15 Best Day Trips from Las Vegas (2026 Complete Guide)
Las Vegas sits at the center of one of America's most spectacular regions. Within a few hours' drive, you can experience beaches, canyons, mountains, ghost towns, and world-famous landmarks. Here are the 15 best day trips from Las Vegas, ranked by popularity and value.
#1: Vegas to Hollywood Day Trip ⭐ EDITOR'S CHOICE
Distance: 270 miles (4 hours scenic drive) Duration: Full day (6 AM - 10 PM) Price: $215 all-inclusive
The ultimate Las Vegas day trip takes you from the desert to the California coast. Unlike other tours that visit barren landscapes, this trip delivers entertainment, beaches, shopping, and celebrity culture.
What You'll Experience:
- Santa Monica Beach & iconic pier
- Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive luxury shopping
- Hollywood Walk of Fame & Grauman's Chinese Theatre
- Hollywood Sign up-close photo opportunities
- Warner Bros Studios water tower
- Celebrity homes neighborhoods
- Sit-down restaurant lunch (included)
- Complimentary breakfast (included)
Why It's #1: It's the only all-inclusive tour with breakfast AND lunch. Most importantly, it delivers variety—beach, shopping, celebrity culture, and landmarks—instead of just desert scenery.
Book: 1-877-741-8390 | vegastohollywood.com
#2: Grand Canyon West Rim
Distance: 125 miles (2.5 hours) Duration: 8-10 hours Price: $150-300
The closest Grand Canyon rim to Las Vegas, featuring the famous Skywalk—a glass-bottom bridge extending 70 feet over the canyon edge, 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.
Highlights:
- Skywalk experience (additional fee usually)
- Eagle Point and Guano Point viewpoints
- Native American cultural demonstrations
- Horseshoe Bend views
#3: Grand Canyon South Rim
Distance: 280 miles (4.5 hours) Duration: 12-14 hours Price: $200-350
The "postcard" Grand Canyon with the most famous viewpoints. A longer drive but arguably more dramatic scenery.
Highlights:
- Mather Point and Yavapai Point
- Desert View Watchtower
- Rim Trail walking
- Better hiking options than West Rim
#4: Hoover Dam & Lake Mead
Distance: 30 miles (45 minutes) Duration: 4-6 hours Price: $60-100
An engineering marvel built during the Great Depression. The dam holds back the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States.
Highlights:
- Power plant interior tour
- Art deco architecture
- Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge viewpoint
- Lake Mead scenic views
#5: Red Rock Canyon
Distance: 17 miles (30 minutes) Duration: 4-5 hours Price: $75-125 (guided) or $15 park fee (self-drive)
The closest major natural attraction to Las Vegas. Stunning red sandstone formations rise against the Mojave Desert backdrop.
Highlights:
- 13-mile scenic loop drive
- Calico Hills viewpoints
- Easy to moderate hiking trails
- Rock climbing opportunities
- Petroglyphs (ancient rock art)
#6: Valley of Fire State Park
Distance: 50 miles (1 hour) Duration: 6-8 hours Price: $100-175 (guided) or $15 park fee (self-drive)
Nevada's oldest and largest state park features 40,000-year-old petroglyphs and brilliant red rock formations that appear to be on fire when the sun hits them.
Highlights:
- Fire Wave rock formation
- Elephant Rock
- Seven Sisters rock formation
- White Domes
- Mouse's Tank petroglyphs
#7: Death Valley National Park
Distance: 120 miles (2 hours) Duration: 10-12 hours Price: $175-250
The hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America offers otherworldly landscapes unlike anything else on Earth.
Highlights:
- Badwater Basin (282 feet below sea level)
- Artist's Palette colorful rocks
- Zabriskie Point
- Dante's View
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Note: Summer temperatures can exceed 130°F. Best October-April.
#8: Zion National Park
Distance: 160 miles (2.5 hours) Duration: 10-12 hours Price: $200-300
Utah's most visited national park features dramatic canyon walls, emerald pools, and world-famous hikes.
Highlights:
- Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
- Temple of Sinawava
- The Narrows (if time permits)
- Weeping Rock
- Canyon Overlook
#9: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
Distance: 280 miles (4.5 hours) Duration: 12-14 hours Price: $250-350
The most photographed slot canyon in the world, where light beams create magical effects in the narrow sandstone passages.
