Become a Vegas Insider
One of the most under looked part of a Vegas vacation is the proximity to some of the most stunning, jaw-dropping landscapes on earth. While the strip is made up of bright lights and man-made glitz, it is just as easy to lose yourself in the beauty of mother earth as it is to spend an entire sleepless night in the oxygen-fueled gambling rager.
The closest national beauty to Las Vegas is a National Conservatory rather than a National Park, but Red Rock Canyon is truly a site to see. It is only about 20 minutes from the strip and the 13 mile scenic drive is one of our favorites. Whether you rent a car, go all out and get a convertible, or take one of the many tours from Vegas, it’s a great way to spend a morning or afternoon taking in the scenes.
Unfortunately, as of May 21st, Red Rock Canyon is still closed. You can find the most updated information here. That said, many of the National Parks are starting to open within a day trip to Vegas. Here’s a full list of all 60 National Parks opening status from Thrillist.
The Easy Day Trip (Less Than 4 Hours)
Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and The Grand Canyon all are within a 4-hour drive from Vegas. When we think about scenic day-trips, these are the parks that make the most sense from Vegas. These can all be done in a day (although, you may leave wanting more) and are well worth the drive, which is really part of the experience.
Here are the statuses from Thrillist (see all 60 here):
VEGAS INSPIRED COLLECTIONS
Zion National Park in Utah (3 Hour Drive)
Status:Â Open
Camping:Â No
Amenities:Â No
Link: Zion National Park
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$34.00 – $36.50 -
$38.00 – $46.50
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$30.00 – $32.00
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$25.00 – $30.50
One of America’s most beloved parks has just started to reopen in recent days, with the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and many park trails currently open (with Zion’s often-packed shuttles mercifully suspended.) Be sure to pack our rundown of some of our favorite Zion hikes.
Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah (3 Hour Drive)
Status: Open
Camping: No
Amenities: Limited
Link: Bryce Canyon National Park
While visitor center occupancy is limited and overnight stays are prohibited, the main park road and all viewpoints to Rainbow Point remain open. The majority of trails (other than backcountry) remain open as well, so consider yourself lucky if you’re anywhere near this Utah showstopper. Plan your sunrise around it.
SAVE BIG IN VEGAS
Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona (4.5 Hour Drive)
Status:Â Open
Camping:Â No
Amenities:Â Limited
Link: Grand Canyon National Park
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$30.00 – $32.00
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$35.00 – $43.50
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$38.00 – $46.50
-
$30.00 – $37.00
The Grand Canyon has begun extremely limited access. You can enter the south rim viewpoints between 6-10am for now, and go as far as Pipe Creek Vista, Twin Overlooks, Duck on a Rock, Thor’s Hammer, No Name Point, and Navajo Point. The rest of the Canyon is closed. Ditto for visitor centers.
Note, there is also the West Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona which is closer to Las Vegas (2.5-hour drive) and is run by the Hualapai Tribe. This has the famed Skywalk and other awesome attractions. Here’s information on the re-opening.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservatory in Las Vegas (20 Minute Drive)
Status: Temporarily Closed
Camping: No
Amenities: Closed
Link: Red Rock Opening Info
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$25.00 – $30.50
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$30.00 – $37.00
-
$30.00 – $32.00
-
$38.00 – $46.50
The closest national beauty to Las Vegas is a National Conservatory rather than a National Park, but Red Rock Canyon is truly a site to see. It is only about 20 minutes from the strip and the 13 mile scenic drive is one of our favorites. Whether you rent a car, go all out and get a convertible, or take one of the many tours from Vegas, it’s a great way to spend a morning or afternoon taking in the scenes.
Unfortunately, as of May 21st, Red Rock Canyon is still closed. You can find the most updated information here.
Other National Parks that you can visit from Vegas
They may not be close enough for a day trip, but if you were planning a trip to Vegas and wanted to tack on an extra day or two, these National Parks are within driving distance.
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$25.00 – $30.50
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$30.00 – $32.00
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$35.00 – $43.50
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$38.00 – $46.50
- Yosemite National Park: California, 7 Hours.
- Arches National Park: Utah, 8 Hours.
- Monument Valley And Four Corners: Southwest US, 8 Hours.
- Mesa Verde National Park: Colorado, 8 Hours.
Many of the National Parks across the country are starting to open. Want to see the status of these National Parks? Here’s a full list of all 60 National Parks opening status from Thrillist.
