest Las Vegas day trip to LA?

This day trip  is the cheapest  Vegas tour to Hollywood .

Now you have all you need to book your  Los Angeles to Las Vegas day trip ! I know you’ll love this tour because it has a bit of everything, and you don’t have to worry about transportation. Of course, if you have any questions about traveling from  Las Vegas to Hollywood , leave me a comment! Safe travels!

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12 replies on “ The Best One-Day Tour from Las Vegas to Hollywood ”

What are the hotel pickup locations?

Hi Tonya, I think pick-up is available from most of the hotels on the Vegas Strip. However, I recommend contacting the tour company to double-check which specific hotels. Ascen

Planning a trip. Do you have 1 or 2 nights in LA from Vegas trips? Instead of just day trips.

Hi Leigh, I have a recommended itinerary for LA in our Las Vegas road trips article. It’s for 3 days and 2 nights, so it could be perfect for you 🙂

Is there a one way tour of the same itinerary (vegas to la) ?

Hey there, I’m not aware of any one-way tours like that, but you can plan a road trip itinerary from Las Vegas to LA with the help of our guide. 🙂

Do any tours include tour of the stars home

Hi Thomas, This particular one-day tour of Hollywood from Las Vegas focuses on theaters, film studios, and Rodeo Drive. However, there are other tours similar to the one you’re looking for, such as this one . I recommend reading our guide on the best things to do in LA for more inspiration! 🙂

Hi..Thinking about doing this trip on Labor Day -September 4. Will stores be closed because of the holiday? Read mixed reviews because there is alot of time on a bus. Is Hollywood Tours the company you recommend? Thanks

Hi Susan, Some stores and businesses close for Labor Day, but there are also many others that stay open. I would look up the Los Angeles attractions you plan on visiting to see their Labor Day hours. Also, Hollywood Tours is a popular company in this area, so they’re a good option for your visit. 🙂

Going to there mar 27-30 /23. Las Vegas Probably try your to LA/ Hollywood mar 29/23. Day trip 4 adults

Hi Andrew, Las Vegas is great! I hope you had a great time! Did you make it to LA?

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The Ultimate Las Vegas to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary (2024 Guide)

• Last Updated: February 4, 2024

Traveling between Las Vegas and LA? Here’s the perfect Las Vegas to Los Angeles road trip itinerary that includes all the best stops on the way!

Las Vegas and Los Angeles are two of the most-visited cities in America. Both are famous for their world-class entertainment and attractions that lure in visitors from across the globe.

However, most people don’t realize that a trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is less than five hours without traffic. The drive between the two major cities contains famous attractions like the World’s Tallest Thermometer, Death Valley, and Red Rock Canyon State Park.

Our itinerary features the most sought-out attractions between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with some hidden gems along the way.

You can also do this itinerary in reverse for an epic Los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip. Either way, this short but scenic drive is packed with cool things to see and do!

Check out our 3 Days In Las Vegas Itinerary if you need inspiration for your time in Sin City!

Table of Contents

Where to Start Your Las Vegas to Los Angeles Road Trip

Best time of year for the las vegas to los angeles drive, how long is this road trip, seven magic mountains, death valley national park, world’s tallest thermometer, mojave national preserve, calico ghost town, red rock canyon state park , elmer’s bottle tree ranch, joshua tree national park , palm springs, huntington beach, topanga state park, los angeles, planning your las vegas to los angeles road trip.

Driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles requires planning if you want to hit the best attractions along the way. This epic road trip includes the top spots whether you’re looking to catch a thrill, soak in nature, or learn about history. 

Whether you want to take your time on this scenic route, skip some stops and shorten the journey, or complete the drive in reverse and travel from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, this amazing drive through the wild west will surely be memorable!

We are starting this road trip in Las Vegas and west towards Los Angeles. But you can also do this in reverse using the information we provide in this guide.

The route is pretty straightforward, and there are plenty of gas stations, national parks, ghost towns, eateries, attractions and hotels along the way.

Feel free to reverse the road trip if you’d rather travel from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, or add more amazing places if you want to stretch the journey out more. Or you can just drive straight there and arrive in just a few hours.

If you don’t have your own car to take on this Las Vegas drive, be sure to rent one! There are plenty of places in Las Vegas that offer car rentals. And if you’re doing the road trip in reverse, there are lots of car rentals in LA as well.

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

The best time of year for this drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is late spring and early fall. May, early June, September, and early November are the ideal times of year to make this road trip. 

The weather will be cooler, making it more comfortable for adventuring outside and in the parks, some of which are advised not to visit in the summer. Death Valley National Park is one of them, infamous for being the hottest place on Earth!

The driving time without stops is about four hours and 30 minutes without traffic. With stops at the recommended points of interest we’ve included in this road trip itinerary, the total drive time exceeds 16 hours of driving.

Of course, the drive time is split up between the different stops. We recommend taking a week to experience all of the stops we’ve included in this itinerary without being in a rush on this Las Vegas road trip.

Read next: 25 Best Things To Do In California

Las Vegas to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary

When driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles or from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, here are the top places to stop on the way.

One of the most visited places on Earth, Las Vegas is a trip many take for bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, or simply to see what all the hype is about. Called “Sin City,” Las Vegas is teeming with world-class entertainment, casinos, and popping nightclubs.

The luxury hotels along Las Vegas Blvd are among its most sought-out attributes due to their immaculate and unique designs. The Venetian is one such example. It is a casino resort and luxury hotel featuring Italian themes, 20 restaurants, a shopping mall, artificial canals with offered gondola rides, a nightclub, and more! 

The city is loaded with thrilling attractions people travel from all over the world to experience. Treat yourself to a Las Vegas vacation before you start the drive to LA!

Top things to do in the area:

• Fremont Street
• Las Vegas Boulevard
• The Mob Museum
• Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
• The Venetian

Less than thirty minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, Seven Magic Mountains was established by famous Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone.

The exhibition displays seven dayglow totems that stretch 30-35 feet into the sky. The boulders used for the totems were locally sourced and painted colorfully, catching the eye of the beholder. 

The art installation was enacted to strengthen Nevada’s support of artists worldwide further. The state is dedicated to incorporating varying styles and passions of art creation.

Though art is always open to interpretation, the meaning of the Seven Magic Mountains exhibition is believed to express the midway points between natural and artificial, from the natural beauty of the Mojave Desert to the passageway to the city of lights, Las Vegas. 

Read next: 21 Best Things To Do In Las Vegas

The place of extremes, Death Valley National Park is the driest, lowest, and hottest national park. It is the hottest place on Earth, breaking a record of 134°F in 1913. 

Contrary to its name, Death Valley National Park has fascinating geologic formations, rich habitats, and natural wonders. The park is part of the Mojave Desert and borders the Great Basin Desert to establish some of the most stunning vistas. Zabriskie Point and Dante’s View are two of the top landscapes people travel from all over to see.

At Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park visitors can walk to the lowest point in North America, which may initially seem covered in snow but is blanketed in salt! 

The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are one of the top attractions at Death Valley National Park. Many come to the towering sand dunes to try their hand at sandboarding for a unique and thrilling activity.

There are a few gas stations in the park but it’s recommended to have some backup in your car if you plan on off-roading.

Other top things to do in the area include:

• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
• Devil’s Golf Course
• Dante’s View
• Badwater Basin
• Darwin Falls

Another unique stop on this Las Vegas drive is the World’s Tallest Thermometer . The record-breaking thermometer reaches 134 feet, which purposefully matches the highest temperature recorded in Death Valley National Park.

The World’s Tallest Thermometer is situated in the town known as the “Gateway to Death Valley” in Baker, California. Seen from miles away, the thermometer’s highest recorded temperature is 127 degrees.

By the landmark are a gift shop and an outdoor picnic area featuring a thermometer and two fake eggs on a cast-iron skillet. Visitors to the landmark and gift shop can check if it is hot enough for the eggs to fry, which requires a temperature of 158 degrees. 

Read Next: Check out our post on the best day trips from Las Vegas .

The Mojave National Preserve is another beautiful place to visit on this scenic route to Los Angeles!

The Mojave Desert is the driest desert in the nation. Its mystifying landscapes were used as backdrops for films like The Avengers and Nocturnal Animals. It expands across four states and holds nine national park units. The Mojave National Preserve is the third largest of all United States National Park System units. 

The Mojave National Preserve protects the largest population of Joshua Trees, even more than Joshua Tree National Park. Visiting the Mojave National Preserve grants an impeccable opportunity to see volcanic cinder cones, towering sand dunes, Joshua Trees, and much more!

Its trails, like the Hole-In-The-Wall Rings Trail, are a rewarding feature of the Mojave National Preserve. This trail is a climbing trek up input ring bolts mounted into the rock that is safe for hikers to proceed into Banshee Canyon. The canyon was named after the eerie mournful sounds created as the wind passes through the eroded holes in the rock. 

Other top things to see/do in the area:

• Mojave Memorial Cross
• Banshee Canyon
• Boulders Viewpoint
• Kelso Dunes

Best Trails To Hike:

• Teutonia Peak Trail
• Lava Beds Trail
• Lava Tubes Trail
• Hole-In-The-Wall Rings Trail

Once a boisterous, wealthy mining town in the 1880s, now this town in Southern California is the Calico Ghost Town. 

Calico Ghost Town, in its prime, had more than 500 mines that produced more than $20 million in profit. Its primary source of income was the silver, gold, and borax plowed from the depths of the Earth.

When the silver dried up, the town was abandoned in the mid-1890s. Today, the old mining town has become a popular tourist spot for people to visit the remnants of the glory days of an Old West mining town. 

On the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Calico Ghost Town is a perfect stop to take along the way. It is full of historical attractions and a mysterious ambiance that continues to attract visitors more than a hundred years after its abandonment. 

Visit Lucy Lane’s house, which once acted as the courthouse and post office but now functions as a museum to exhibit intriguing artifacts from the town.

Then, take a trip on the historic Calico & Odessa Railroad around Calico Ghost Town to see where miners once worked. On the train ride, keep your eyes peeled for the name of the ghost town carved into the mountainside and exclusive sights of the mines that visitors can’t see on foot! 

Other top things to do in the area:

• Dorsey’s Dog House
• Mystery Shack
• Maggie Mine
• Lil and Joe’s Saloons
• Calico & Odessa Railroad

Want to explore more of Southern California? Here is our list of the top 25 things to do in the area!

Part of the Mojave Desert, Red Rock Canyon State Park is renowned for the ancient history it preserves and its unique geological formations. 

Hiking and camping are the top activities in the park, and the area is particularly famous for its rock climbing.

Its nickname is “5.7 Heaven” for its many multi-pitch low-difficulty climbs, plus more routes. One such spot is Cat In The Hat. Expanding over six pitches, Birdland in Pine Creek is a 5.7+ that reaches up Brass Wall, recommended for experts only.

Sightseeing by 4×4 is another popular activity in Red Rock Canyon State Park, whether of the diverse land formations or the species that call the area home. From gray wolves and tarantulas to the endangered desert tortoise, there are eye-catching sights to be seen at this famous park. 

Detouring to Red Rock Canyon State Park is a rewarding stop along this Las Vegas to Los Angeles road trip. 

• Scenic Drive
• Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center
• Kraft Boulders (rock climbing)
• Petroglyph Wall
• Calico Hills Trail
• Ice Box Canyon Trail
• Guardian Angel Pass
• Red Springs Boardwalk

One of the most favored roadside attractions to stop by, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch is a creative inspiration come to life for Elmer Long. 

Set on Route 66, Elmer Long created the main attraction from a collection he and his father scavenged. When Elmer was a kid, he would go camping with his father in the desert. Elmer and his father found dumps in the desert during these camping outings.

