We are going to Vegas for one week in April.

What would be good day trips to take from there. We have been to Vegas before so we would like to see more of the area surrounding it.

It's hard to find information on how far things are from Vegas so any help will be appreciated.

We will have a car.

One of the things we have chosen is Hoover Dam

Others will fill you in more on this, but I am flying into Vegas and driving two hours to Zion Natl Park in Utah in March, per recommendations from people on this forum. I think it would be doable as a day trip, to see the canyon and do a little hiking perhaps. Take a look at the amazing photos at:

http://www.photovault.com/Link/Natur...ionalPark.html

Also, I have heard that Valley of Fire State park is cool, about an hour outside of Vegas. Again, have not been there but have seen recommendations on it on this forum and plan to stop there myself.

Personally, I love Hoover Dam. After seeing that, you can continue past it on to Grand Canyon, but plan an overnight there. The trip is 4 or 5 hours from LAS. Grand Canyon is worth the trip. Try to get a room on the rim.

Another year we drove to Death Valley. A long day and not a lot of time to sightsee, but we found it interesting. Not everyone would, I'm sure.

Thanks

an overnight trip to the grand canyon sounds interesting. Any recommendations on where to stay?

It's a little known fact that you can actually reach the West Rim of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas in 3 hours.

If you visit the dam in the morning and then cross it and turn off the main road onto Pearce Ferry Road going thru Dolan Springs across the Hualapai Valley, and onto the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Joshua trees begin to appear once you turn off the main road it's a great drive but no place to stay overnight.

I didn't know what LilyLace did until I started reading this forum. If you go all the way to the south rim Xanterra runs the lodging. Here's the site: http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/dyn...htm?page=1.htm

I think we stayed at the Thunderbird - nothing fancy but good location. Double check on the website to make sure that's on the rim because not all are. Had dinner at El Tovar - best meal I ever ate in a national park (and I've eaten my share). GC has a shuttle bus system but you can drive right up to your hotel on the rim. Later take some hikes and catch the shuttle bus back "home." Also, research weather for time you plan to visit. I've always done summer trips so am not sure what April is like.

Red Rock Canyon 25 min
Hoover Dam/ Lake Mead 1 hr
Floyd Lamb State Park 20 min
Mount Charleston 55 min
Lee Mtn Ski Area 1.3 hr
Pacific Ocean/ L.A. 5 hrs
Grand Canyon 3.5 - 5 hrs

I recently visited "Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas" which was a pleasant 30 min ride from the strip. New community springing up around man-made lakes (Celine Dion lives here currently)...pleasant cobblestone shopping village with a very nice, quiet casino and a couple of nice casual restaurants. Have a gelato by the water...a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the strip.

To Lilylace:

Have you ever been to the West Rim? How does it compare to the South Rim? From the pictures I've seen there isn't as much of a view from the West Rim.

To ga9497,
I would highly recommend a day trip to Zion National Park. It would be 320 miles round trip but well worth the driving time. Make sure you leave real early in the morning or even spend one night there.

If you do the Grand Canyon, do it right. Go to the S. Rim and spend the night. It's 560 miles round trip. I would watch the weather...it can snow at this time of the year at the Grand Canyon. The N. Rim will be closed.

Also just outside the city limits of Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area which is a nice treat from the city.

Others have already mentioned Valley of Fire State Park which is 75 miles (one way) from Las Vegas.

Utahtea

Utahtea,
Yes I've been to the West Rim for anyone who is into adventurer it's the best! The views are (imho) the best of the canyon. What is missing? The tourists. Lot's of wildlife on the way there and back and a great little diner called Critter's Cafe. We took a picnic and then hiked a ways. On the way back to LV we had the best greasy burgers ever at Critters!

Seriously, it's great and very few people check it out! It is a bit rough driving the last hour or so but we had a convertable and other than the thick coating of dust on everything we made it! Although, I'm not sure how happy the housekeeping people were with us back at the Bellagio after our showers!

I guess I'm going have to check out the West Rim for myself!

Utahtea

We always visit Red Rock Canyon when we go to Las Vegas. Last time we took a pretty long hike in the park. There used to be some wild burros loose in there but they rounded them up. It's still a really neat place to visit and such a short drive away!