Sunday, April 21, 2024

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Camping Within 4 Hours Of Las Vegas

Las Vegas Campgrounds Map

3 Outdoor Day Trips Close To Las Vegas

With that, youre ready to start planning your Las Vegas camping trip! Be sure to check out the Las Vegas campgrounds map below to see the ten campsites I mentioned and free BLM campgrounds in Nevada. Ive labeled the RV campsites in red and the free campgrounds in green.

If you have any questions about RV or tent camping in Las Vegas, leave me a comment below, and Ill get back to you! Have a fun camping trip!

Saddle Up At The Cottonwood Guest Ranch

If you’d rather explore Nevada on horseback, check out the Cottonwood Guest Ranch, in remote northeastern Nevada, near Wells. This family-owned dude ranch specialises in making greenhorns into cowboys. Learn to ride, rope and herd by day and then reward yourself with well-earned hearty meals and a good night’s sleep in one of seven well-appointed suites. Other activities include hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, overnight horse packing trips, trap shooting, wildlife watching, and all-terrain vehicle riding.+1 775 472 0817, cottonwoodguestranch.com. Rates start at $275 per person, per day, all-inclusive. The ranch is open for guests from April through October

Boulder Beach Campground At Lake Mead

Just 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, and five minutes from the western edge of the city, Red Rock Canyon Campground is the closest wilderness style campground to Las Vegas. And although you have all the conveniences of the big city at your doorstep, this campground offers no hint of city life.

Set off on its own in the desert, just two miles from the main entrance to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the feeling here is remote and rugged.

Surrounded by mountains and hills, the campsites are well spaced and have scenic views in every direction. If you don’t want to camp right in the city but would like to be near enough to enjoy Las Vegas, you can’t beat Red Rock Canyon.

This is a BLM campground, and sites are reservable six months out on a rolling date basis. It’s closed for the summer, from late May to the start of September.

Facilities include vault toilets only, and there are no hookups or dump station.

If you don’t have a reservation in peak season, generally spring, you will most likely not get a spot, especially on weekends.

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Explore The Wilderness Of The Grand Staircase

3 hours 45 minutes from Las Vegas

The Grand Staircase-Escalante is a large wilderness that was declared a National Monument only in 1996.

The monument occupies a large swathe of southern Utah that was the last part of the United States to be mapped and remains one of the least explored parts of the country although the monument’s size was reduced dramatically under President Trump in 2017 to allow for commercial exploration.

Despite this, there are some amazing places to see here. The Zebra Slot Canyon is a narrow gorge with striped rocks that you can hike through. Be careful though – the hike is very tough and requires squeezing through very narrow gaps and making your way through water going up to neck height!

The Devil’s Garden is one of those postcard-type sights with large rock hoodoos eerily standing around in the middle of the desert.

Many of the sights in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument can be reached from the small town of Escalante in the north. The I-15 and Utah-20 will take you to Route 12 which is the road that winds its way through the wilderness and eventually reaches Escalante.

Zebra Slot Canyon and the Devil’s Garden are both a short drive south from the town and further south are the Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon and the Jacob Hamblin Arch from the picture above.

Oasis Las Vegas Rv Resort

Greendockin

This beautifully manicured national park campground is scenic and particularly lovely in spring, when the flowering trees are in bloom. Huge eucalyptus trees provide shade, and many of the campsites have views across the valley to the distant mountains.

The campground does not have views of Lake Mead, but does look out over Las Vegas Creek, which winds its way through the dry landscape, far below the campground.

The property has 85 first-come, first-served sites, and is open all year to tents and RVs, with a 30-day limit on stays. Facilities include flush toilets and showers.

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Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Where: 1000 Scenic Loop Dr, Las Vegas

30 min drive

For a super-quick getaway from the city, Red Rock Canyon is where its at. Spend the day hiking the scenic trails , or stay in your car along the one-way, 13-mile drive that boasts beautiful views, too.

Where: 16395 Bonnie Springs Rd., Las Vegas

30 min drive

You may think you were dropped on the set of a spaghetti western here. Old Nevada Town is kitschy, but who cares. Bring your cowboy boots to wander the replica of an authentic 1880s mining community, with a functioning saloon, shops, wax museum, wedding chapel, and model schoolhouse, along with daily performances and reenactments. Then, hit up the Red Rock Riding Stables to kick up your heels on horseback before calling it a day.

Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

260 miles / 4 hours

Why go? Bryce Canyon National Park lies east of Zion National Park, two parks that are often combined in one trip. This is definitely one of the most remarkable national parks near Las Vegas. Here, an otherworldly landscape awaits you.

