If your plans include an overnight stay at one of the Strip's many casino-hotels, it may be necessary to navigate some of Las Vegas Boulevard to find your hotel, but Vegas.com recommends doing as little driving as possible on the Strip. Instead, try using Paradise to the east or Dean Martin/Industrial to the west, especially if you are visiting on a weekend.
You can find natural beauty in any direction out of Las Vegas. Red Rock National Conservation Area, 15 miles west of Las Vegas, features a 13-mile scenic loop, hiking, rock climbing and horseback riding, and is open from dawn until dusk daily. Journey a little farther to the northwest and discover Mount Charleston Recreation Area. Nestled in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the area is home to elk, deer, bighorn sheep and other wildlife. Heading north from Las Vegas on I-15 will take you to Valley of Fire State Park. The red sandstone formations, which give the park its name, are worth the 40-mile trip from Las Vegas.
Lake Mead Recreation Area and Hoover Dam are about 30 miles east of Las Vegas on U.S. 93 and offer ample year-round activities and tours. A road trip to these sites will provide an opportunity refresh and relive your Las Vegas-area adventures.