They both would find intriguing things to bring home, the main attraction being the bottles Elmer’s father collected that featured items they’d discovered from the dumps, including rakes, boats, and the like. 

There’s even a bottle tree sculpture made from an old missile Elmer discovered on one of his scavenges! If you like unique attractions, be sure to stop at the Bottle Tree Ranch en route from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Read next: The Perfect 3 Days In Los Angeles Itinerary

Next on this epic Las Vegas drive to Los Angeles is Joshua Tree National Park. Because of its diverse ecosystems, the park is rich with sightseeing opportunities to see local species of animals, flora, and fauna.

The teddy bear cholla cacti are among the most famous sights at Joshua Tree National Park alongside the Joshua Trees. This cactus is also known as the jumping cholla because if you get too close, a segment of the cactus will fall off and fly at you!

These cacti can be seen everywhere in the park, but most popularly in the Cholla Cactus Garden, a cacti grove that includes other species of plants, such as the desert star vine and desert lavender. 

Head over to Echo Cove for rock climbing the 8,000 climbs, with options available for beginners and experts. Or hike at Echo Cove to admire the exquisite rock formations.

To savor your stop in Joshua Tree National Park, the park’s multiple campgrounds can sink in with nature and peer up at the star-speckled sky in an International Dark Sky Park. This designation refers to the park’s untainted pollution of artificial light and clear views of the stars in the sky, making it the perfect spot to stargaze while camping! 

This self-driving audio tour guides visitors through Joshua Tree National Park to uncover the secrets of this desert landscape rich with life. From hearing the fascinating tales of the McHaney Gang to learning how people once thrived here, this self-guided tour is a peek into the rich history of Joshua Tree National Park.

• Ryan Mountain
• Lost Horse Mine
• Cottonwood Spring

Best Hiking Trails:

• Arch Rock Nature Trail
• Hidden Valley Nature Trailhead
• Cholla Cactus Garden Trail
• Skull Rock Trail

In the Sonoran Desert, Palm Springs is beloved for its natural hot springs, mid-century modern architecture, and recreational opportunities. 

Palm Springs was a hot destination that attracted big-name stars like Frank Sinatra and Walt Disney back in the day. On this guided tour , visitors can discover more than 50 celebrity homes on tour throughout Palm Springs. 

The favorable sunny climate in Palm Springs, paired with its top-class golf courses, rejuvenating spas, upscale shopping, and natural hot springs, seal the deal.

While visiting Palm Springs, make it a point to ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway . The largest rotating aerial tramway in the world, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes passengers up to San Jacinto Peak while showcasing breathtaking views of Coachella Valley.

At the top of San Jacinto Peak, at the end of the passage, are two available restaurants overlooking the valley, a natural history museum, and hiking trails to traverse for a fun activity in Palm Springs!

• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
• Moorten Botanical Garden
• Palm Springs Art Museum
• Palm Springs Air Museum 

Find more ideas with our list of the best things to do in Palm Springs !

World famous for its hot spot surfing beaches, Huntington Beach is every surfer’s dream destination!

On the West, Huntington Beach borders the Pacific Ocean. Its expansive 8.5 miles of sandy beach are widely known for its perfect surfing waves and climate. As a result, the California city was nicknamed “Surf City” for its excellent natural capacity for luring in surfers from all over the world. 

Even if you’re not a surfer, a trip to Huntington Beach is well worth the stop along this Las Vegas to Los Angeles road trip.

Many people visit the city to soak in the sun’s rays while observing surfers catch a big one. For a step away from life’s stressors, grab a hotel at one of the many high-class beachside resorts scattered across Huntington Beach . Before you know it, you won’t want to leave Surf City! 

• Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
• Bella Terra
• Huntington State Beach
• Shipley Nature Center

Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga State Park is also part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. 

Topanga State Park has over 36 miles of trails available to explore the largest wildland in the boundaries of a major city.

The trails are open for hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers seeking an adventure of the great outdoors. An adventure of Topanga State Park highlights stunning geologic formations, marine fossils, earthquake faults, and volcanic intrusions. 

One of the most sought-out points of interest in Topanga State Park is Eagle Rock. The hike up to Eagle Rock is a rewarding climb to the top of Eagle Rock, where many like to hang out in the small cave that overlooks the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Bay, and the canyons. 

• Topanga Lookout
• Temescal Canyon
• Los Liones Trail
• Temescal Canyon Trail
• Paseo Miramar Trail
• Skull Rock Loop

Read next: The 21 Best Things To Do In Los Angeles

The largest city in California, Los Angeles , is world-famous as the entertainment capital of the planet. Overflowing with things to do, Los Angeles is rich with action, adventure, and inspiration.

Its Spanish name translates to “The City of Angels.” The city is frequently sunny and warm, perfect for welcoming visitors from across the globe to adventure through its abundant streets.

Many people move to Los Angeles to get a fresh start in the entertainment industry, whether it be musicians, actors, or artists. Others travel to Los Angeles to get a taste of the hype of this world-famous city. 

One of the most famous landmarks in Los Angeles is the Hollywood Sign. The city is home to the renowned neighborhood of Hollywood, known as the place where celebrities live, and movies are made.

It is also the place of top-class attractions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the western United States’ largest art museum known internationally for its upscale exhibits. 

Whether you’re starting your journey here for a Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive, or you’re finishing up here after road-tripping from Vegas, spend a few days soaking in all that this famous city has to offer.

Other top things to do in Los Angeles:

• Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• Griffith Observatory
• TCL Chinese Theatre

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

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14 Stops on a Road Trip from Las Vegas to LA You DON’T Want to Miss

Sure, you can cover the distance from Vegas to LA in four hours flat. But we prefer the slower route: a four-day itinerary that takes in the mountains, the deserts, and the quirky, curbside attractions that define life lived on the open road.

See recent posts by April Ellis

Day 1: 135 miles from Las Vegas to the Mojave Desert

Once you’ve had your fill of Sin City hedonism and debauchery, it’s time to detox. Red Rock Canyon , a scenic 200,000-acre area dominated by red sandstone rock formations a mere 17 miles west of the Strip, is the perfect place to sweat out those booze-induced calories you picked up back in Vegas. Rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, miles of hiking trails—it’s all here, and for just a $7 entry fee.

After soaking in Red Rock’s natural splendor, head a half-hour south down Veteran’s Highway to see Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone’s Seven Magic Mountains —a public installation of seven towers of painted, stacked boulders that stand more than 30 feet high. These day-glow totems stick out like a sore thumb against the ochre-colored landscape. According to Rondinone, the location is mid-way, physically and symbolically, between the natural (the mountains and the desert) and the artificial (the highway and ceaseless traffic that marches between Vegas and LA).

Before you lose too much sunlight, give yourself enough time to tackle the hour-and-a-half-long drive south along I-15 S towards the Mojave National Preserve , a vast, sunbaked desert of shifting sands and rugged mountains home to coyotes, lizards, and dense forests of Joshua trees. You might want to check out the famous Kelso Dunes, among the tallest in the States. For hikers, Mojave’s two-mile Ring Trail loop circles a massive mountain base into a slot canyon, and features some incredible views across the plains.

Though you can pitch a tent basically anywhere with a fire ring, there’s plenty of free camping sites (Hole-in-the-Wall and Mid Hills are two good choices for having toilet facilities and staying open year-round). Most are on dirt trails once you turn off Kelbaker Road, and the experience is pretty primitive, but it’s well worth the effort to catch a desert sunrise. (JS Tip: Make sure to stop at Nipton for supplies.)

RELATED: Gorgeous Desert Hideaways Worth Braving the Heat For

Day 2: 123 miles from Mojave to Joshua Tree

As you make your way out of Mojave and head towards Joshua Tree, leave time to stop off at some of the area’s beloved roadside oddities. The World Famous Crochet Museum is exactly what it sounds like: a run-down photo-processing booth transformed into a quirky museum that honors the art of crochet. Another gem: Intergratron , a wooden dome built back in the 1950s where visitors can have their aura “tuned up” via a sound bath. Next, channel your inner artist at Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Desert Art Museum . These dramatic, site-specific sculptures, built from recycled metal, wood, and other manmade scraps, transform with the light and are especially photogenic on sunny or dark and stormy days.

Your final destination of today’s drive is, of course, Joshua Tree National Park . A longtime destination for LA artists and outcasts, hipsters now descend in droves, and for good reason. This otherworldly park—a breeding ground for odd rock formations, iconic Joshua trees, and all manners of cacti—lets you escape to Mars. There are first-come, first-serve campsites sprinkled throughout Joshua Tree for heavenly stargazing, or you can stay at the simple-yet-stylish Mojave Sands . The 1950s motel, situated on the edge of the park, has just five minimal, modern rooms, where everything is custom built. After settling in, flip through your room’s curated selection of vinyl before posting up at the outdoor fireplace—it’s going to be an early day tomorrow.

RELATED: America’s 10 Best National Parks Worth Visiting

Day 3: 34 miles from Joshua Tree to Palm Springs

Especially during the summer, Joshua Tree is best seen during the earliest hours of the morning, before the inevitable desert heat has time to build. Skull Rock, whose two hollowed-out “eye sockets” were formed by erosion and rain, is a favorite point of interest; the Cholla Cactus Garden is another for its dense concentration of fuzzy-looking cholla cacti (resist the urge to touch them).

Have kids in the group (or just want to channel your own inner child)? Pioneertown , just outside the park, isn’t just a fantasy—it’s a real-life living community. See mock gunfights on Mane Street, then hit up Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace for finger-licking barbecue and dancing.

An hour east towards Yucca Valley and then south lands you in Palm Springs, a playground for LA’s style setters in the heart of Coachella Valley. Start off your visit with a trip to the Moorten Botanical Garden , home to the world’s first cactarium. This isn’t your typical botanical conservatory—expect a wild, ramshackle greenhouse perfect for photo ops.

Then, check in to L’Horizon , one of the area’s most stylish stays that’s hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for, including a gorgeous alfresco restaurant helmed by Chef Giacomo Pettinari (formerly of LA’s Michelin-starred Valentino’s), a serene pool lined with city socialites, and, in some bungalows, outdoor showers with views of the San Jacinto mountains.

Explore More: See hotel details | See all Palm Springs, CA hotels

RELATED: The Coolest Things to Do in Palm Springs

If you’ve got energy to spare, cap off (or start off) the night at Bootlegger Tiki , an eight-minute drive up the road, where kitschy Polynesian décor (bamboo ceilings; pufferfish-shaped lights; provocative artwork) is sexy and playful and the handcrafted cocktails are strong and inventive.

Day 4: 109 miles from Palm Springs to Los Angeles

After checking out of L’Horizon, head out onto I-10 E. You won’t be a half-hour in before passing by the Cabazon Dinosaurs , giant concrete sculptures visible right from the interstate. (These quirky landmarks have made many a movie cameo, but you might know them best from Tim Burton’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure ). There’s a $10 entry fee ($9 for kids), but it’s worth it for the photo—and the chance to climb inside the T-Rex. Pop into the gift shop, built inside the belly of Dinny the Brontosaurus, for funky mementos.

From Cabazon, it’s a straight shot to LA. But if you’re not ready to leave the countryside just yet, we suggest spending some time in the San Bernardino National Forest . This monumental, 154,000-acre reserve was designated a National Forest more than a hundred years ago. Old-growth forests include a smattering of Jeffrey pine, ponderosa, and Pacific dogwoods, and there is an abundance of trails for all levels. Cougar Crest Trail is a favorite for its views of Big Bear Lake (and its surrounding mountains) and wildflowers that peak in early summer.

RELATED: The 20 Most Beautiful Places in the U.S.

