Three Short Road Trips to Take From Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a centralized city. You have the main Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding neighborhoods, and then desert for hundreds of miles. Want to go to another major city like Los Angeles or Salt Lake City? Be prepared to drive at least four to five hours (and even longer if you get stuck in that notorious L.A. traffic).

The good news? All the road trips!

Perhaps surprisingly, Las Vegas has an abundance of outdoor adventures if you're into that sort of thing. Away from the hustle and bustle of the main Strip, visitors can find all sorts of hiking trails, landmarks, national parks, and more if you look at the bigger picture (or map, in this case). So if you're visiting the for a major sporting event or to soak in the spectacular of The Strip and have some extra time, here are a few of the sights you can see within a short driving distance:

Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam was built nearly a century ago in the Colorado River on the state border of Nevada and Arizona, and is nothing short of an engineering miracle. The dam, originally named the Boulder Dam, possibly due to its proximity to Boulder City, impounds Lake Mead, whose water levels have diminished in recent years. Only 30 miles or so from the main strip, the Hoover Dam is a hot tourist attraction and not a sight to miss if you're in the area.

Red Rock Canyon

I'm sure you can guess why Red Rock Canyon is named that way. Located approximately 17 miles west of the main Strip, the canyon's gorgeous red-banded peaks and boulders are a wondrous sight to behold. The 13-mile drive through the Canyon has you "ooh-ing" and "ahh-ing" at every bend in the road. Stop along the way for a breath of fresh air or to take pictures, or hike one of the many trails. Just be sure to get a pass before you go; you'll have to turn around otherwise.

So if you ever need a reminder of just how beautiful nature is and how diligently each curve and peak was crafted, Red Rock Canyon is the place to go.

(West) Grand Canyon

No list of Las Vegas road trips would be complete without mentioning the Grand Canyon. While you need to drive a bit longer to hit the main Grand Canyon and National Park, Parashant National Monument and the western part of the Grand Canyon are still accessible from the city. Approximately 130 mi. (or close to two and a half hours) away from the main Strip, you'll take Route 93 past Boulder City and the Hoover Dam, and cross quickly into Arizona. Eventually, you'll make a left onto Route 25 at the Chevron Gas Station corner and you'll quickly lose your cell service until you reach your final destination. Don't worry: there's really only one road to follow.

And then you'll return back in time to witness a breathtaking Las Vegas sunset.