Best Day Trips from Las Vegas

Las Vegas sits in the middle of some of the most spectacular landscapes in North America. Within a 2-hour drive you can stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon, hike through red sandstone formations that look like Mars, walk across the Hoover Dam, or swim in the turquoise waters of the Colorado River.

Here are the best day trips, ranked by distance.

Red Rock Canyon — 30 Minutes

The closest and easiest day trip from the Strip. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area has a 13-mile scenic loop drive through dramatic red sandstone formations, desert bighorn sheep, and Joshua trees.

Day Trips from Scottsdale

Scottsdale is surrounded by some of the most dramatic landscapes in the American West. Sedona’s red rocks, the Grand Canyon, and historic mining towns are all within day-trip range.

Sedona — 2 Hours North

Red rock formations, hiking, art galleries, and a spiritual energy that draws visitors from around the world. The town sits in a canyon surrounded by towering sandstone buttes and mesas.

Must-do: Cathedral Rock hike (moderate, 1.2 miles with scrambling — the most iconic Sedona hike), Bell Rock trail (easy, great for families), and the Chapel of the Holy Cross (a church built into the red rock cliffs).