From San Bernardino, you’re just on the outskirts of LA. There’s much to check out once you get to Tinseltown, from hot new hotels to a serious food scene . We’ll let you decide where the rest of the trip takes you.

What to Pack

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Tie-Front Top

Leather Tote

Sandal Wedges

Men's incredibly casual outfit for spring.

Weekend Bag

Chino Shorts

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Wool Runners

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Las Vegas To Los Angeles - Hollywood Tours 2024

Las Vegas to Los Angeles tours in 2024 will take you to Hollywood, Beverley Hills and Santa Monica for a quick break, a day trip or to catch a plane. There are a few options available - bus transfers and even organized LA sightseeing tours, although not as many as one would hope. After all, the distance from Vegas to LA is 270 miles (434 km), and it takes about 4-5 hours to get there. Below are a few tours that are available for the same-day travel from Las Vegas.

Things to do in LA

Las Vegas to Los Angeles - Hollywood Day Tour

If you are travelling with a small group of up to 7 people, then this exclusive tour with a personal guide is for you! This Las Vegas to Los Angeles and Hollywood Day Tour will get you into the exciting movie star vibe.

Set off early from your Las Vegas Strip Hotel in an air-conditioned bus with leather seats. You will enjoy a light breakfast on route as you travel through the scenic Mojave Desert and learn all about this famous region from your knowledgeable guide. When you arrive in Los Angeles you head straight to the action!

Visit the Santa Monica Pier, a landmark that is over 100 years old. See the solar-panelled Ferris Wheel and the original 1920 carousel hippodrome. Soak up the vibe of the shops, pubs, restaurants and arcades. At the end of the famous Route 66, you can dip your feet into the Pacific Ocean and snap a selfie.

Next you are off to see how the rich and famous live in Beverly Hills as your bus winds past the luxuriously decked out mansions. Keep your eyes open – you may spot a celeb hiding behind large designer shades.

Then savour your ride down Rodeo Drive, the heart of fashion, luxury, designer stores and famous landmarks. Look out for the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, made famous in the movie Pretty Woman. Take in the razzle and dazzle of Hollywood Boulevard. Feel nostalgic on Sunset Boulevard, a place where world famous bands started their careers. Your next stop is Santa Monica Boulevard and then it is off to see the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, the world-famous sidewalk of stars! Snap some photos of the Hollywood Sign and admire the stunning evening views over Los Angeles. As your Las Vegas To Los Angeles tour ends, settle back into your bus and chat about all you have seen on your way back to Vegas.

Las Vegas to Los Angeles - Hollywood Tour By Bus

If you are looking for a relaxing yet fun filled Las Vegas to Los Angeles bus tour, then look no further. You will travel by coach from Las Vegas enjoying the iconic high desert of Nevada. You will travel on style and enjoy a continental breakfast while you voyage through Death Valley, view ancient Joshua Tree forests and absorb the natural scenery before entering Los Angeles.

Once in Los Angeles you will have plenty of time to shoot photographs of the Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame as well as the Sunset Boulevard, Santa Monica Pier and pass by Rodeo Drive.

Enjoy your ride home and listen to the many fascinating questions that our expert tour guides answer for fellow tour goers.

Best Vegas to Hollywood Tour

When you want to get away from Sin City for a day and experience something truly special while you are visiting Las Vegas, then you should try the Best Vegas to Hollywood Tour from Las Vegas. Your 14-hour journey begins with complimentary pick-up service from your Strip hotel where you will board a customized 7-passenger vehicle with a private driver. You travel through the Mojave Desert until you reach the California border where you take a pit stop. From here you journey to the best sightseeing places in the Greater Los Angeles area. Once in the area you experience places like Santa Monica Pier where you can gaze out over the Pacific Ocean before you hit the star studded residential areas of Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive that include residences of Madonna, Justin Bieber, Brittany Spears, and more. Once on Hollywood Boulevard you will experience the Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Sign, and of course the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. After having a complimentary lunch, you travel to see Warner Brothers Studios for a quick photo and see Ellen DeGeneres’s studio. Your tour concludes with a comfortable ride back to your Las Vegas hotel.

More Vegas Day Trips

• Grand Canyon
• Death Valley
• Seven Magic Mountains
• Valley of Fire
• Antelope Canyon
• Bryce Canyon

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Cheap bus tickets from Las Vegas, NV to Los Angeles, CA

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Choose from over 80 travel destinations in 11 states and growing!

Frequently asked questions

FlixBus allows you to bring your bike on board from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, subject to availability. Check out our prices for bike transport here .

Our Real-Time Bus Tracker allows you to track your bus location. Just select the relevant bus stop and check the time of arrival. This way, you can find out where your bus is and check for delays on the route.

FlixBus offers direct service from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. The quickest bus on this route makes 1 stop(s).

When purchasing your bus ticket from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, you can choose your preferred payment method from card, Paypal, Google Pay, and more.

You can book your FlixBus ticket starting at just $44.99. The easiest way to purchase your ticket is on this website or through the app. Book early to get the best price.

The fastest bus from Las Vegas to Los Angeles takes 4 hours 10 minutes.

The bus journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is 267 miles. FlixBus can get you there in 4 hours 10 minutes.

The cost of a bus ticket from Las Vegas to Los Angeles starts at just $44.99.

Find the cheapest buses from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

Getting from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is cheap and easy when you travel with FlixBus. The two cities are 267 miles apart and traveling between the two takes as fast as 4 hours 10 minutes. FlixBus tickets are always good value, but you can save even more money by booking online in advance . Book on the website or our FlixBus App in minutes, then simply use your phone as your ticket to board the bus. You can get bus tickets to travel between Las Vegas and Los Angeles for as little as $44.99 if you book in advance and/or outside of busy travel times, like weekends and holidays.

Traveling from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

It's easy to get from Las Vegas to Los Angeles with FlixBus, with 11 direct buses per day. The first bus is at 3:00 am and the last bus leaves at 11:45 pm , giving you options to suit every schedule. The journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles has only one stop in between. It can take a minimum time of 4 hours 10 minutes . Bus travel is the most environmentally friendly way to travel long distances and we're working to make it even greener with high environmental standards across our fleet of buses, the use of alternative drive and fuel technologies, and the option for all passengers to offset their carbon emissions at the point of buying a ticket. The average cost of bus travel between Las Vegas and Los Angeles is $44.99 , which makes bus travel far cheaper than any other method.

Traveling from Las Vegas and not familiar with it? Here's everything you need to know. Las Vegas is a transport hub with 9 bus station(s) ; the 57 connections departing from Las Vegas every day take travelers both within the state and further afield.

Arriving in Los Angeles

Traveling to Los Angeles for the first time? Here's what you need to know: Los Angeles is very well connected to other destinations on the FlixBus network, with 82 connections arriving in one of the 8 bus station(s) of the city, giving you easy access to all corners of the country.

What to expect onboard the FlixBus bus from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

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Los Angeles to Las Vegas Tours & Trips

Find adventures that start in Los Angeles and then finish in Las Vegas. Trips from Los Angeles to Las Vegas are most popular in August, with the most tours doing this route then.

14 Los Angeles to Las Vegas tour packages with 29 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

Magnificent West – 8 days

Great tour, good group size too

Gold Experience 7 days

It was very nice experience we where visiting so many beautyful places. We had two good tourguides. They explained everything. It was amazing.

• Coach / Bus

Road Trippin’ American West

Highlights of the West Adventure 7D/6N

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Hiking & Trekking

USA Road Trip — Highway 1, Yosemite & Utah

• In-depth Cultural

USA - Las Vegas, Sedona & the Monument Valley

Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon

Golden West Adventure - Los Angeles Downtown (ending in Las Vegas)

Although the dates of the tour were promoted as being an English language tour it was indeed an English, Italian and Spanish guided tour. When I booked the tour I noticed there were dates specifically for Italian and Spanish so I selected the one that said English. I did not mind the three languages so much but at times it was hard to follow what the guide was saying, I do not fault the guide. It just made some parts of the tour a bit lacking. As far as I know there were only two others in the group that relied on English for this tour. After speaking with them I thought they felt the same way. I had no problems with the others on the tour. They generally seemed very nice. The tour was promoted as having an half day tour of Los Angeles, mainly in the Hollywood area, but the tour only lasted three hours. After that we could remain with the group to take an optional tour of the beach area. or find our way back to the hotel on our own being reimbursed for for what we would pay. Although the beach trip was great, I felt only three hours of an advertised half day tour was misleading. The tour seemed rushed at times and not enough time to spend at some locations. I realize there were great distances between locations that would account for this. But maybe some things could be tweaked. I am not sure I can recommend this tour to my American friends If it was ONLY in English, yes, since there wee options for an Italian and Spanish tour. Maybe the tour company is generated for citizens of other countries and that is great. I love having them visit the USA. And I love visiting other countries myself. I have been to 35. This is the first time I have taken a guided tour of the USA. Mario, the tour director, and Norman, the bus driver, both were great. Mario seemed to make sure I understood some directions.

Golden West Adventure - Los Angeles Airport (ending in Las Vegas)

Las Vegas, Sedona & Monument Valley – 5 days

We really enjoyed this tour. The days on the bus are long as the distances travelled are vast but the places we saw made it all worth it. The coach was very comfortable, the tour was well organised and our guide Lorenzo & bus driver, Ozzie, kept us informed (about where we were going, an history of the places and what to expect next) and entertained throughout. The hotel accommodation was perfect for our needs. Definitely a tour worth doing. Family of four (including 2 teens)

USA Road Trip — Joshua Tree & the Southwest Parks

• Mountain Hikes

California Dreaming: Yosemite, Death Valley & Coastal Camping

National Park Explorer - Los Angeles Airport

National Park Explorer - Los Angeles Downtown

• USA Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• 10 Best Backpacking Tours & Trips 2024/2025
• Best time to visit East Coast USA (Low & High Season)
• Best Time to Visit the West Coast, USA in 2024/2025 (with California)
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• 5 Best Guided Backpacking Trips & Tours
• Best 10 Day USA Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• Explorer from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (11)
• Family from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (6)

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Cheap flights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

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• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Los Angeles 39 min 19 km
• Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) Burbank 25 min 19 km
• Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) Tijuana 2 hr 23 min 205 km
• San Diego International Airport (SAN) San Diego 1 hr 54 min 176 km

Popular airports near Las Vegas

• Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) Las Vegas 17 min 10 km
• St. George Regional Airport (SGU) (SGU) St. George 1 hr 55 min 174 km
• Ontario International Airport (ONT) Ontario 3 hr 33 min 324 km
• Boulder City Municipal Airport (BLD) Boulder City 27 min 35 km

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• Vancouver RUB 7,309 May 9 — May 12 Nonstop 3 hr Flair Airlines
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• Las Vegas RUB 3,725 May 9 — May 13 Nonstop 1 hr 19 min Frontier
• London RUB 40,070 May 2 — May 5 Nonstop 10 hr 25 min Norse Atlantic UK

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21 Best Road Trips From Las Vegas

If you live in Las Vegas or visiting Sin City and want to explore beyond the Strip, there is a huge number of road trip options available.

Whether you want to explore the desert, see giant sequoias, spend time in California's biggest cities or relax on a beach, our list of the 21 best road trips from Las Vegas will have you covered.

The following list starts with the closest to Las Vegas and moves on to longer drives further down the list so scroll down depending on how far you're prepared to go! You can also can find a map highlighting the best road trips from Las Vegas below:

1. Nelson Ghost Town and Eldorado Canyon Gold Mine

45 minutes from Las Vegas (45 miles)

Just outside Las Vegas and only a 45 minute drive from the Strip is the ghost town of Nelson. To get here from Las Vegas, head southeast out of the city towards Henderson and keep on going past Boulder City along US-95 and Route 165.

