There are 23 national park units and millions of acres of canyons, lakes, wildlife, trails and mountains located within five hours of Las Vegas – all waiting to be explored. From Vegas, people can find America’s largest national recreation area; the hottest, lowest and driest spot in the country; and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Within an hour of Las Vegas, people can discover two national parks: Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. Six more national parks, including Zion, Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley (the country’s hottest, lowest and driest point) are less than three hours away. Within five hours, visitors can discover fifteen more national parks, including Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and Great Basin, Bryce Canyon and Joshua Tree.
And, Vegas is a gateway to more than just national parks. Within an hour, locals and tourists can travel to parks managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Nevada, Clark County and other cities in the nearby metropolitan area.
- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 19 miles / 30 km
Boat, hike, cycle and fish at America’s most diverse national recreation area. With striking landscapes and brilliant blue waters, this year-round playground spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast lakes.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 14 miles / 22 km
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is where ancient life meets neon lights. The desert badlands hold an impressive assemblage of ice age fossils, including mammoths, lions and camels. Although most fossils lie deep beneath the surface, visitors can hike throughout the park to explore the fossil sediments that were formed as far back as 250,000 years ago.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 17 miles / 27 km
In marked contrast to a town geared to entertainment and gaming, Red Rock National Conservation Area offers enticements of a different nature. This Bureau of Land Management site has a 13-mile scenic drive, miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnicking, nature observing and a visitor center with indoor and outdoor exhibits.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 23 miles / 37 km
Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area’s 48,438 acres vary from lowland dry lake beds to volcanic rock peaks, reaching more than 5,000 feet. The centerpiece of the area is the Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site, one of the most significant cultural resources in Southern Nevada. Visitors to this Bureau of Land Management site enjoy hiking and cycling and horseback riding.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 30 miles / 48 km
Encompassing six major mountain ranges and seven distinct life zones, Desert National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge outside of Alaska. At 1.6 million acres, the park boasts more than 500 plant species and 320 bird species as it transitions from the Mojave to the Great Basin Desert. The refuge, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was established for the desert bighorn sheep. The Corn Creek Visitor Center is a good starting point for your visit.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 34 miles / 54 km
Escape the Vegas heat at Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. This U.S. Forest Service site, contains the impressive 11,918-foot-high Charleston Peak It offers camping, picnicking and hiking in warmer months, and skiing, snowboarding and tubing in winter. The recreation area encompasses more than 316,000 acres of remarkable beauty and surprising diversity
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 52 miles / 83 km
Red sandstone formed from ancient sand dunes electrifies the desert at Valley of Fire. Popular for hiking, camping, picnicking and scenic driving, Nevada’s oldest and largest state park is one of the most photogenic destinations in the Southwest.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 3.5 miles / 5.6 km
Experience the heart of Las Vegas Valley's vibrant cultural and natural history through interactive science and nature exhibits, botanical gardens, hiking trails and live animals at the Springs Preserve. With 180 acres of scenery and attractions, visit for an hour or spend the entire day.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 24 miles / 38 km
Springs provided water for Paiute Indians and later brought mountain men and early settlers to the area. This oasis was developed into a working ranch and retreat. View living history, enjoy a guided hike or picnic in the 520-acre park.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 1 miles / 2 km
The first permanent non-native settlers in the Las Vegas Valley were a group of Mormon missionaries who built an adobe fort along Las Vegas Creek in 1855. Today, the park includes a remnant of the original adobe fort, which contains interpretive displays.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: Varies
Discover the fun at the City of Las Vegas' dozens of parks, including skate parks, recreation centers, swimming pools, sports complexes, golf courses and active senior centers. Or escape, explore and enjoy the city's more than 100 miles of trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: Varies
Clark County Parks and Recreation services the indoor and outdoor recreation needs of Southern Nevada with more than 1,600 of acres of parks and open play space, pools and water parks, recreation and senior centers, special events and sports and fitness and fine arts programming.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: Varies
North Las Vegas enhances quality of life by providing a diversity of open spaces, parks and leisure opportunities. The City's programs and facilities support citizens' diverse interests in parks, trails, recreation and culture.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: Varies
Boulder City Parks and Recreation offers year-round youth and adult sports, aquatic and recreation programs and classes, and special events.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: Varies
The City of Henderson offers 64 meticulously maintained parks for your enjoyment. In addition to open grass areas and playgrounds, features include walking courses, dog parks, skate parks, splash pads and lighted sport areas.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 75 miles / 120 km
Castle Mountains represents some of the most unique elements of the Mojave Desert. Nestled between the Nevada state line and Mojave National Preserve, the nearly 21,000 acres of Castle Mountains boasts Joshua tree forests, unbroken natural landscapes, rare desert grasslands and rich human history. This intriguing area provides serenity and solitude from nearby metropolitan areas.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 96 miles / 154 km
Singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, and carpets of wildflowers are all found at this 1.6 million-acre park. A visit to its canyons, mountains and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave provides serenity and solitude from major metropolitan areas.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 124 miles / 200 km
Parashant provides a sense of solitude to those who venture into its isolated domain. The Monument's expansive landscape encompasses a chronicle of natural and cultural history that is just waiting to be discovered. For those prepared and equipped to explore the largely undeveloped landscape, a trip into the Parashant is a journey into the wild.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 139 miles / 223 km
In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 160 miles / 258 km
Follow the paths where ancient native people and pioneers walked. Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Experience wilderness in a narrow slot canyon. Zion’s unique array of plants and animals will enchant you as you absorb the rich history of the past and enjoy the excitement of present day adventures.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 179 miles / 288 km
American Indians, Mormon ranchers, plants, animals, and many others have depended on the life-giving water found at Pipe Spring. Learn about pioneer and Kaibab Paiute life by exploring the museum, historic fort and cabins, garden, orchard, and Ridge Trail. Visit with rangers and ranch animals, and attend living history demonstrations and talks.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 222 miles / 357 km
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together at Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in Southern California. The desert provides space for self-discovery, and can be a refuge for the human spirit.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 242 miles / 389 km
One camp, 10,000 lives; one camp, 10,000 stories. In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were interned during World War II.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 257 miles / 413 km
¡Si, Se Puede! Yes we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, César E. Chávez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's first permanent agricultural union. Explore his legacy in the memorial garden and visitor center.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 258 miles / 415 km
There is no place like Bryce Canyon. Hoodoos (odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion) can be found on every continent, but here is the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. Descriptions fail. Cave without a roof? Forest of stone? Photographs do not do it justice. An imagination of wonder will serve you when visiting Bryce Canyon National Park. Journey along the canyon's many trails.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 270 miles / 434 km
At over 1.25 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers unparalleled opportunities for water-based & backcountry recreation. The area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing scenic vistas, geologic wonders, and a vast panorama of human history.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 273 miles / 439 km + a boat ride or hike
Rainbow Bridge is one of the world's largest known natural bridges. The span has undoubtedly inspired people throughout time--from the neighboring American Indian tribes who consider Rainbow Bridge sacred, to the 85,000 people from around the world who visit it each year.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 276 miles / 444 km
Visit one of the seven wonders of the natural world at Grand Canyon National Park. Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, and a mile (1.6 km) deep. Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size. The South Rim is open year round. The North Rim is usually closed in winter.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 294 miles / 473 km
Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki is a landscape of legacies. Ancient pueblos dot red-rock outcroppings across miles of prairie. Where food and water seem impossible to find, people built pueblos, raised families, farmed, traded, and thrived. Today, if you linger and listen, earth and artifacts whisper their stories to us still.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 296 miles / 476 km
In the shadow of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, 5,000 year old bristlecone pine trees grow on rocky glacial moraines. Come to Great Basin National Park to experience the solitude of the desert, the smell of sagebrush after a thunderstorm, the darkest of night skies, and the beauty of Lehman Caves. Far from a wasteland, the Great Basin is a diverse region that awaits your discovery.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 299 miles / 481 km
Climb a mountain, soak your feet in the ocean, or eat a fish taco. Experience the beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultural sites, from old movie ranches to Native American centers.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 300 miles / 482 km
Gaze through the windows of the past into one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 327 miles / 526 km
Located in south-central Utah in the heart of red rock country, Capitol Reef National Park is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges in the Waterpocket Fold, a geologic monocline (a wrinkle on the earth) extending almost 100 miles. The Gifford House Store and Museum sells daily fresh baked pies, breads and cinnamon rolls during the spring and summer seasons.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 333 miles / 535 km
Channel Islands National Park encompasses five islands and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 339 miles / 545 km
Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Discovery.
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- Distance from the Las Vegas Strip: 365 miles / 587 km
Did you know that Petrified Forest is more spectacular than ever? While the park has all the wonders known for a century, there are many new adventures and discoveries to share. There are backcountry hikes into areas never open before such as Red Basin and little known areas like the Martha's Butte. There are new exhibits to bring the stories to life. Come rediscover Petrified Forest.
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