Thousands of rock spiresknown as hoodooswalls, cliffs and other formations fill a gorgeous orange-colored natural amphitheater.

Various overlooks line the rim, offering slightly different views and making for great sunrise and sunset spots.

Dont miss! You can hike down into Bryce Canyon on a variety of trails to explore the maze of rock formations from up-close. It highly recommend doing that.

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Grand Canyon National Park

Hailed as one of the most incredible places on our planet, Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona. The 277-mile-long canyon was carved out by the Colorado River over the course of millions of years. The canyon is truly massive, with some areas measuring close to 20 miles across. The park offers an array of recreational opportunities.

There are places for hiking, camping, and backpacking as well as scenic driving routes. Guests need permits for river trips, backcountry camping, weddings, and other special events at the park. There is also a visitors center where travelers can learn all about the canyon’s rich history.

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See The Saguaro Cacti En Route To Phoenix Scottsdale And Tucson

Las Vegas Homeless Camping Ban Protest on Fremont St.

6 hours 30 minutes from Las Vegas

Sitting a few miles from the border with Arizona, a road trip from Las Vegas to the Copper State is an obvious option.

This route covers a lot of desert with stops in Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson – if you want to cover more of Arizona, reroute via Sedona on the way to Phoenix and visit the Red Rock and Slide Rock State Parks .

As you make your way over Hoover Dam , you’ll begin noticing how the Mojave desert gradually changes into the Sonoran. The elevation lowers a little, the rocks and sand become a little more red in color and Joshua trees make way for the saguaros.

If you don’t know what a saguaro is, check the registration plates on the Arizona cars around you – those giant cactus plants with the thick green arms that can reach over 40 feet in height.

These cacti grow to be 150 years old or even older and the ones with several arms are the oldest – it takes them 50 years to just get up to waist-height!

Phoenix and Scottsdale are a large metro area with an endless number of things to do – the art scene in particular is buzzing with the Heard Museum, art galleries and various pop up exhibitions to visit.

Scottsdale has a more relaxed small town vibe to the tall skyscrapers of Phoenix and if you want to go out for dinner or drinks after, Scottsdale is where you should head.

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For Rock Climbing: Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon is a rock climbers utopia. It has one campground, offering single and group campsites. Group sites can be reserved online currently, while single sites will be reservable in 2019, but for now are first come, first served. The campgrounds provide shaded tables and some of the friendliest campers around. It can get busy in the summer, as its one of the more popular places to go camping near Las Vegas. But there is an overflow area nearby for an influx of campers. Besides the climbing, there are hiking trails and plenty of photography opportunities.

This place has nice campsites and well-maintained bathrooms. The rock walls sweep straight up to the sky and look as if theyve been stroked by a paintbrush. There are also a ton of climbs here both trad and sport, from single pitch to multi! If you want to just plan a day trip escape from the city this is well within reach. The Dyrt camper Alan B.

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort is the historical site of a Mormon settlement founded in 1855the first enduring site of its kind in the area. At this State Historic Park, you will find:

  • A reconstructed version of the original fort
  • Museum that contains historical artifacts, photographs, and exhibits
  • Visitor center
  • Rotating calendar of fun events

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Day Trips From Las Vegas: Mount Charleston

Mount Charleston is a beautiful recreational area located in the Spring Mountains. Situated close to the Kyle and Lee Canyons, Mount Charleston offers abundant opportunities for hiking, picnicking, camping, mountain biking and more. There are also daily educational programs organized by the staff and there are volunteer opportunities for people who want to protect its fragile ecosystem.

In the winter, Mount Charleston receives a nice layer of snow that is perfect for snowball fights and sledding. Snowboarders and skiers will find plenty of action at the nearby Lee Canyon Ski & Snowboard Resort.

2525 Kyle Canyon Road, Phone: 702-872-5486

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More Campgrounds In The Southwest

Insomniac announces return of Camp EDC for Las Vegas arm

Nearby Camping in California: One of the most beautiful parks and camping areas in the Southwest is Joshua Tree National Park, just 3.5 hours from Las Vegas. Set up beside bizarre rock formations and Joshua trees.

Camping in Utah: For travelers heading into Utah, have a look at our articles on campgrounds around St. George or nearby Zion National Park. In the high country, see our articles on camping in Bryce Canyon National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. In Northern Utah, you can find great spaces to pitch a tent or park your RV in the campgrounds around Moab, including nearby Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.

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Las Vegas: While you’re here, find fun and interesting things to do in Las Vegas. There is more to this city than simply the Strip, and our extensive list of attractions can point you in the right direction.