The ghost town was a disused old mining town before the current owners moved in over 25 years ago. The ghost town elements were retained and a little enhanced to make it more interesting and today you can visit the ghost town to see what it's all about.

There's lots and lots of half-rusted old cars which is both really interesting and mighty frustrating if you're a big fan of cars like me. Other props include rattle snakes in a freezer and crashed airplanes. Not all of it is completely authentic...

But that doesn't really matter - you're here to walk around and take some amazing photos. Take a lot of care while walking around - rattle snakes are common so watch out and report any you see to the guides.

Tours down the gold mine take place at 9am, 12pm and 2pm as long as there's at least 4 adults (although they may take less in the off-season). The tours will take you through the richest mine in Nevada that operated for almost 80 years and closed as World War II broke out.

Bring another layer with you - the tour can take over an hour and it can feel a little cool inside the mine.

2. A short drive to the Valley of Fire State Park

50 minutes from Las Vegas (49 miles)

The Valley of Fire is a rocky part of the Mojave desert under an hour's drive out of Las Vegas.

If you're looking for a day road trip out and want to go into the desert but don't want to make the 2+ hour drive to Death Valley, the Valley of Fire is a great option.

Follow the I-15 north from Las Vegas for half an hour and follow the turning onto the Valley of Fire Highway which will take you into the park.

The unique mix of rocks, layered colors and amazing hiking routes is the oldest State Park in Nevada, being first designated back in 1935 after opening the year before.

The park was home to ancient Ancestral Puebloan tribes and you can find petroglyphs (wall drawings) that are thousands of years old in the park.

As with other deserts near Las Vegas, temperatures in the summer get very hot. Average daily highs from June to August are over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bring lots of water if you're planning to visit in the summer but March to April and October to November are much better when the weather is mild making it much more pleasant.

3. Visit Lake Mead and see the Hoover Dam

55 minutes from Las Vegas (39 miles)

For those who want to get out of Las Vegas but don't want to go far, the closest place to go is the Hoover Dam. It's in at #3 in the list because visiting the Dam and the nearby Lake Mead from Las Vegas requires some local driving but you won't have to go too far.

The Hoover Dam is a world famous installation that helps Vegas have water and electricity supplies despite the city being located in the middle of one of the driest deserts in the world.

Built during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam was much bigger than any dam ever built before it and Lake Mead continues to be the largest water reservoir in the United States today.

Talking of Lake Mead, it's not just there to turn the turbines of the dam. You can go on a cruise around the lake, hire a boat or relax on Boulder Beach.

In the afternoon, you can take a drive along Northshore Road - it starts just outside Henderson and goes for over 50 miles towards the Valley of Fire State Park (#2 above).

It's a great drive with scenic places to stop along the way and you can combine a visit to the Valley of Fire with Lake Mead for a great (although long) day road trip out of Las Vegas.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead

4. A trip to the desert - Mojave National Preserve

1 hour from Las Vegas (59 miles)

Las Vegas sits in the middle of the Mojave desert with parts of the driest part of North America spanning corners of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

The Death Valley National Park (#5 below) and Joshua Tree National Park (#8) are the two best known places to go and explore the hot and inhospitable Mojave desert, but the less known and less popular Mojave National Preserve is much close to Las Vegas.

Although a lot of the Mojave National Preserve is rocky desert, there's a few interesting parts to explore.

The Cima Dome and the Shadow Valley next to it are home to a forest of Joshua trees. The term forest is a little generous here as the trees are quite spread out and you won't find birds singing in the branches or creatures living in the undergrowth, but this is the most dense area for Joshua trees anywhere and you'll see more here than in the Joshua Tree National Park!

The Mojave Desert Lava Tube is further west and you'll need a reasonable SUV or car capable of going offroad to navigate several miles of dirt track to get here.

The Lava Tube is a series of rooms underneath the surface of the desert that feel like caves - they were created when molten lava made its way through the ground creating the unique space.

Make sure you stop at the Castle Mountains National Monument . Again - you'll need something with 4-wheel drive and decent tires to get here, but sitting right on the edge of the preserve, this is one of the prettiest parts with a little more in terms of plants and wildlife to see.

5. Feel the heat in Death Valley National Park

1 hour 55 minutes from Las Vegas (126 miles)

If spending a few days in the hottest place on Earth and some of the least hospitable environments anywhere on the planet sounds like fun, the Death Valley National Park is less than 2 hours away from Las Vegas .

If you thought Vegas was too hot in the summer, the average (yes... average) daily high is above 120 degrees from June through to August. I'd pick one of the other 20 entries on this list if you're looking for a road trip in the middle of the summer.

If you come from November to March, the weather is much milder and you'll have a much better trip exploring the varying landscapes that Death Valley has to offer. There are dried out salt flats from where lakes and seas once covered the valley, there's rocky sections with mountains and even sand dunes.

Death Valley is the largest National Park in the United States excluding Alaska and is a designated International Dark Sky Park. This means there's no artificial light anywhere within the park at night and if you're camping on a clear day, the view of the stars above is phenomenal.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas through Death Valley National Park

6. Go fishing on Lake Havasu, Arizona

2 hours 30 minutes from Las Vegas (153 miles)

Lake Havasu sits on the Arizona - California border south of Las Vegas. Like many lakes in Southwestern United States, the lake is an artificially created reservoir after the Colorado River flowing through the local valley was dammed by the Parker Dam in the 1930s.

Today the lake is a popular destination for 2 main reasons: the fishing and London Bridge.

Fishing is a hugely popular activity on the lake - there's an abundant population of bass in the lake and big fishing competitions happen frequently where people from across the United States come to compete.

London Bridge is a very unusual sight sitting across a canal in Lake Havasu City and connecting it to Thompson Bay. The name gives away where the bridge came from - in 1968 the local government won an auction for the sale of the original London Bridge that was being replaced in central London.

After a $2.5m winning bid for the bridge, each brick was meticulously taken apart and labeled so that the whole bridge could be shipped and reconstructed in Arizona.

It certainly looks very quirky and majorly out of place (in a weird good way) and well worth the visit to Lake Havasu!

7. Be at one with nature in Zion National Park, Utah

2 hours 40 minutes from Las Vegas (160 miles)

Zion National Park in southwestern Utah might just be one of the most scenic National Park in the entirety of the United States and it's less than 3 hours away from Las Vegas on a road trip !

To get to Zion National Park, follow the I-15 north out of Las Vegas and keep on going until you cross the border into Utah. From here, State Route 9 will take you right into the heart of the park.

The main part of the park centers around Zion Canyon. Although it sits in-between deserts, the canyon is surprisingly green with forests and hundreds of species of birds and animals.

Zion National Park has some of the best trails you're likely to find anywhere - there's well made overlooks, paths carved through the rock and hikes for all abilities.

The Weeping Rock and Canyon Overlook trails are reasonably easy and take less than an hour. For the more experienced hikers, the Narrows is 16 miles long and involves hiking through a narrow canyon and wading through a cold river.

Some will hike the Narrows starting at the bottom and turn around once the going gets more tough making it a little easier and doable in a day.

If you'd like to hike up to Angels Landing, you will need a permit and will need to make a reservation. Check the Zion National Park's website for more details.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Zion National Park

8. See the amazing trees in Joshua Tree National Park

3 hours 10 minutes from Las Vegas (187 miles)

Joshua Tree National Park is just over 3 hours away from Las Vegas on a road trip , about halfway on the way to San Diego.

Follow the I-15 out of Vegas and when you get to the edge of the Mojave National Preserve, cut right through it passing through Cima and Kelso to save half an hour against the "faster" interstates that go the long way around.

In fact, the Mojave is also on this list at #4, so if you've got enough time, you might as well combine these into one desert exploring road trip.

Joshua Tree National Park is named after the unique trees that grow here that look like a person standing up with arms stretched upwards. You'll definitely see plenty of them on your way around as well as rocks and lots and lots of desert.

Joshua Tree is one of the hottest deserts in the United States with daily highs during the summer months averaging 100 degrees Fahrenheit which can make hiking and camping tough.

If you time your visit right and come in the spring, March and April is the bloom season for desert flowers (yes - that's a thing!) and the temperature only rises to a mild 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Joshua Tree National Park

9. Explore the wilderness of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

3 hours 45 minutes from Las Vegas (245 miles)

The Grand Staircase-Escalante is a large wilderness that was declared a National Monument only in 1996.

The monument occupies a large swathe of southern Utah that was the last part of the United States to be mapped and remains one of the least explored parts of the country although the monument's size was reduced dramatically under President Trump in 2017 to allow for commercial exploration.

Despite this, there are some amazing places to see here. The Zebra Slot Canyon is a narrow gorge with striped rocks that you can hike through. Be careful though - the hike is very tough and requires squeezing through very narrow gaps and making your way through water going up to neck height!

The Devil's Garden is one of those postcard-type sights with large rock hoodoos eerily standing around in the middle of the desert.

Many of the sights in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument can be reached from the small town of Escalante in the north. The I-15 and Utah-20 will take you to Route 12 which is the road that winds its way through the wilderness and eventually reaches Escalante.

Zebra Slot Canyon and the Devil's Garden are both a short drive south from the town and further south are the Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon and the Jacob Hamblin Arch from the picture above.

10. Bryce Canyon National Park

3 hours 50 minutes from Las Vegas (260 miles)

Bryce Canyon is a small National Park that is not a canyon, but a collection of unique rock formations that look like amphitheaters with people-shaped rock formations that look like an audience sitting watching the spectacle.

You won't need more than a day to explore the 56 square miles of the park. There are trails that lead around the perimeter of the most popular parts of the park but don't forget that amphitheaters are located 8,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level (2,400 to 2,700 meters) so bring an extra layer of clothing - it can feel much cooler up there than down in the desert.

Bryce Canyon is located right on the way to most of the main sights in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument so you might want to combine them into a single road trip. Zion National Park is also on the way in case you have a lot of time on your hands.

If you want to avoid the crowds and get some good photos, try to get to the park early - you might want to stay somewhere not too far and get here before sunrise for some epic views of the sun rays poking through the crowds of hoodoo rocks.

11. See the size of the Grand Canyon

4 hours 15 minutes from Las Vegas (275 miles)

Grand Canyon is the most popular destination for a road trip from Las Vegas . The 277-mile long canyon has some of the most spectacular scenery close to Las Vegas making it the most popular starting point for the 5 million visitors that come to the Grand Canyon every year.

It'll take you about as long to get to the North Rim as it will to the South - the South Rim is a more popular destination with better facilities and the Grand Canyon Village which is why you might want to opt for the route around the north of the canyon instead.

If you'd specifically would like to visit the South Rim, you can find our detailed road trip guide here .

There are lots of places you can stop to see the Grand Canyon. Most people will go straight to the Grand Canyon Village area of the National Park, but there are other spots that have far fewer people that are just as amazing - the Toroweap and Twin Point Overlooks along the north rim are both good options.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk on the south rim is much closer to Vegas - it'll take a little over 2 hours to get there, but you'll have to share the view with a lot of other people and other than a short walk to Guano Point, there's not much else to do here and no trails.

One of the best trails along the bottom of the canyon and along the Colorado River is the Havasu Falls Trail - it'll take you past the Little Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls, Tigabo Supai and Mooney Falls which area all amazing. For those who are happy to venture further, Beaver Falls and Beaver Canyon further downstream are worth the hike.

If you approach the Grand Canyon via the north and have time, add a stop in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument - these beautiful rocks have distinctive layers of different shades of red and yellow and soft sweeping lines that are great for a quick break along the journey.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon

12. Hike through the Red rocks of Sedona

4 hours 20 minutes from Las Vegas (280 miles)

If you haven't heard of the Red Rocks of Sedona, you most definitely have seen them on TV or in a movie.

