Are you planning a tremendous journey to Nevada, and wish to go to one of the best Nationwide Parks close to Las Vegas? Whereas Vegas is most well-known for its leisure, playing, and even hockey, it additionally occurs to be completely located amongst a number of lovely nationwide parks!
Las Vegas is a strategic hub for vacationers and adventurers who’re making ready to discover the southwestern United States. It’s strategically positioned near many breathtaking areas in not solely Nevada, however California, Utah, and Arizona as effectively.
Nationwide Parks Close to Las Vegas
There are a number of nice nationwide parks positioned inside simple driving distance of Las Vegas, however when you actually wish to get the total expertise of this wonderful space, there are additionally loads of Nationwide Leisure Areas, Nationwide Conservation Areas, and Nationwide Preserves, and State Parks. In case you add these to your listing of locations to go to, your choices grow to be nearly limitless!
1. Crimson Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space (NV)
Distance: 21 miles, Driving time: 0.5 hours
Crimson Rock Canyon is likely one of the closest parks to Las Vegas and probably the most lovely. With big cliffs, big rock formations, and pink boulders in every single place, it’s a hotspot for folks like photographers and rock climbers.
Even when mountaineering or climbing isn’t your factor, a one-way 13-mile lengthy highway loops by means of the park and showcases a few of its greatest sights.
If time is of the essence, however you continue to wish to get out and discover, Crimson Rock Canyon Nationwide Conservation Space is a good place to start out and is only a brief drive from town lifetime of Vegas!
2. Lake Mead Nationwide Recreation Space (NV)
Distance: 21 miles, Driving time: 0.5 hours
One other location discovered extraordinarily near Las Vegas, Lake Mead, is just a brief half-hour drive from town and is the most important freshwater reservoir within the space. This artifical lake was created by the well-known Hoover Dam and is so massive that it extends from Nevada into Arizona.
Lake Mead Nationwide Recreation Space could be very giant, and inside it, you could find two big lakes, canyons, valleys, cliffs, and mountains. There are additionally loads of wilderness areas to discover as effectively.
A few of the extra well-liked actions at Lake Mead embrace fishing, swimming, and wakeboarding, and there may be by no means a scarcity of boats out on the water. This lake is the proper place to chill off from the desert warmth and benefit from the pure environment.
3. Valley of Fireplace State Park (NV)
Distance: 60 miles, Driving time: 1 hour
If you’re planning a visit to go to Lake Mead, then you definately received’t wish to miss Valley of Fireplace State Park as effectively. The truth is, it is perhaps a good suggestion to mix a go to to each of those wonderful areas.
This park will get its identify from the pink sandstone cliffs and rock formations, they usually shine as if on fireplace throughout dawn and sundown. There are a number of mountaineering trails by means of Valley of Fireplace, in addition to loads of campsites for park guests to make the most of.
Valley of Fireplace State Park is each panorama and outside photographer’s dream location, and the attractive surroundings is second to none. Don’t neglect your digicam once you go to go to!
4. Loss of life Valley Nationwide Park (CA)
Distance: 110 miles, Driving time: 2 hours
Map: Obtain the official Loss of life Valley Map (PDF)
Loss of life Valley is definitely the closest nationwide park to Las Vegas. It is usually well-known for a lot of issues, like being the largest nationwide park within the decrease 48 states. It additionally holds the information for the bottom level in elevation in North America and the most popular and driest location in North America.
So why would anybody wish to go to a spot like this? Fortunately there are numerous causes, and there may be way more than simply desert as its identify and repute would have you ever imagine!
Loss of life Valley has big sand dunes, mountains lined in snow, giant canyons, mosaic badlands, and even a number of waterfalls, relying on the time of yr.
Earlier than visiting the park, don’t neglect to obtain the official Loss of life Valley map.
5. Snow Canyon State Park (UT)
Distance: 170 miles, Driving time: 2 hours 25 minutes
The primary location on our listing present in Utah, Snow Canyon State Park, is legendary for its giant canyons which might be carved out of white and pink sandstone. The surroundings is breathtaking right here, and due to the delicate climate, it’s open year-round.
Widespread actions that may be discovered at Snow Canyon State Park embrace mountaineering, biking, horseback driving, tenting, and images.
Positioned only a few hours outdoors of Las Vegas, Snow Canyon is one place you need to go to to really recognize. Many individuals argue that if this park was present in some other state, it will simply be a nationwide park. Chances are you’ll even end up by no means wanting to depart!
