Las Vegas Road Trip Ideas other than the famous strip

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I’ve been to Las Vegas several times, and each time we go, the city changes with new features and attractions. It’s an exciting place to be, but did you know there are some amazing attractions and national parks around the Las Vegas area (that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to visit), all within a short drive from the Las Vegas strip, and all worth checking out.

Before we get into our list, one of the most amazing experiences for me when traveling to Las Vegas was actually driving there, rather than flying. Nothing can really compare to the experience of driving, not only down the Las Vegas strip itself, but also the roads leading into Las Vegas. Their visitor center offers some amazing desert & canyon views, and as our 1st stop suggests, the Hoover Dam area led us to a stunning and unexpected view of Lake Mead. 


Here is a list of top places you should definitely visit outside of Las Vegas:

1. Hoover Dam


This is a really interesting area. The first time we drove through here, we were actually able to drive over the Hoover Dam itself. Since then, they have completed the bridge, making it a much faster experience. The bridge offers some amazing views of the Hoover Dam, and the canyon below. There is also some amazing history of this area, some really great hiking trails, as well as a stunning overlook of Lake Mead. If you have some time, Lake Mead is a great place to check out. If you’re running short on time, the lake view overlook just past the bridge is worth a stop.

2. Lake Las Vegas  

There is a beautiful overlook of Lake Las Vegas just west of the lake itself. It offers stunning views of the city below in one direction, and a large view of the canyon in another direction. The City of Lake Las Vegas offers some amazing and unique shopping, hiking trails, and water sports. We hiked along a few of their trails. I find this is a great way to experience the area, and really appreciate the lake and town from a difference perspective. This is a great place to visit, especially in Fall when the leaves are changing, and the weather is cooler. I’d watch for snakes along trails and near rocks though.

3. Valley of Fire State Park


This is a must see stop over if you’re in the area. The whole area is STUNNING, with red sandstone formations surrounding you. While the road through the Valley of Fire State Park is only 10 miles long, there are many scenic stopovers and viewpoints worth exploring. Lots of great places for selfies, so give yourself a good 2 hours to explore the area. I recommend coming early morning, before it gets too hot, and too busy. This will give you more time, and freedom to stop and take pictures, while also enjoying the scenery around you.

Reminder: this is a state park, and there is a cost of $15/vehicle for non-Nevada residents, with a great option of camping overnight for $25/vehicles.  

4. The Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

This is just an iconic stop over that any road tripper needs to have. It also gives you a chance to drive the strip once or twice while in the area.

5. Red Rock Canyon

Another stunning canyon view. Similar to the Valley of Fire State Park, this stop over offers many stunning views of the desert canyon, with stunning red rocks, and an amazing drive. Red Rock Canyon is closer to downtown Las Vegas, where Valley of Fire is just over an hour North East. I found more things to do in the Red Rock Canyon vs Valley of Fire, as it offers more hiking trails, or areas to explore. However, they weren’t all an easy stroll from the car, so be heat/weather aware, with water and a sun hat if needed. This whole area is just stunning, and the drive around the Red Rock Canyon is amazing. There are over 20 different hiking trails, as well as various spots to pull off the road for pictures if you’re not the hiking type.

Travel tip: there is an entry fee for the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area. The price varies depending on what type of vehicle you are driving, the standard fee for a car/truck is $20/vehicle. You can find more information on their website here.

6. Extraterrestrial Highway (Highway 375)

This is such an interesting area of Nevada. Located a good 2.5 hours North West of Las Vegas, it is quite a drive, but is “apparently” where the most UFO sitings are seen in the entire US, and for good reason. The whole way towards the town of Rachel, you will come across really unique and cool UFO attractions, signs, and a little convenient store. Once you make it to the Extraterrestrial Highway, there is a really fun road sign worth stopping at.

We traveled here with Alien glasses, tinfoil hats, and really made it a fun adventure. Not to far from here is a popular government facility, that is assumed to house aliens. I’m not going to name what it is, or recommend going there. I don’t need that kind of trouble, but we did drive down that unmarked dirt road, towards the locked gate that you see in other videos on YouTube. We saw the famous white trucks, driving towards us. It was a thrilling, but very scary experience for us.  

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