Where would you take a day trip from Vegas?

This trip, I'm planning a day trip by rental car from Vegas. A friend is joining me, and he has "never seen the desert" (let alone Vegas). So, we're going to do just that. Driving distance is a consideration--some of these places would require staying overnight. If you had to pick one, taking distance as perhaps 30% of the consideration, and natural beauty/awesomeness as 70%, what would you pick?

I've personally been to two: Grand Canyon Nat'l Park and Red Rocks. Both were awesome and I wouldn't mind going back to either in a second. But there's something to be said for trying something new.

No, I won't be there for the annular eclipse. Getting in about four hours too late :( Maybe I'll see it from the plane...

I voted for Zion and Death Valley. You can get to southern Death Valley and back in 1 day easily enough. But you'd want to start before dawn to avoid the tremendous heat. You could start a Zion trip later, and I'd say the park is prettier.

I'd also consider a trip to Joshua Tree National Park. You could overnight in the Indio/Coachella valley (Fantasy Springs and Agua Caliente are fun...). If you're a U2 fan, you could also do at least a part of the drive to some carefully crafted music.

What drive/hike ratio are you shooting for?

I think part of the question needs to be how much time you would like to spend looking around/hiking/etc. at the destination. I do not recommend Grand Canyon as a one-day trip, unless you want to head out well before dawn, rush through a limited experience at the canyon, and get back to Las Vegas late at night. It's much better to spend at least one night there, and two nights makes it even better. There is just too much to see, even from the rim, for anyone to rush through that experience.

For an all-day-but-not-necessarily-pushing-it trip, I recommend Death Valley. You won't see it all, but my wife and I did a one-day trip (one April) that included a drive through the valley, lunch atop Dante's View, some time at the visitors center, and more time at Badwater Basin. We didn't leave Las Vegas until mid morning and even stopped a while in Pahrump to play a little and pick up some of my souvenir chips, so it's a very reasonable day trip provided you don't try to do everything. It was a good first visit for us, and I hope to make it back on another trip.

I think Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire are good part-day trips, unless you plan to do a lot of hiking or rock climbing there. I don't think you need to consider either of them an all-day affair, particularly if you plan to spend most of your time driving.

To give you an idea of the kind of things you are likely to see at these places, here are some of my snapshots.

Death Valley (Badwater Basin, 282 ft below sea level, as seen from Dante's View more than a mile above sea level):


Grand Canyon (from South Rim):


Red Rock Canyon:


Valley of Fire:

I voted Death Valley. My wife and I drove out there last trip to Vegas and really enjoyed it. It is just so different than anything we see out here in PA.

Mt. Charleston is nice and close by. I'd do Valley of Fire in the Winter or early spring.

I voted Zion. If it was winter, I'd vote Death Valley. Both are a haul for a day trip. If you just want to get out of the heat and hike, Mt. Charleston. Much closer.

My vote is for Zion. Climb Angel's Landing if you're in half-way decent shape. Otherwise, go up "the Narrows" as far as you can. Eat at the Pizza Noddle in Springdale.

I should follow up on my earlier post to say that I was not recommending against Zion. I have never been there myself, and it's on my list for someday. What I would really like to do is take a trip around the Grand Canyon, stopping at both the south and north rims plus Zion, Glenn Canyon, Bryce, and other places in southern Utah. I've just never gotten that trip to the top of the list.

Google Maps says that Zion is a three hour drive from Las Vegas, so I guess that could be a reasonable one-day trip, depending on how much you want to do while there.

Quote: Wizard

My vote is for Zion. ....... Otherwise, go up "the Narrows" as far as you can.

I also definitely recommend doing the Narrows hike, if that is the one that goes
up the river / streambed into the canyons.

HOWEVER, driving up, parking, hiking the narrows, and driving back is gonna
make for one LONG day. I think you may want to plan that one as an over-nighter.
There should be some decent places to stay overnight in Utah.