6. Zion Nationwide Park
Distance: 170 miles, Driving time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Map: Obtain the official Zion Map (PDF)
Zion Nationwide Park is likely one of the nation’s hottest and most visited nationwide parks, and for an excellent cause. This park is completely beautiful. From the canyon partitions to the white, yellow, and orange cliffsides, in every single place you flip right here is breathtaking.
The most effective views in the whole park is of Zion Canyon, carved from the Virgin River. The cliffs and mountains on this space are world-class and attract guests from all world wide.
There’s loads to do in Zion Nationwide Park, and the preferred actions embrace mountaineering and mountaineering. In case you ever get the prospect to go to Zion, you’ll little question have an expertise you’ll bear in mind without end.
7. Joshua Tree Nationwide Park (CA)
Distance: 185 miles, Driving time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Present in Southern California, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park is a desert wonderland that’s chock-full of attention-grabbing and exquisite issues to see. Whereas the Joshua bushes are clearly the principle attraction and the place the park acquired its identify, there are many different desert points of interest to discover.
One of the crucial well-liked actions at Joshua Tree is tenting, and there are quite a few campsites accessible for anybody visiting the park.
Just a little over a 3-hour drive from Vegas, Joshua Tree Nationwide Park is a good place for some lovely desert surroundings and exploration. You may even stumble into some previous homesteads and goldmines as effectively!
8. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (UT)
Distance: 190 miles, Driving time: 3 hours
Utah has some wonderful parks; fortunately, Las Vegas sits proper subsequent to the Nevada and Utah border. Coral Pink Sand Dunes is considered one of these and is usually missed by guests due to the opposite bigger and extra well-known nationwide parks within the space.
Simply because the identify implies, there are pink and pink sand dunes on this park which might be the principle points of interest. These have been shaped by the erosion of Navajo sandstone cliffs.
One of the crucial well-liked actions at this park is driving ATV’s all through the dunes, however different guests additionally get pleasure from tenting, mountaineering, and images. If any of those sound like enjoyable to you, then Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park must be in your listing!
9. Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park (UT)
Distance: 270 miles, Driving time: 4 hours
Map: Obtain the official Bryce Canyon Map (PDF)
Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park is discovered simply east of Zion Nationwide Park and is most frequently visited by people who find themselves there to see each parks. The truth is, these two parks are sometimes mixed in a single journey for many guests, and you may’t get pleasure from one with out the opposite!
Bryce Canyon is legendary for its rock spires in addition to its cliffs, canyon partitions, and different rock formations that kind a pure amphitheater.
Loads of trails will let you drop down into Bryce Canyon and discover these rock formations and surroundings up shut, and that is positively the most effective issues to do whereas visiting this iconic nationwide park.
10. Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, South Rim (AZ)
Distance: 275 miles, Driving time: 4 hours quarter-hour
The Grand Canyon may simply be probably the most well-known pure attraction within the nation, and possibly even the world. Greater than 6 million guests journey right here annually to witness this breathtaking surroundings, and Las Vegas is likely one of the greatest beginning factors on this journey.
All the pieces from the mountaineering trails to witnessing dawn or sundown over the canyon will go away you speechless, and there’s no scarcity of actions for guests and explorers.
Visiting the Grand Canyon ranks excessive on many individuals’s listing of journey locations, and by chance Las Vegas is shut sufficient to this spectacular landmark constructed by nature.
11. Kodachrome State Park (UT)
Distance: 285 miles, Driving time: 4 hours half-hour
Discovered southeast of Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, Kodachrome State Park is stuffed with colourful sandstone spires, pink rock boulders and mountains, and clear blue skies. This park is the proper spot to get out and revel in nature at its most interesting.
There’s loads of mountaineering, horseback driving, and mountain biking trails all through this park and quite a few tenting alternatives scattered in and across the park.
Kodachrome State Park presents among the most vivid and vibrant pure colours of wherever round, all whereas providing loads of locations to get out and discover. Whereas it could be final on our listing, it definitely isn’t the least!
Nationwide Parks Close to Las Vegas | Conclusion
Las Vegas is a good metropolis with loads of points of interest and issues to do for the typical particular person. However if you’re like me and love the outside, it may be the proper place to begin to get out and go to among the greatest nationwide parks and landscapes within the nation. With such shut proximity to some wonderful pure wonders, Las Vegas is actually the most effective locations to start out your journey!