When it comes to desert adventures it doesn't get much better than Vegas day trips. Mostly, we're about to discuss The Grand Canyon and Death Valley. But if you're heading out that way, you need to know about two brilliant stop-offs right next to each other. If you're NOT hiring a car, take a look and see if we can persuade you, or if you want to visit these places in style have a look at our flights page.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is huge. It was created by the building of the Hoover Dam, and lies next to Boulder City, the city born of the tents that used to house workers building the dam that made the lake. Many official (bus) excursions pass through Boulder City and therefore Lake Mead, but if driving a car the Lake is only 40 minutes from Vegas and well worth a visit tied into a longer journey, or perhaps even a day out in itself. How about you visit the Dam, and even better spend an hour (enroute) or a day playing on the water, by renting a boat or a jetski from Lake Mead Boat Rentals. You can drive the boat quite close to the dam itself, just don't take the boat bast thouse 'DO NOT PASS' markers. You don't want to create a security alert!
The Hoover Dam
There are many ways to arrange tours around the Hoover Dam, you'll be offered trips at the hotel or in endless advertisments from the guide book in your room, to advertising billboards around the town. You can also just go there and buy your tickets when you get there. At night the dam is closed, and if driving back froma day at Lake Mead or The Grand Canyon it's a great stop off point even if the indoor tour is closed, as at night it is quiet and a pretty spectacular work of engineering lit up in the dark.
The Grand Canyon
Hello, World!
There are plenty of flights, helicopters and planes, to take you over the grand canyon. We enjoy the road trip, but the flights from Maverick are great, check out our dedicated page for what you can pay a little extra to get via the sky here! Many of the excursions will take you to the West Rim, which is much nicer as a day trip if you don't like long journeys, but its important you know the difference between the West, North and South Rims.
Grand Canyon West Rim
A convenient day trip, much closer to vegas in land-travel time, with the 'skywalk' feature of walking out over the canyon! know this though: this is private land on the edge of the canyon. there are rules on photographs and tours are guided. it is not the view of the canyon you have seen all your life. For that, you need to travel further, to...
Grand Canyon South Rim
A few hours drive from vegas, via arizona, south rim is the picture-postcard view you know. its a long drive, possible in a day for the adventerous, also there are great places to stay at the rim and at flagstaff, 40 minutes back on route 66. south rim is your desert view, but then again there's...
Grand Canyon North Rim
Almost exactly the same travel time, but north of vegas and through two states and a time zone! The North Rim is a beautiful place. It is higher than the South Rim, and feels more Canadian, green, log cabin. You can stay in log cabins there, and sit in an alpine restaraunt with a view to die for. Well worth the adventure.
Death Valley
Take water. Take lots of water. Gallons of water. If your car breaks down you will need it, but even if it doesn't, it is very very hot. It is also one of the most beautiful and suprising places in the world. Trusted's advice, get a sat nav, drive out into death valley, and 'get lost' in death valley. Of course, don't do this without a sat nav or a map to get you out again. This is a place to wonder, and wander (for about five minutes until you need to get back in the car). Seriously, do not have a car in vegas without a lot of water always in there as back up. Because driving these roads is stunning, but very far and very very hot.
