Attractions Nearby Las Vegas, Day Trips and Excursions

(Las Vegas, Nevada - NV, USA)

If you can drag yourself away from the casinos of Las Vegas and have invested in a hire car, then you may well like to consider planning a day trip or two, driving to some of the neighbouring desert attractions. Formerly named State Line, Primm Valley is a small community boasting an epic roller coaster, as well as being home to Whiskey Pete's Hotel and Casino, and the 100+ designer outlet stores that combine to make up the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas.

Head to Nevada's Boulder City, just past Henderson, and you will find the expansive Lake Mead National Recreation Area centred around a large lake, which is surrounded by a series of bays. These include the bays of Bonelli, Grebe East and West Gypsum, East Point, Petroglyph and Teakettle. Alternatively, an excursion to the Hoover Dam will likely be a memorable one, particularly if you splash out on a helicopter trip.

Valley of Fire State Park

Address: Interstate 15 at Highway 169, Overton, 89040, Nevada, USA
Tel: +1 702 397 2088
The Valley of Fire State Park is an enormous park and one of the most visited attractions in this part of Nevada. Covering over 55,000 acres / 22,260 hectares, this park became Nevada's first state park in 1935. The Valley of Fire is situated some 50 miles / 80 km northwest of Las Vegas, where highlights include bright red fiery sandstone cliffs, incredible weathered rock formations, petrified logs, mysterious petroglyphs (rock carvings) dating back hundreds of years and a visitors center, with information on the parks history, ecology and archaeology. Of particular interest is the highly photographed 'elephant rock' which is close to the main road. Camping facilities are also available here.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 16:30
Admission: charge, per vehicle

Desperado Roller Coaster

Address: Primm Valley, 89019, Nevada, USA
Tel: +1 702 679 5160; +1 800 367 7383
The Desperado Roller Coaster is situated in Primm Valley, just under 40 miles / 64 km to the south of Las Vegas, where it is famous for being one of the highest and fastest roller coasters in the world. With steep drops, tunnels, speeds of up to 90 miles-per-hour / 145 km-per-hour and G-forces approaching four, the long and exciting Desperado Roller Coaster starts from inside the Buffalo Bill Hotel. Provided that you are over 4 feet / 1.2 meters high, be prepared to experience thrills and an adrenaline rush like no other.
Open hours: daily - 12:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Address: 601 National Highway, Boulder City, 89005, Nevada, USA
Tel: +1 702 293 8907
The vast Lake Mead National Recreation Area serves as a major tourist magnet within reach of Las Vegas, being just over 30 minutes to the southeast. This park covers more than 1.5 million acres / 607,000 hectares and is full of interesting sights and attractions. The main feature is Lake Mead itself, the largest man-made lake in the area. All regional water sports tend to be centered around Lake Mead and these include boating, water skiing, swimming, scuba diving, jet-skiing, fishing and much more besides. There is also over 800 miles / 1,280 km of shoreline, accompanied by beaches, marinas, camping facilities, a visitor center and numerous restaurants.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: charge

Hoover Dam

Address: 8 miles / 13 km from Boulder City, Nevada, USA
Tel: +1 888 248 1259
The Hoover Dam is 727 feet / 221 meters in height and is the equivalent of a 70-story building. Built in 1928 at a cost of almost USD 200 million, the Hoover Dam is easy to reach from Las Vegas, by either car, bus or as part of a helicopter tour. The dam stands on the Colorado River and was created to control flooding and also to generate electricity. This ranks amongst the most popular places to visit nearby and is often referred to as being one of the Seven Wonders of the World.