Highlights:
- Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon (requires Navajo guide)
- Horseshoe Bend viewpoint
- Lake Powell glimpses
- Navajo Nation cultural experience
#10: Los Angeles (Self-Guided)
Distance: 270 miles (4 hours) Duration: Full day or overnight Price: Rental car $50-100 + fuel + attractions
For those wanting flexibility, driving to LA independently offers freedom to explore at your own pace.
Considerations:
- LA traffic can add 1-2 hours to drive time
- Parking expensive in Hollywood/Beverly Hills
- No included meals or guide
- Navigation required
Why We Recommend the Guided Tour Instead: The Vegas to Hollywood tour handles all logistics, includes meals, and ensures you see the highlights without driving stress.
#11: Joshua Tree National Park
Distance: 200 miles (3 hours) Duration: 10-12 hours Price: $150-225
Where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, creating unique landscapes dotted with the distinctive Joshua trees.
Highlights:
- Keys View
- Skull Rock
- Cholla Cactus Garden
- Cap Rock
#12: Bryce Canyon National Park
Distance: 260 miles (4 hours) Duration: 12-14 hours Price: $225-325
Famous for its "hoodoos"—tall, thin rock spires in brilliant orange and red colors.
Highlights:
- Sunrise Point and Sunset Point
- Thor's Hammer
- Navajo Loop Trail
- Natural Bridge
#13: Sedona, Arizona
Distance: 280 miles (4.5 hours) Duration: 12-14 hours (better as overnight) Price: $225-300
Red rock country known for spiritual vortexes, world-class hiking, and charming galleries.
Highlights:
- Cathedral Rock
- Bell Rock
- Tlaquepaque Arts Village
- Chapel of the Holy Cross
#14: Lake Las Vegas
Distance: 20 miles (30 minutes) Duration: Half day Price: Free to visit (activities extra)
A resort community built around a 320-acre artificial lake. Mediterranean-style village with dining, water sports, and relaxation.
Best For: Couples seeking a quiet escape from the Strip.
#15: Eldorado Canyon & Ghost Town
Distance: 45 miles (1 hour) Duration: 4-5 hours Price: $125-200
An authentic Old West ghost town and mining district perfect for history buffs and photographers.
Highlights:
- Techatticup Mine tour
- Ghost town buildings
- Movie filming locations
- ATV tours available
Comparison Chart: All 15 Day Trips
| Rank | Destination | Distance | Duration | Price | Best For | |------|-------------|----------|----------|-------|----------| | 1 | Vegas to Hollywood | 270 mi | Full Day | $215 | Everyone | | 2 | Grand Canyon West | 125 mi | 8-10 hrs | $150-300 | Views | | 3 | Grand Canyon South | 280 mi | 12-14 hrs | $200-350 | Hiking | | 4 | Hoover Dam | 30 mi | 4-6 hrs | $60-100 | History | | 5 | Red Rock Canyon | 17 mi | 4-5 hrs | $75-125 | Nature | | 6 | Valley of Fire | 50 mi | 6-8 hrs | $100-175 | Photography | | 7 | Death Valley | 120 mi | 10-12 hrs | $175-250 | Adventure | | 8 | Zion NP | 160 mi | 10-12 hrs | $200-300 | Hiking | | 9 | Antelope Canyon | 280 mi | 12-14 hrs | $250-350 | Photography | | 10 | LA Self-Drive | 270 mi | Full Day+ | Variable | Flexibility | | 11 | Joshua Tree | 200 mi | 10-12 hrs | $150-225 | Unique Landscape | | 12 | Bryce Canyon | 260 mi | 12-14 hrs | $225-325 | Hoodoos | | 13 | Sedona | 280 mi | 12-14 hrs | $225-300 | Spirituality | | 14 | Lake Las Vegas | 20 mi | Half Day | Free | Relaxation | | 15 | Eldorado Canyon | 45 mi | 4-5 hrs | $125-200 | Old West |
Book the #1 Day Trip from Las Vegas
Vegas to Hollywood - All-Inclusive Day Trip
- Price: $215 per person (breakfast + lunch included)
- Pickup: Free from 100+ Las Vegas hotels
- Phone: 1-877-741-8390 (Toll-Free)
- Online: vegastohollywood.com
Tours depart daily. Book 2-3 days ahead for guaranteed availability.