The amazing rock formations include the towering Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge and Bell Rock, but there's a lot more to explore than just the big name options.

There are two state parks - the Red Rock State Park being the best known and the Slide Rock State Park to the north of Sedona. For those who want to do a drive through tour, you can drive along the Red Rock Scenic Byway (Route 179) to see many of the amazing sights without getting out of your car.

But if you've come this far, you really should get out and explore. There are amazing trails that will take you right up to the rocks, over stunning red rock arches and through canyons.

The drive from Las Vegas will take you to Kingman before hopping on the I-40 to Flagstaff. You can make a stop in the city before driving south to Sedona.

With so much to explore, you can easily spend a long weekend exploring the areas around Sedona and still not cover most of it.

It may not be as hot as the Mojave desert and Death Valley in particular, but summer temperatures still reach average daily highs of 95 degrees Fahrenheit so bring lots of water. If you have the luxury of choice, visiting in the spring and fall will be more comfortable.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Sedona

13. The Hollywood road trip: Los Angeles and Malibu

4 hours 45 minutes from Las Vegas (304 miles)

If you want to escape the desert and head to the City of Angels, then get on the I-15 and follow it until you cross the Angeles National Forest. Traffic around L.A. can be a big factor in whether it'll take you less than 4 hours to get into the city or something closer to 6 - leave early in the morning so that you are entering Los Angeles at around 1pm when the traffic shouldn't be too bad on the freeways.

Los Angeles has so much to see and do, you can spend a week or two and still feel like you've hardly seen it all! You've got to visit Hollywood and walk the Walk of Fame along Hollywood Boulevard no matter how cliche it might sound!

After measuring your hand and feet against the celebrity prints, head for the Sunset Strip and then down to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. I'm not the type to shop here, but the people watching is fascinating as they carefully park their Ferrari to go bag shopping.

Don't miss out on stops in Culver City, Santa Monica State Beach and Venice Beach as you make your way around the city. If you are coming with kids or like a day out at a theme park, Universal Studios in Hollywood and Disneyland in Anaheim are both amazing.

As you venture further west past the Pacific Palisades, you'll discover Malibu Beach which stretches for miles and miles along the coast with the Santa Monica Mountains to your right.

The beach can get busy at weekends and over the summer but you can still find great spots if you drive a little further towards El Matador Beach past Point Dume.

If you drive a few minutes inland, the Santa Monica Mountains have spectacular hiking trails with views of the Pacific Ocean down below which is perfect for an afternoon activity after spending the morning soaking up the sun.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

14. Relax by the seaside in San Diego

5 hours from Las Vegas (332 miles)

San Diego may be a solid 5 hours' drive from Las Vegas , but there's lots of options to stop along the way and it's a great city to visit and spend a few days in so it's got to be worth you considering for your road trip from Las Vegas.

The easiest way to get to San Diego is to follow the I-15 out of Las Vegas towards Los Angeles and keep on following the I-15 until you're in San Diego 5 hours later. You can save a few minutes by cutting through the I-215 to avoid getting closer to LA's notorious traffic jams.

However a few detours can add great places to stop and cut the journey up into shorter stints. If you head towards the California coast, the towns of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente are great pit stop options as is Carlsbad's Legoland.

If you go the slower but more direct route, Joshua Tree National Park (#8 above), Salton Sea and Palm Springs are all great places to visit in and around the Coachella Valley.

San Diego itself is a city that almost always has perfect weather due to its unique position on the coast and the prevailing ocean currents.

You can roam through the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter or have a fish taco in La Jolla overlooking the resident seals relaxing in the cove.

Spend some time in the huge Balboa Park - not only is it perfect for a stroll, but you'll find museums, entertainment venues and the world-famous San Diego Zoo all within its grounds.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to San Diego

15. Go hiking in the Yosemite National Park

5 hours 20 minutes from Las Vegas (340 miles)

Yosemite is the most famous of the California National Parks and one of the best known in the country. Getting to Yosemite from Las Vegas is relatively easy - it's one of the few parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where you can drive across, although the Tioga Pass is closed when it gets snowy which means it's shut for the winter from some point in late October.

The majority of the visitors that come to Yosemite only go to the Yosemite Valley which only covers a tiny fraction of the whole park which stretches over 1,000 square miles.

You should still visit Yosemite Valley to see the Merced River flowing past the famous El Capitan rock but if you want to see more nature and walk the wild trails, head further out in the park.

Yosemite Valley gets busier later on in the day as some people from San Jose, the Silicon Valley and San Francisco come on day trips or for the weekend. Coming in the morning on a weekday will mean far fewer people although you'll still have to book ahead if you want to camp or hike the wilderness.

Death Valley National Park (#5 above) and Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks (#19 below) are good additional stops on the way to or back from Yosemite if you have enough time.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park

16. Visit the Mormon Capital in Salt Lake City, Utah

6 hours from Las Vegas (421 miles)

Salt Lake City is famous for its location, surrounded by mountains on 3 sides and the lake on the other. It's also known as the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the city is a fascinating visit.

The road trip from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City is over 400 miles long but these are about the easiest 400 miles you'll ever have to drive. Get on the I-15 headed north that runs exactly 1 block to the west of the Strip and stay there. 6 hours later you'll find yourself right in the middle of Salt Lake City which is where you should park up!

Although less than half of the population in Salt Lake City is Mormon, you can see the signs of the church's presence throughout the city. The Mormon Temple is the grandest and largest in the world and you can see it on Temple Square with the Reflecting Pool in front of it.

Unfortunately the temple is closed to visitors and those who are not members of the church as are most of the other significant Latter-Day Saints buildings around the city. The temple is also undergoing a major reconstruction so it's likely to not be as great a sight for a few years yet.

However you can visit the Tabernacle which puts on shows through the year and spend some time in the mountains surrounding the city. Literally minutes away from downtown you can find amazing hiking routes in the winter and big ski resorts in the winter!

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City

17. See the saguaro cacti en route to Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson

6 hours 30 minutes from Las Vegas (434 miles)

Sitting a few miles from the border with Arizona, a road trip from Las Vegas to the Copper State is an obvious option.

This route covers a lot of desert with stops in Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson - if you want to cover more of Arizona, reroute via Sedona on the way to Phoenix and visit the Red Rock and Slide Rock State Parks (See #12 above).

You can also learn more about the road trip from Las Vegas to Phoenix on our detailed road trip guide .

As you make your way over Hoover Dam (worth the slight detour), you'll begin noticing how the Mojave desert gradually changes into the Sonoran. The elevation lowers a little, the rocks and sand become a little more red in color and Joshua trees make way for the saguaros.

If you don't know what a saguaro is, check the registration plates on the Arizona cars around you - those giant cactus plants with the thick green arms that can reach over 40 feet (12 m) in height.

These cacti (or is it cactuses?) grow to be 150 years old or even older and the ones with several arms are the oldest - it takes them 50 years to just get up to waist-height!

Phoenix and Scottsdale are a large metro area with an endless number of things to do - the art scene in particular is buzzing with the Heard Museum, art galleries and various pop up exhibitions to visit.

Scottsdale has a more relaxed small town vibe to the tall skyscrapers of Phoenix and if you want to go out for dinner or drinks after, Scottsdale is where you should head.

Tucson has an interesting mix of architecture with a colonial style that looks very European. You won't forget you're in the middle of a desert though - the city's main attraction is the Saguaro National Park on the outskirts that also houses the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Phoenix

18. Marvel at the natural wonders of Monument Valley

6 hours 30 minutes from Las Vegas (400 miles)

Monument Valley sits on the border between Utah and Arizona and you may be surprised to know that it is not a National Park or a National Monument.

In fact, it has no real designation because it is located on the land of the Navajo Nation Reservation and can therefore not be classified as Federal or State protected land.

Although you're spoiled for choice for road trips to see amazing nature from Las Vegas, Monument Valley has to be high on your list for the totally unbelievable view that will open up.

The giant red rocks are spread through the valley as though they fell out of the sky and landed here in an ancient time and some of them measure over 1,000 ft (300 m) from the ground which is a pretty impressive height.

You can drive north or south of the Grand Canyon to get here and although the northern route is 30 miles shorter, they will both take about the same amount of time.

Seeing as you're going right past it, you really should make a few stops along the Grand Canyon (#11 above) to see the amazing sights below and maybe take a hike depending on how much time you've got. The Horseshoe Bend further along the canyon near Page is a great spot for an amazing photo.

Parts of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument are also on the way if you follow the north route and a small detour from the south route will take you to the Red Rock State Park near Sedona (#12 above).

In fact, if you extend your trip and add in the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Utah and follow different routes to and from Monument Valley, you'll see most of the amazing nature sights in the region in one epic road trip!

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Monument Valley

19. See giant sequoias in Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks

8 hours from Las Vegas (455 miles)

Kings Canyon and Sequoia are two neighboring National Parks that seamlessly merge into each other in California's Sierra Nevada.

The 8-hour drive might put you off, but the time it takes to get here depends a lot on where in the parks you want to get to. The most popular destinations are in the western parts of the parks - Route 180 runs deep into the park to Kanawyers and is only accessible from the west.

Some of the most popular hikes and General Sherman, the world's largest tree also require you to loop around Sierra Nevada.

However, if you want to walk among the giant sequoia trees and hike through the mountains without seeing the "must see" sights, you can drive along California Highway 395 and take one of the small roads that runs into the parks from there and hiking one of the trails from the east.

Kearsarge Pass and Mount Whitney Trailheads are both great options and will take you about 4 and a half hours to get to.

As you'll be passing right through the Death Valley National Park (#5 above), you may as well add it onto your itinerary. The combined road trip will take you through the world's hottest desert and one of the most incredible lush forests that are only 2 hours away from each other!

20. Arches & Canyonlands National Parks, Utah

8 hours from Las Vegas (521 miles)

The two National Parks in eastern Utah sit either side of the town of Moab. As both of these parks are incredible for hiking and exploring the wilderness, Moab gets busy during the summer months as the tourist season hits its peak. If you can delay your road trip until after Labor Day, you'll likely get better value accommodation and there'll be less people about.

Canyonlands is the larger of the two parks and you can get close to most of the sights by driving - the main road that leads into the park is the Grand View Point Road and it has plenty of places to park for the trails and overlooks including the Grand View Point right at the end of the road.

White Rim Road goes around the perimeter of the park and comes off the Grand View Point Road before you get to the visitor center - this road is open to SUVs, 4x4 vehicles and off-road bikes, but it's a little more than a dirt track and progress can be slow so allow plenty of time to drive if you're planning to go that way.

Arches is a smaller park and is closer and quicker to get to from Los Angeles than Canyonlands which means a lot more people spend time here. Many of the amazing rock formations are an easy stroll from the nearest parking spot making it easy to see a lot of the sights without too much effort.

You might need to make a reservation for a timed-entry permit while visiting Arches National Park. Please check the national park's website for up-to-date information.

Each park costs $30 to enter although you can get the America the Beautiful National Parks pass for $80 which gives you unlimited access to National Parks across the country for one car including all passengers, so you really should get that and use it for a few more trips later on!

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to Arches National Park

21. A long road trip across the Sierra Nevada to San Francisco

11 hours from Las Vegas (650 miles)

San Francisco may be a long drive from Las Vegas , but if you're really wanting to go on a proper road trip and have time to hand, this might just be the ultimate destination.

When planning the route for your road trip from Las Vegas, ignore the navigator directions. The I-15 and I-5 are not the most exciting of roads and there's better things to see between Vegas and the Fog City than Barstow and Bakersfield.