Neighboring States: Not far from Las Vegas are some incredible areas to explore in California. Begin with our ideas for things to see in California’s Desert Region. If you are heading into Utah, be sure to see our collection of articles on Zion, beginning with our article on Things to Do in Zion National Park. Our top hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park will be of interest if you are setting out to explore this magnificent area. And if you are going over to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, have a look at our extensive list of things to do in and around Moab.

Relax By The Seaside In San Diego

5 hours from Las Vegas

San Diego may be a solid 5 hours’ drive from Las Vegas, but there’s lots of options to stop along the way and it’s a great city to visit and spend a few days in so it’s got to be worth you considering for your road trip from Las Vegas.

The easiest way to get to San Diego is to follow the I-15 out of Las Vegas towards Los Angeles and keep on following the I-15 until you’re in San Diego 5 hours later. You can save a few minutes by cutting through the I-215 to avoid getting closer to L.A.’s notorious traffic jams.

However a few detours can add great places to stop and cut the journey up into shorter stints. If you head towards the California coast, the towns of San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente are great pit stop options as is Carlsbad’s Legoland.

If you go the slower but more direct route, Joshua Tree National Park , Salton Sea and Palm Springs are all great places to visit in and around the Coachella Valley.

San Diego itself is a city that almost always has perfect weather due to its unique position on the coast and the prevailing ocean currents.

You can roam through the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter or have a fish taco in La Jolla overlooking the resident seals relaxing in the cove.

Spend some time in the huge Balboa Park – not only is it perfect for a stroll, but you’ll find museums, entertainment venues and the world-famous San Diego Zoo all within its grounds.

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Mount Charleston & Lee Valley Ski Resort

Downhill skiing in the desert near Las Vegas? Yes indeed! Las Vegas is known for an assortment of wacky pursuits, and this is no exception. Under an hour’s drive from the Las Vegas Strip is Mount Charleston and the Lee Canyon Ski Resort.

Owing to the 7,504-foot elevation, snow falls here and stays from mid-November through until the end of February or longer. Two quad chairs and a triple chair service 26 runs.

If you don’t know how to ski, tubing is available. And if you just want to see some snow and enjoy a bit of winter, this is a great place to come and relax.

Official site:

Valley Of Fire State Park Nevada

Police: Hikers discover boy’s body in area between Las Vegas and Pahrump

50 miles / 1 hour

Why go? Many a photographer relishes the opportunity to visit Valley of Fire State Park, an hour northeast of the city. Although this is one of the smaller parks near Las Vegas, its absolutely wonderful.

The park gets its name from the bright red Aztec sandstone formations, which are its centerpiece attraction. At sunrise and sunset, the rocks seem to glow as if they were on fire.

Various hiking trails meander through this glorious landscape, offering some of the best hiking near Las Vegas. Additionally, a number of campsites provides the chance to spend the night. The night sky is breathtaking!

Dont miss! Photographing the road snaking through red rock scenery is arguably the top thing to do in this excellent destination, one of the best state parks near Las Vegas. Instagram selfie ops are superb here.

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Arizona Charlies Las Vegas Rv Park

Image Source:https://www.arizonacharliesbo…

Youll find some casinos within walking distance, and the strip is only 15 minutes from the strip. Nearby youll also find restaurants, a mall, a walmart supercenter,and a golf club. Youre also only 3 miles from Fremont Street and right on the city bus route.

A Long Road Trip Across The Sierra Nevada To San Francisco

9 hours from Las Vegas

San Francisco may be a long drive from Las Vegas, but if you’re really wanting to go on a proper road trip and have time to hand, this might just be the ultimate destination.

When planning the route for your road trip from Las Vegas, ignore the navigator directions. The I-15 and I-5 are not the most exciting of roads and there’s better things to see between Vegas and the Fog City than Barstow and Bakersfield.

Time permitting, I would first head up to Death Valley and spend a night or two stargazing in one of the best places in the world to see the stars without light pollution.

After that, head north along the east side of the Sierra Nevada to Mammoth Lakes and then go over the Tioga Pass along California Highway 120. This road will take you right through the heart of Yosemite which is well worth some of your time and a stop in the Yosemite Valley towards the end of the drive.

If you’re not driving in the summer, the likelihood is that this road will be closed due to heavy snow. In this case your options are to keep on driving north towards Lake Tahoe and then taking the Carson Pass Highway or the Lincoln Highway to Sacramento.

When you finally do get to San Francisco, there’s so much to do you won’t get close to doing it all even if you stay a week. See my guide to the best things to do in San Francisco to get inspired!

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