Update: A few days in into the trip, and we have done neither of the above options. Instead, we went to Mount Charleston (Spring Mountains Park), which was spectacular. It was about 10-15 degrees cooler that the Vegas valley. We did the Trail Canyon hike, and it was very strenuous, but worth it. The views were incredible. Went through about three vegetation zones; the bottom was boring, but it really opened up when you get above the treeline. Highly recommended. Zion later.

Over the years every trip I took from Vegas I regretted. Every
single time I always said 'why didn't I stay in Vegas.' So now
I don't go anywhere, I know what I like and thats what I do.

I guess I'm eccentric. Whenever I go someplace to see the
'view', I'm always disappointed. Seeing it in person is not
much different than looking at a picture of it, so why go
at all. Waste a whole day for what, a memory? I would
much rather look at pics of the Grand Canyon any day than
actually go there and fight the tourists. Mt Rushmore was
the last thing I was forced into. Seriously, buy a postcard.
You're so far away from the monument and there are
so many Japanese tourists crammed into the area madly
clicking away with their cameras, its just not worth it.

Zion National Park: Report.
On the Wizard's recommendation, I drove out to Zion National Park with my friend to do some hiking. We left Las Vegas at about 7:00 A.M. and arrived in the park around 10:00 after some shopping in St. George. It was a hot day, and the park was not terribly crowded. We ignored the "parking lot full" signs and parked next to the visitor's center. It seemed you could drive your car as far as you wanted up into the park -- there were no barriers. We paid the $25 per car entrance fee and took the shuttle to the Angel's Landing trailhead. There were frequent announcements about the trail, about how six people have died, if you are afraid of heights or have health problems, do not attempt, etc. We literally laughed off the warnings. By the way, neither of us had hiking boots, water bottles or gear of any kind. We hiked in tennis shoes with 500ml Arrowhead bottled waters in a tote bag, and some food. I broke my sunglasses on the way up, and had no hat. It was HOT. Probably not the best idea to hike at 1 P.M. After 2 P.M., the sun falls behind the mountain, and the initial ascent gets much cooler.

The hike was fine, if somewhat strenuous, for the first three-quarters. You wind up one canyon face, go through a small crevasse (very nice, with plants), and then through a series of switchbacks to another small plateau. This is where it starts getting scary. You look down and just see a sheer drop on both sides of you. The trail itself ends and you have to do a scramble up a bare rock face holding onto a chain. (See picture above--that's the easy part). I did the first 500 feet of the chain section, and then just freaked out. The path got so narrow there was nothing but chain, and then 1400 foot of canyon drop on either side. I couldn't do it, so I turned around and walked up to another smaller, safer peak. I saw the view of Angel's Landing and it looked incredible, but scary as hell. My friend chastised me and went on ahead, but he turned back after he freaked out at another, even more terrifying pass.

I felt pretty bad that kids were passing me, but everything in my body was just telling me not to do it. My friend slipped and only had one hand on the chain -- if not, he would have fell. Always use two hands on the chain! Somebody on the bus on the way back said to just look at your feet, which I probably should have done. If I had a tough motivator behind me I also maybe could have done it.

So, Angel's Landing beat me this time. Zion National Park is truly beautiful, but not outstanding in the way Grand Canyon or other National Parks are. To be honest, I preferred the Mount Charleston hike more. Somebody I will return to conquer Angel's Landing, but I may need some bets made against me :)

Quote: teddys

I couldn't do it, so I turned around and walked up to another smaller, safer peak.

Wuss ;) LOL
From that picture, that looks awesome!