Time permitting, I would first head up to Death Valley (#5 above) and spend a night or two stargazing in one of the best places in the world to see the stars without light pollution.

After that, head north along the east side of the Sierra Nevada to Mammoth Lakes and then go over the Tioga Pass along California Highway 120.

This road will take you right through the heart of Yosemite (#15 above) which is well worth some of your time and a stop in the Yosemite Valley towards the end of the drive.

If you're not driving in the summer, the likelihood is that this road will be closed due to heavy snow. In this case your options are to keep on driving north towards Lake Tahoe and then taking the Carson Pass Highway (usually open throughout the winter) or the Lincoln Highway to Sacramento.

When you finally do get to San Francisco, there's so much to do you won't get close to doing it all even if you stay a week. See our guide to the best things to do in San Francisco to get inspired!

On the way back, you can come down the west side of Sierra Nevada and drive the super scenic State Route 180 that splits the Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks (#19 above), see the world's largest tree and then drive down the (even more scenic) Route 198 south.

A stop in the mountains of the Mojave desert (#4 above) on the way back will complete what would be one seriously epic road trip from Las Vegas that seems to include half of all the other destinations I've mentioned for shorter routes!

READ MORE - Road Trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco

Below is a shortlist of our favorite road trips from Las Vegas if you are looking for some last-minute inspiration!

Best road trips from Las Vegas

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22 Incredible Day Trips from Las Vegas You’ll Absolutely Love

Posted on Published: December 15, 2022  - Last updated: April 4, 2024

Looking to escape the busy city of Las Vegas? Of course you are! There’s so many amazing adventures just minutes away. If you’re looking for the best day trips from Las Vegas, here’s your list!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, see my  disclosures .

Las Vegas has a reputation for shopping, dining and casinos – and it lives up to the hype! But if you’re craving adventure – or some nature – taking a day trip from Las Vegas is a great way to do just that.

Leave the crowded strip and hit the road!

Some of the best day trips are just 20 minutes away, while others will take you away the entire day from sunrise to sunset (or beyond). Whether you’re traveling solo , celebrating a birthday in Vegas with friends, as a couple or with your family, there’s something on this epic list of day trips from Las Vegas to fit every travel style .

Let’s dive in!

Map of the best day trips from Las Vegas

If you’re a visual person like I am, this map of the best places to visit near Las Vegas will help you plan your perfect adventure.

By the way, as someone who’s actively checking places off my travel bucket list , I haven’t been everywhere (yet). So I’ve asked some of my fellow travel writers to help with these things to do near Las Vegas. Enjoy!

Day trips from Las Vegas

Located in the Mojave Desert, there’s so much to see and do in the area. Here are some of the best ideas for things to do outside of Vegas!

1. Red Rock Canyon (one of the best things to do near Las Vegas)

Distance from Las Vegas: 16 miles / 20 minutes

Perhaps one of the shortest day trips from Las Vegas is the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It’s perfect for a full day of adventure away from the busy city, yet close enough for a quick drive.

One of the most popular things to do is the Red Rock Canyon scenic drive . This one-way, 13 mile drive takes you through the entire conservation area. Stop at Calico II to see the vibrant red sandstone rocks.

Bring grippy hiking shoes for the 2.2 mile hike on the Calico Tanks Trail . This fun, interactive hike requires a bit of scrambling to get to the viewpoint of the Las Vegas strip. So cool!

You’ll actually need a timed entry reservation to see the conservation area from October through May, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance! If you can’t grab a spot, consider booking a Red Rock Canyon hiking tour which includes park entry.

Of course, come prepared with enough water and high protein snacks. If you’re hiking be sure to bring the 10 essentials and a satellite communicator in case of emergency.

Recommended by Nikki of Inspired Routes

Save money on travel with points: Check out the best credit card offers to save big money by using rewards points for flights and hotels. They’re so good; I regularly have 2-3 in my wallet and book most of my travel with points!

2. Valley of Fire State Park

Distance from Las Vegas: 56 miles / 48 minutes

Valley of Fire is a famous Nevada State Park, and a nature preserve area known for its breathtaking red sandstone and rock formations. It consists of 40,000 acres of Aztec sandstone.

Prehistoric remnants and unparalleled vistas are intertwined among the valley’s red rocks. There are also ancient petroglyphs that were carved into the Aztec Sandstone rock formations. These spectacular rock formations are best viewed on a sunny day, and every sunset, they illuminate the valley, making it appear they’re on fire.

There are several outdoor activities that you can do in the Valley of Fire. The park offers a short hike for you to survey the area’s scenic views.

As you explore the site, take advantage of these fascinating rock formations like the Valley of Fire Beehives, Atlatl Rock, Elephant Rock and the Fire Wave. They will surely leave you speechless in their beauty.

You can stay overnight in the Valley of Fire; various campgrounds located near this famous spot for camping enthusiasts. And reservations in advance are required, check the  park’s website  for more details.

Valley of Fire is approximately 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas; it would take you about 1 hour to get there by car. Take the I-15 north for about 35 to 40 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Head east toward the Valley of Fire/Lake Mead from Exit 75. The West Entrance Station is located in the Valley of Fire, about 17 miles away.

The best time to visit the park is in October and April. The temperatures are mild and pleasant during this period, while they are extremely hot during the summer. The park is open from sunrise until sunset.

Recommended by Christine of Guide To Daytrips

3. Kanarra Falls

Distance from Las Vegas: 159 miles / 2 hours, 33 minutes

At just 2.5 hours from Las Vegas, Kanarra Falls is the perfect day trip for adventure lovers. Grab your hiking boots and trekking poles and head off to this amazing slot canyon.

After arriving at the trailhead you’ll see a small restroom and ticket counter. They only allow 150 hikers a day, so it’s strongly recommended that you reserve your tickets online before arriving as no more tickets are sold on-site once the limit is reached. 

The hike itself is a moderate 3.8-mile hike directly through an epic slot canyon. Be prepared to get wet as the majority of the hike will have you walking through ankle-deep water (sometimes higher).

After about 1.6 miles you’ll see your first waterfall. If you choose to continue up the ladder, you’ll find the second waterfall about 0.3 miles later.

It will surely be a hike you won’t soon forget. Kanarra Falls is one of the best things to do near Las Vegas!

Recommended by Jordan of The Homebody Tourist

4. Lake Mead

Distance from Las Vegas: 31 miles / 36 minutes

Lake Mead is a wonderful afternoon or a day escape from the bustling city of Las Vegas! Located less than an hour outside of Las Vegas in Boulder, Nevada, visitors to Lake Mead are greeted with a surplus of outdoor activities sure to provide an outdoor recharge. 

For Lake Mead day trips Las Vegas, it’s recommended to drive so that visitors have flexibility to explore different parts of this natural preserve throughout the afternoon.  

Enjoy hiking, navigating slot canyons, swimming and boating at Lake Mead.  Keep in mind that there is no lifeguard on duty, and that swimming and boating beaches are separated. 

More of a relaxed afternoon can be spent driving to one of the many pull out parking spots to enjoy some views with a picnic lunch. Most of the pull out parking spots include a bathroom house.  

Visiting outside of summer months is most recommended as the Mojave Desert can heat up to 120 degrees fahrenheit during this time of year.  

A huge plus is that the natural preserve accepts the Annual National Parks Pass . Without the pass, entrance is $30 per vehicle. 

Recommended by Alyssa of An Apple a Plane

5. Zion National Park (a favorite on this list of day trips from Las Vegas)

Distance from Las Vegas: 159 miles / 2 hours, 41 minutes

One of the best day trips from Las Vegas is visiting Zion National Park in Utah. Just over 2.5 hours from Vegas, Zion offers incredible views and adventures you’ll love.

The perfect Zion itinerary for one day is to take the shuttle into the Zion Scenic Drive to see the impressive canyon. If you’re up for adventure, hike The Narrows.

The Narrows is the popular hike where the canyon narrows and you can walk through the Virgin River (up to 10 miles round trip) to see the massive canyon up close as it closes in. Be sure to bring water shoes and hiking sticks for The Narrows.

Alternatively, you could get crazy awesome views on the Canyon Overlook Trail . It’s just one mile round trip, offering wide open views of the canyon with less effort.

Grab lunch or ice cream at the Zion Lodge or in Springdale, just outside the park. Or, pack a picnic and enjoy the views of the canyon! Regardless of if you’re solo, as a couple, with friends or visiting Zion with kids , it’s a fabulous adventure and perfect day trip from Las Vegas.

Just be sure to take the right hiking essentials when visiting in Zion, like good hiking shoes and plenty of water!

Note: if you’re based in or near Vegas and have or rent an RV, check out this RV road trip guide that details the road trip from Vegas to Zion then the Grand Canyon. What a fun adventure!

6. Hoover Dam

Distance from Las Vegas: 37 miles / 39 minutes

Hoover Dam from Las Vegas is a short drive, and one of the best ways to spend a day away from the city. You can rent a car and drive yourself or take a tour from Vegas . See the historic Hoover Dam, which was completed in 1936.

As a visitor to the Hoover Dam, you can park for free and walk to the viewpoint on both the Nevada and Arizona Sides. The Nevada side you can see the front of the dam. On the Arizona side, you’ll see the Colorado River and the back side of the dam.

The visitor center has information on the history and architecture of the dam. If you rent a car and drive yourself, the parking lot closest to the entrance is $10 to park, or you can walk the 0.7 miles from the free parking to get there.

One of the best ways to learn about the dam’s construction is through a Power Plant Tour. You’ll actually get to go down into the dam to see how it works!

At the time of publication, you can purchase a Guided Power Plant Tour online but not a Guided Dam Tour so if you want the most in-depth tour of the dam, you’ll need to get there early to get a tour, because it’s first come, first serve and sells out quickly.

Book it now: Hoover Dam tour from Vegas

Recommended by me – Nikki of She Saves She Travels

7. Grand Canyon from Las Vegas via helicopter

Distance from Las Vegas: 45 minutes (flight time)

Enjoy the beauty of the Grand Canyon without all the driving! Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas are a very efficient way to see the 4th most visited national park in the USA !

While driving to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas (see #14 below) allows you to hike and see the South Rim, a helicopter tour allows you to land inside the canyon, thousands of feet below the rim.

After a 45-minute helicopter ride from Las Vegas , feel extra bougie as you toast champagne on a bluff from within the canyon. Soak in the incredible views of the massive canyon you’re standing inside of! What a bucket list experience!

Book it now: helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon from Vegas

More things do do near Las Vegas

Outside of the city but comfortable enough to do in a day, here are more ideas for ya. There’s so much to see in the area!

8. Emerald Cave kayaking (one of the most fun things to do outside of Vegas)

Distance from Las Vegas: 55 miles / 58 minutes

Kayaking in the Emerald Cave is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the Vegas strip. The cave is located in the Lake Mead Recreation Area, along a calm section of the Colorado River.

Your journey to the caves will include a relaxing kayak ride along the Colorado River. The surrounding hills and cliff walls are awe-inspiring as they tower above you. 

Along the way, you can also go ashore and take a number of short hikes for a better view of the river and rock walls. These hikes will also give you a chance to see the unique flora and fauna of the area. 

The Emerald Cave itself will often get crowded, and only a few kayaks can enter at a time. The cave is shallow, giving you a chance to enter, take pictures, and then exit again within a few minutes time. 

Within the cave, you’ll see a green glowing light reflecting off of the water and onto the cave walls. This green glow is where the Emerald Cave gets its name. The best time of year to see the full emerald effect is to go in summer on a sunny day. 

To reach the caves, you can drive to Lake Mead Recreation Area and rent a kayak there, or book a half-day tour , which includes hotel pickup and drop-off services from Las Vegas. For your trip, it helps to bring the right gear , including a good backpack and water shoes . 

The tour will provide you with guidance and instruction along the way, so it’s a great option if you’re newer to kayaking or unfamiliar with the area. 

Kayaking the Emerald Cave is one of the best Lake Mead Day Trips from Las Vegas!

Book it now: Emerald Cave kayaking

Recommended by Merry of Virginia Vacation Guide

9. Mojave National Preserve

Distance from Las Vegas: 68 miles / 1 hour, 9 minutes

If you’re looking for a way to get away from Las Vegas but want somewhere with few crowds, then consider making a visit to Mojave National Preserve. In just an hour’s drive on Interstate 15 from the big city, you’ll find hiking trails, caves, and much more to explore.

First, head to Cima Road, which is home to more Joshua Trees than you’ll even be able to find within the namesake national park. These are rare trees, only growing within certain parts of the southwest.

Another one of the best things to do is to visit the Kelso Dunes. These beautiful sand dunes offer viewpoints of the surrounding mountains and the opportunity to stand on top of the tallest dune.

The Lava Tubes Trail offers a short hike and a unique experience in a cave. There aren’t many places where you’re able to climb directly into the tube, so this one shouldn’t be missed!

Other fun activities include seeing the cinder cones along Aiken Mine Road, hiking the Teutonia Peak Trail, and visiting the Mojave Desert Mailbox. Because you’ll be in the desert, be sure to dress comfortably to stay cool while you’re out exploring.

It’s also nice to have a high-clearance vehicle for the visit, as some roads can be pretty rough. Also, be sure to check the status of the roads, because wintertime may bring snow and poor weather conditions.

Recommended by Kassidy of The Hiking Helper

10. UTV adventure at the McCullough Mountains

Distance from Las Vegas: 25 miles / 49 minutes

Get ready for an epic adventure in Prime Valley and Hidden Valley at the McCullough Mountain Range, Nevada . This is one of the most fun day trips from Las Vegas if you’e looking for an adrenaline-filled time!

This half day UTV excursion takes you through fun, rugged desert terrain just outside of Las Vegas. You’ll get to see Hidden Valley National Monument during your excursion.

An excursion like this was one of the most fun things to do in Aruba , and I think you’ll agree it’s an awesome day trip from Vegas , too. Drivers must be 16 or older, and each UTV is fit for 2 people. Kids as young as 12 can ride with an adult, so it’s great for families with older kids, too.

Pro tip: wear clothes you can get dirty and closed toes shoes.

Pack anything you don’t want to get dirty in a dry bag with a strap and tie it down. That prevents dirt from penetrating a backpack for other cloth bag. This is the dry bag I used while UTVing and it worked great! Don’t forget to take extra water in reusable water bottles , too.

Book it now: UTV adventure near Vegas

11. Death Valley National Park (one of the best places to visit near Las Vegas for scenery)

Distance from Las Vegas: 110 miles / 1 hour, 55 minutes

Death Valley is one of the best national parks in California and a perfect day trips from Las Vegas if you are looking to escape the crowds and explore the stunning landscapes of the Mojave Desert. 

Although summers bring triple-digit temperatures to Death Valley, winter has a mild sunny weather with no snow, except for high altitudes. 

You can get to Death Valley by taking a guided tour from Las Vegas that includes major highlights of the national park or renting a car in Las Vegas . If you rent a car, you will have more freedom exploring this vast area and also enjoy stargazing at night since Death Valley boasts incredible dark skies free of light pollution.

The park has many hikes like Golden Canyon, overlooks and is also home to the lowest point in North America, Bad Water Basin, that sits at 282 feet below sea level. Since Death Valley is the largest national park in the lower 48 states, prepare to drive longer distances, as some points of the interest are as far as 50 minutes away from one another.

Book it now: Death Valley tours from Las Vegas

Recommended by Daria of The Discovery Nut

12. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Distance from Las Vegas: 24 miles / 27 minutes

Some of the oldest buildings in Nevada lie right next to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. This historic ranch is a fun little day trip from Las Vegas , where you can tour old buildings like a blacksmith shop and sandstone cabin.

Nestled in a picturesque setting, it’s a lesser-known attraction in the Las Vegas area , so you’ll really be able to escape the crowds. Pack a picnic and enjoy the outdoors. The best time to visit this state park is October through May.

The Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is a great spot for beginner hikers or families and pets, too. Hike the Spring Mountain Ranch Loop trial, at just 1.5 miles and flat, it’s an easy trail for nearly any skill level.

Hours change seasonally so check before you go at the Spring Mountain Ranch website .

13. Seven Magic Mountains

Distance from Las Vegas: 26 miles / 27 minutes

A fun experience close to Las Vegas is the Seven Magic Mountains . These colorful stacked boulders are an art instillation that took social media by storm in 2016, thousands of visitors come to the Seven Magic Mountains annually.

It’s a free, short day trip from Las Vegas, and one worth visiting if you’re looking for something low-key to do in the area. And bonus – no extra hiking gear or picnic supplies required.😊 It’s perfect for when you’re visiting Las Vegas with kids !

Created by artist Ugo Rondinone and supported by the Nevada Museum of Art  and  Art Production Fund , this is a free attraction although donations are always welcome! Take as many photos as you desire, but please don’t damage the boulders.

Pro tip: If you want great photos with fewer people, come early in the day – just after sunrise – to avoid crowds. Also check out this guide for more free things to do in Las Vegas .

Seven Magic Mountains is one of the best things to do outside of Vegas that doesn’t take a lot of time, either.

Full day trips from Las Vegas

With 3+ hours of driving each way, these are the best day trips from Las Vegas that make a long day, but totally worth the effort! Of course if you have more time, these destinations would make great weekend trips from Las Vegas, too.

14. South Rim of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas

Distance from Las Vegas: 279 miles / 4 hours, 22 minutes

If you’re looking to escape the intenseness of Las Vegas for a day and want to spend some time surrounded by incredible scenery you’ll never forget, head to  the Grand Canyon South Rim .

The Grand Canyon is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders of the world and offers absolutely stunning views. The South Rim in particular is considered to be the best part with its really expansive views and is truly a sight to see.

There are many unique hikes and viewpoints such as Mather Point that you can visit at The South Rim – but note that the weather and temperature can change suddenly here so make sure to bring plenty of layers and be prepared for any weather. Woolx Merino wool layers work perfect for any season and are perfect for the Grand Canyon.

Drive time to Grand Canyon South Rim is just over 4 hours each way from Las Vegas so it’s a long day but it is definitely worth it! You can rent a car and drive yourself, or if you’d prefer someone else to do the driving you can book a Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas on a bus.

The day trips are usually around 15 hours long, starting at around 6 or 7am, and cost under $100 so good value for money! It’s best to book a Grand Canyon tour in advance as it is a popular day trip from Vegas!

Not only is The Grand Canyon one of the best day trips from Las Vegas, but the route to get there is really interesting too as you’ll get to drive along the famous Route 66!

Book it now: Grand Canyon bus tour from Vegas

Recommended by Catrina of 24 Hours Layover

15. Horseshoe Bend from Las Vegas

Distance from Las Vegas: 274 miles / 4 hours, 23 minutes

Horseshoe Bend is one of the most photographed sites along the Colorado River and a fantastic excursion for those traveling from Las Vegas.

While on the far end for a day trip, Horseshoe Bend is about 4.5 hours from Las Vegas. Located in Page Arizona, the iconic feature is a must-do for those traveling through the southwest. 

Horseshoe Bend, part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, is one  top things to do in Page Arizona .  It can be done as a stop along with other activities in the area.

The trail and parking for Horseshoe Bend is managed by the city of Page, and doesn’t take any National Park or other park passes for entrance to the site. Parking for Horseshoe Bend is $10 and the site is open from sunrise to sunset daily.

For those visiting the site, the hike requires about 1.5 miles (out and back) to reach the viewpoint for the bend. There’s a small platform located at the end of the trail.

However, be sure to continue on past the viewpoint along the slick stones and you’ll be treated to some great other views of the bend without as many tourists around. You can even climb the small hill to get a better overlook of the site. 

Beyond Horseshoe Bend, there’s plenty of other things around Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Visit to the nearby Glen Canyon Bridge and Dam is worth a quick excursion. Visitors can view the amazing engineering feats of creating both the bridge and dam in this part of the river.

There’s also great hiking nearby such as the Hanging Gardens Hike, the Chains, and The “New Wave” which is a lovely banded sandstone area close to the glen canyon dam. 

Recommended by Anwar of Beyond My Door

16. Bryce Canyon National Park (one of the most epic day trips from Las Vegas)

Distance from Las Vegas: 259 miles / 4 hours, 3 minutes

You’ll want to get up early for this one! As a day trip, this is doable but a pretty long day. It would make a great weekend trip from Las Vegas, too.

Anyway, Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the famous hoodoos, which are irregularly shaped rock spires. Witness the unique beauty of this landscape from Bryce Point or Inspiration Point.

If you’re up for hiking, try the Queens Garden Trail and Navajo Loop , which is a fun, interactive trail. It’s 3.1 miles and rated as moderate, you’ll weave through hoodoos and witness the bright orange and red rocks up close.

Have a picnic at Sunset Point or enjoy the views at Sunrise Point, too. You can see all the Bryce Canyon National Park highlights in just one day!

17. Joshua Tree National Park

Distance from Las Vegas: 186 miles / 3 hours, 8 minutes

One of the best day trips from Las Vegas is a day in Joshua Tree . It takes about 3 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Joshua Tree National Park, but it is worth the drive and a great way to escape the city.

Joshua Tree is best during the spring or fall when temperatures are more moderate. In the summer, the park gets very hot, and in the winter it’s cold. However, if you’re taking a day trip in the winter, you will still experience the warmest part of the day in winter.

While in Joshua Tree, take the quick hike to Arch Rock, drive down Queen Valley Road, visit the Cholla Cactus Garden, and, of course, see all the Joshua Trees. One of the best places to find a high concentration of Joshua Trees is along Queen Valley Road or on Park Boulevard from the West Entrance Station.

Recommended by Christine of Live Love Run Travel

18. Antelope Canyon (a popular tour from Las Vegas)

Distance from Las Vegas: 278 miles / 4 hours, 32 minutes

Las Vegas is such a fun city to explore but many people don’t realize there are amazing places to visit outside of Las Vegas. Antelope Canyon is a popular slot canyon in Page, Arizona.

The canyon is full of beautiful Navajo Sandstone that makes for some of the most stunning views you’ll find. Getting to escape from the concrete jungle of Las Vegas is a great way to refresh and enjoy some time away from the city.

If you’re planning on visiting Antelope Canyon, there are a few things you must know.

The canyon is on Navajo land and is restricted to tours by Navajo tour guides and tours are required to visit. You’ll want to book in advance to ensure you can get a tour. If you find that Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are booked, look into tours of Antelope Canyon X .

May to October get really busy, the earlier you book your tour , the better.

To do Antelope Canyon as a day trip from Las Vegas, follow I-15 North through Saint George, Utah. Then take UT-9 to Hwy 59 towards Kanab, UT, where you’ll get on the US-89 East to Lake Powell and Page, Arizona. The drive is a little long, but it makes for a great adventure to one of the most beautiful slot canyons you can find!

Book it now: Antelope Canyon tour from Las Vegas

Recommended by Candice of CS Ginger

19. Palm Springs

Distance from Las Vegas: 231 miles / 4 hours, 9 minutes

If you’re up for a slightly longer drive, taking a day trip from Las Vegas to Palm Springs is an ideal way to add some fun and adventure to your travels. Though it’s situated about 4 hours away, there are so many ways to spend one day in Palm Springs !