Quote: teddys

Zion National Park: Report.
On the Wizard's recommendation, I drove out to Zion National Park with my friend to do some hiking. We left Las Vegas at about 7:00 A.M. and arrived in the park around 10:00 after some shopping in St. George. It was a hot day, and the park was not terribly crowded. We ignored the "parking lot full" signs and parked next to the visitor's center. It seemed you could drive your car as far as you wanted up into the park -- there were no barriers. We paid the $25 per car entrance fee and took the shuttle to the Angel's Landing trailhead. There were frequent announcements about the trail, about how six people have died, if you are afraid of heights or have health problems, do not attempt, etc. We literally laughed off the warnings. By the way, neither of us had hiking boots, water bottles or gear of any kind. We hiked in tennis shoes with 500ml Arrowhead bottled waters in a tote bag, and some food. I broke my sunglasses on the way up, and had no hat. It was HOT. Probably not the best idea to hike at 1 P.M. After 2 P.M., the sun falls behind the mountain, and the initial ascent gets much cooler.

The hike was fine, if somewhat strenuous, for the first three-quarters. You wind up one canyon face, go through a small crevasse (very nice, with plants), and then through a series of switchbacks to another small plateau. This is where it starts getting scary. You look down and just see a sheer drop on both sides of you. The trail itself ends and you have to do a scramble up a bare rock face holding onto a chain. (See picture above--that's the easy part). I did the first 500 feet of the chain section, and then just freaked out. The path got so narrow there was nothing but chain, and then 1400 foot of canyon drop on either side. I couldn't do it, so I turned around and walked up to another smaller, safer peak. I saw the view of Angel's Landing and it looked incredible, but scary as hell. My friend chastised me and went on ahead, but he turned back after he freaked out at another, even more terrifying pass.

I felt pretty bad that kids were passing me, but everything in my body was just telling me not to do it. My friend slipped and only had one hand on the chain -- if not, he would have fell. Always use two hands on the chain! Somebody on the bus on the way back said to just look at your feet, which I probably should have done. If I had a tough motivator behind me I also maybe could have done it.

So, Angel's Landing beat me this time. Zion National Park is truly beautiful, but not outstanding in the way Grand Canyon or other National Parks are. To be honest, I preferred the Mount Charleston hike more. Somebody I will return to conquer Angel's Landing, but I may need some bets made against me :)

I am planning my yearly trip to Vegas ( save on airfare back to Windsor Ont ...Calgary to Vegas Vegas to Detroit looks like $400 right now and that's flying first class from Vegas into Detroit $243 on Delta) Just searching out one day side trips.... buddy is on a two year world trip and posted some picks from National Parks around the Vegas area and peaked my interests on seeing some of Zion National Park..... but the hike you tried is not and never will be on my to do list LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILFpA4wv9EQ

This is my vote - I was very lucky with the weather.

I would had the Lake Mead!

We did that last summer, rented a car in Vegas then drove there, it s not that far i believe it took us 40min to reach the Lake (+ on the road you can see the hoover dam if you haven t been there yet).

Then on the lake you can rent a boat it s not that expensive i think we paid something 150$ for 3 hours of a speed boat (you just need a driver licence to rent it). It was an amazing experience the landscape is amazing, it s kind of crazy driving a boat in the middle of the desert.

definitely a must do!

(i could add pictures but i m new here i don t know how you upload pictures to a post?)

Zion is too far away from Vegas for a day trip. Red Rock Canyon is perfect. Gets you away from the superficial tackiness of Sin City. Hiking is good for the soul.

Quote: wanass

I would had the Lake Mead!

We did that last summer, rented a car in Vegas then drove there, it s not that far i believe it took us 40min to reach the Lake (+ on the road you can see the hoover dam if you haven t been there yet).

Then on the lake you can rent a boat it s not that expensive i think we paid something 150$ for 3 hours of a speed boat (you just need a driver licence to rent it). It was an amazing experience the landscape is amazing, it s kind of crazy driving a boat in the middle of the desert.

definitely a must do!

(i could add pictures but i m new here i don t know how you upload pictures to a post?)

I'm glad people can find beauty at Lake mead, I can't, especially since I'm from the Pacific Northwest or after visiting places like Yosemite.

PS I got my worst sun burn ever at Lake Mead Jet skiing I couldn't move for more than a week with big blisters, I spackeled on noxima, felt like I wanted to die. I went back for more each year after for a long while, armed with SPF at maximum.