You can explore the iconic downtown area, which features boutique shops, hip galleries, and tasty restaurants. Or, check out the original retro architecture on residential homes and hotels.

Outdoor lovers can venture out for a day hike at one of the many trails, such as Tahquitz Canyon. One can’t-miss activity for any first time visitor is the famous Palm Springs aerial tramway, which takes you up the nearby San Jacinto Mountains for panoramic views of the surrounding valley.

With so much natural beauty to explore, it’s no wonder why Palm Springs has become such a popular getaway spot for travelers from Las Vegas.

Be aware that summer is a tough time for hiking and strenuous activity in the California desert. If visiting in the summer months, I would recommend visiting one of the many pool and mineral springresorts. 

Recommended by Monica of This Rare Earth 

20. Red Rock Canyon State Park

Distance from Las Vegas: 240 miles / 3 hours, 41 minutes

Did you know there are actually 2 Red Rock Canyons to escape to as a day trip from Las Vegas?

Not to be confused with the National Conservation Area just a few minutes outside of Vegas,  Red Rock Canyon State Park  is a 3.5 hour drive from Las Vegas. While it’s a long drive for a day trip, it’s doable starting before sunrise and driving back at sunset.

Located in Cantil, California, Red Rock Canyon State Park is part of the Mojave Desert. Once you’re there, you’ll be surrounded by stunning Joshua Trees and get a breathtaking view of sandstone cliffs as far as the eye can see.

Enjoy activities such as rock climbing, picnicking, easy nature walks, as well as beginner canyoneering. Best of all, you won’t find huge crowds here, so enjoy the peaceful escape from the city.

Recommended by Cassie of Cassie’s Compass

21. Grand Staircase Escalante (another favorite on this list of day trips from Las Vegas)

Distance from Las Vegas: 213 miles / 3 hours, 26 minutes

Grand Staircase Escalante is a fun and unique day trip from Las Vegas. If you’re looking to hike some really cool slot canyons, Grand Staircase is the place to do it.

A 3.5 hour drive from Vegas, there are a  few different slot canyons  located within Grand Staircase Escalante to visit. One of the most famous is Zebra Slot Canyon, a canyon that has stripes along the wall making it look like the stripes on a zebra!

Besides hiking the slot canyons in the area, there are plenty of other amazing trails to hike in this area. To get to Grand Staircase Escalante, head northeast on I-15 towards St. George, once in St. George depending on where you want to go in Grand Staircase either head towards Kanab or head towards Bryce Canyon.

The roads inside of Grand Staircase aren’t paved and a lot of the roads require you to have a 4×4 vehicle. Make sure to always check with the visitor centers nearby in Kanab and Escalante before heading out to make sure the weather and roads are safe for exploring.

Recommended by Jessica of Unearth the Voyage

22. Alabama Hills (one of the most scenic things to do near Las Vegas)

Distance from Las Vegas: 246 miles / 4 hours, 13 minutes

Alabama Hills, California is an underrated destination that’s gained in popularity over the last decade or so. A long day trip from Las Vegas, it can be done in a single day with an early morning and late night, or better yet, as a weekend getaway from Las Vegas!

With expansive views of these smooth rocky formations, there’s quite a bit to see and do in Alabama Hills. Movie Road is aptly named based on the volume of films that have been shot here. Drive down it and recognize scenes from Iron Man and Gladiator, just to name a few.

There’s plenty of hiking opportunities in Alabama Hills , too. Grab your hiking shoes and head to the famous Mobius Arch, coming in at less than one mile. Or explore views of the snow-capped mountains on the Upper Alabama Hills Trail to Cyclops Skull Arch .

Best day trips from Las Vegas

Well, that’s a wrap! The area surrounding Las Vegas is full of fun and activities for all ages. Whether you’ve got just one day trip from Vegas or have a few days to explore the area, you’ll find something amazing to do with your time!

Let’s take a look at those adventures again, in a quick list…

Places to visit near Las Vegas

• Red Rock Canyon
• Valley of Fire State Park
• Kanarra Falls
• Zion National Park
• Grand Canyon from Las Vegas via helicopter
• Emerald Cave kayaking
• Mojave National Preserve
• UTV adventure at the McCullough Mountains
• Death Valley National Park
• Spring Mountain Ranch State Park
• Seven Magic Mountains
• South Rim of the Grand Canyon
• Horseshoe Bend
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Antelope Canyon
• Palm Springs
• Red Rock Canyon State Park
• Grand Staircase Escalante
• Alabama Hills

Related content you might like: 20 BIG Adventure Vacations in the US Not to Miss 28 Absolutely Best National Parks to Visit in Summer 100 Most Romantic Vacations in the United States You’ll Love

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wanderwithbelle

Sunday 29th of January 2023

I love Vegas and have been there a numerous of times!! Thanks for sharing these great tips.

Wednesday 1st of February 2023

Welcome Belle. Thanks for your comment and visiting the blog! :)

Monday 23rd of January 2023

Vegas itself isn't really on my list of places to visit, but I'd love to do all of these daytrips!

Tuesday 24th of January 2023

Agreed! Every time I go to Vegas, I leave Vegas 🤣

Saturday 17th of December 2022

I am not a big fan of Las Vegas so I love the idea of trying some of these road trips on the next time I attend a conference in Nevada. I love the rugged landscape.

Monday 19th of December 2022

Same, same Terri! Each time I visit Vegas I have to get out 🤣 Have fun on your next non-Vegas adventure!

Interesting read. Emerald cave kayaking looks so relaxing.

Totally agree, Anukrati! I hope you get to try it sometime.

Friday 16th of December 2022

Some great ideas here, and some wonderful photos too!

Glad you found this helpful :)

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Ways to Travel from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

While flying might be the most popular way to get from LA to The Las Vegas Strip , there are many other modes of transportation that bring people from California into Las Vegas multiple times per day.

Keep reading for traveling to Las Vegas from Los Angeles.

Traveling from LA to Las Vegas By Car

Driving to Las Vegas is one of the easiest ways to get to Sin City from LA if you want to avoid the congestion of airports, bus terminals, and train stations. The drive is only around four hours and the scenery along the way is beautiful.

The best way to get to the strip from LA if you are looking to explore around Las Vegas is to drive a car.

You will be free to explore without waiting on rideshares or public transportation or feel like you are confined to the Strip for your tourism. In fact, one of the best stops to make on the way to Vegas includes the Joshua Tree National Forest and the Mojave National Preserve if you love the outdoors.

If you want to leave your personal vehicle at home, renting a car is also an option for traveling. This option is ultimately more expensive because of the daily rental fees and possible mileage rates , however, if you are looking to drive in style while in Sin City, renting a flashy, car can be the vibe you are looking for.

Tip: Avoid a long drive time by not leaving on a Sunday back and avoid the busy Vegas holiday weekends .

Pros of Driving to Vegas

• You always have reliable transportation available
• You can easily explore on and off the Las Vegas Strip
• You can leave and travel when you want to instead of sticking to a schedule
• No early morning flights
• Avoid the congestion of airports, bus terminals, and train stations
• You can listen to your music as loud as you want
• You can eat or smoke in your car
• You do not have to pay extra for your luggage

Cons of Driving to Vegas

• Paying for Parking
• Four hour drive each way
• If your car breaks down, it can ruin the trip

Nothing beats hitting the open roads across 275 miles of beautiful desert scenery while playing your favorite music and eating the best road trip snacks along the way.

You will also be free to stop and enjoy the sites along the way, use the restroom, or have lunch if you want to take your time traveling to Las Vegas.

Traveling from LA to Las Vegas on a Bus

Traveling to Las Vegas from Los Angeles on a bus is one of the most efficient ways to travel and a cheap way to get to Sin City. Taking the bus is the same distance as driving your car but can take a little bit longer—five to seven hours instead of four.

Also, traveling by Greyhound bus is cheap, but they also are bus companies that specifically take visitors between LA and the Las Vegas Strip, including Megabus and Flixbus . These companies have low prices due to the competition for traveling between the two amazing cities.

Most people can get tickets for as low as $24 one way.

Traveling by bus can be cheaper than flying or driving, but you will also have to contend with the congestion of the bus terminals, traveling on a schedule, and being around strangers while traveling.

Many of the tour company busses will have onboard bathrooms , but some do not. They also will not make extra stops on the route if you need to use the restroom.

Buses also have less stringent rules than airlines; however, you will need to be aware of different rules on whether you can eat or drink on the bus, and do not forget your headphones!

Proses of Traveling by Bus from LA to Las Vegas:

• Cheapest way of getting from LA to Las Vegas
• Luggage is less additional fees than flying
• Can usually bring your own food and beverages onto a bus
• Someone else is driving
• No parking fees in Las Vegas

Cons of Traveling by Bus from LA to Las Vegas:

• Must adhere to the route schedule
• Possible lack of bathrooms on bus
• Cramped environment
• Congestion in bus terminals
• Longer travel time than car or plane

Taking the bus can be one of the most leisurely ways to get from Los Angeles to the Vegas strip . You do not have to drive yourself or pay for gas or parking, but you can still enjoy the beautiful scenery along the route, listen to music or watch a movie (with headphones).

Traveling to Vegas via Plane from Los Angeles

Flying into Las Vegas is one of the top ways of traveling from LA because flights are readily available throughout the day and are nearly always nonstop. The flights are just over an hour between LA and Sin City.

Spirit and Southwest Airlines are two of the most popular that offer many different flight times from LAX to McCarren International Airport.

Flying also does not cost as much as some folks would think. Many of these flights are because of commuters and tickets are low, especially when booked a month or more in advance.

In fact, many visitors can often find flights as low as $20 each way . If you are only taking a personal bag onto the flight, and not checking any luggage, flying can be a cheap way to get to Las Vegas.

Pros of Flying to Las Vegas from Los Angeles

• Fastest way to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
• Flights can be booked at low rates
• Public transportation from the airport to your hotel
• Shuttle service from the airport to your hotel
• You do not have to be the driver

Cons of Flying to Las Vegas from Los Angeles

• Airport security and boarding wait times
• Cost of checked luggage
• Risk of flight cancellation or delays
• Regulations for luggage and carry-ons
• Cramped seating
• Flight turbulence
• No internet connection

There is no doubt that flying from Las Angeles to Las Vegas can be one of the quickest ways to get to Las Vegas, assuming the security lines and boarding time is fast, and your plane has no delays or cancellations.

Thousands of people fly into Las Vegas daily so there are many readily available rideshares, shuttles, or taxis to get you safely and quickly to your hotel .

Traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas by Train

Amtrack traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is not recommended. There are two trains that leave Union Station in Las Angeles daily, however, the trip time is over 19 hours long and the cost is higher than flying or taking the bus.

However, you can take a train from Union Station to San Bernardino Transit Center and then continue the rest of the journey by bus to Las Vegas. There are trains leaving union station to San Bernardino every two hours and the trip takes 90 minutes (about 1 and a half hours).

The bus route from San Bernardino to Las Vegas is around four hours.

Whether you decide to drive, take a bus, or fly into Las Vegas, there are plenty of options that will get you to Sin City easily and conveniently . A car can be the most convenient, but also a very costly way of traveling, especially if you are paying Las Vegas parking fees.

Buses are leisurely and less expensive, but often take the longest; while a flight can be fast, but also risky. Make the transportation arrangements that fit into your schedule and budget after exploring all three.

Brian Eller - Vegas Local

I am a Las Vegas local looking to bring you inside tips and information that can't be found anywhere else. I'll dive into hidden gems and some of the best places to eat and visit in Las Vegas from a local's perspective.

I hope my tips and information can help people plan an enjoyable vacation and do so while saving money.

More About Me | Contact Me

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