Are you searching for National Parks near Las Vegas? In this complete guide, I will share information about the extraordinary National Parks near Vegas.
This guide is perfect for those planning day trips from las vegas, exploring nature, or using Las Vegas as a base camp for your Pacific and Southwestern United States adventures.
Be sure to check out my other Las Vegas travel guides. Two of the most relevant are Scenic Drives Near Las Vegas and Road Trips from Las Vegas (6 Hours or less).
List of National Parks Near Las Vegas
- Zion National Park (2 Hours)
- Joshua Tree National Park (3 Hours 39 Mins)
- Canyonlands National Park (7 Hours 10 Mins)
- Bryce Canyon National Park ( 4 Hours 33 mins)
- Death Valley National Park ( 2 Hours 30 Mins)
- Arches National Park ( 7 Hours 12 Mins)
- Mojave National Preserve (1 Hour 52 mins)
- Yosemite National Park ( 7 Hours 21 Mins)
- Grand Canyon National Park ( 4 Hours)
- Great Basin National Park (4 Hours 38 Mins)
- Capitol Reef National Park ( 5 hours 18 Mins)
- Petrified Forest National Park ( 5 Hours 33 Mins)
- Sequoia National Park ( 6 Hours 12 Mins)
- Kings Canyon National Park ( 6 Hours 47 Mins)
Las Vegas, Nevada, is a city full of glitz and glamour. However, just a few hours outside of the 24-hour lifestyle is access to some of the best National Parks in the country. The distance ranges from two to 6 hours. These National Parks can be taken advantage of as a day trip or weekend getaway.
From the majestic mountains and nature to the wonder of the world. The Pacific Southwest is breathtaking. With a centralized hub like Las Vegas, there is no better time to embark on an adventure to these National Parks than while traveling to Las Vegas.
Here is our list of National Parks Near Las Vegas. You do not want to miss these during your Las Vegas Adventure.
Arizona National Parks near Las Vegas
Grand Canyon National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 280 miles (4.5-hour drive)
Entrance fee: $35 per vehicle
A trip to the Grand Canyon during your Las Vegas vacation is iconic. This natural wonder is a must-see for outdoor enthusiasts. What most people do not realize about the Grand Canyon is its size.
It spans 277 miles long and over a mile deep. That means you can access the closest point of the Grand Canyon. The closest point is 2 hours away from Las Vegas and the furthest is 4 hours away.
Visitors can hike along the Rim Trail, take a mule ride down into the canyon, or even take a helicopter tour for a bird’s eye view. I highly recommend Maverick helicopters for this excursion. The Grand Canyon is open year-round.
The park offers a variety of activities and programs for visitors of all ages.
Petrified Forest National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 361 miles (5-hour, 33 min drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona. It is a beautiful park that takes travelers back to ancient and prehistoric eras.
This National Park is known for its petrified wood filling the landscape. These ancient trees formed fossils and now resemble colorful stone logs. These stone logs pick up a stunning array of vibrant colors.
Petrified Forest National Park is a dream for historical nature lovers. The park preserves several ancient Native American sites, including petroglyphs and ruins. Spending the day in the park learning and exploring those ruins provides insights into the prehistoric civilizations in the area. The Puerco Pueblo and Agate House are notable examples of these ancient dwellings.
Utah National Parks near Las Vegas
Zion National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 160 miles (2.5-hour drive)
Entrance fee: $35 per vehicle
Zion National Park is known for its red rock cliffs, slot canyons, and scenic beauty like much of picturesque Utah. The park offers a variety of hiking trails for all skill levels, from easy nature walks to strenuous hikes that will take you to the tops of some of the park’s highest peaks.
Check out THIS POST for a first timers guide to Zion National Park. Visitors can also go rock climbing, canyoneering, or a scenic drive through the park. Other unique experiences in Zion National Park are the variety of vacation rentals and tiny houses. Check out THIS POST to learn about our stay at The Dwellings Co.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 270 miles (4.5-hour drive)
Entrance fee: $35 per vehicle
Bryce Canyon National Park is another stunning National Park in Utah. It is world-renowned for its unique hoodoo rock formations. The otherworldly landscape of Bryce Canyon shines bright red in the sunlight and makes for a truly breathtaking experience. It’s almost like being on Mars.
Visitors can hike along different trails and canyons for a closer look at these incredible formations. The park also offers a variety of ranger-led programs. Ranger-led guided hikes and astronomy nights are some of the best programs to take advantage of.
Bryce Canyon is one of Utah’s Big 5 National Parks. Consider checking out all five while visiting Utah from Las Vegas.
Arches National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 465 Miles (7-hour drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Arches National Park is located in eastern Utah. It is a stunning desert-landscaped National Park known for over 2,000 natural sandstone arches.
Visitors say this park is an otherworldly experience with towering and unique rock structures. The park offers numerous hiking trails, allowing explorers to witness these geological marvels up close while providing awe-inspiring panoramic views of the surrounding canyons and mountains.
This is just another example of Utah’s natural beauty as a part of the Mighty 5 National Parks in the state.
Arches National Park, along with the other 5, is where you want to go if you’re seeking the adventure of a lifetime.
Canyonlands National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 471 miles (7-hour, 10 min drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Canyonlands National Park is also located in southeastern Utah, just 34 miles from Arches National Park.
Canyonlands is known for its vast and rugged landscape with stunning beauty that showcases the deep canyons carved by erosion and the Colorado River. The park has four distinct districts, each offering unique features and breathtaking vistas. Visitors should explore each of the districts and what they offer.
The Districts of Canyonlands are:
- Sky District is known for its panoramic overlooks, only closely rivaled by The Grand Canyon.
- The Needles District is known for its colorful rock formations, towering rock formations, and various hiking trail networks.
- The Maze District is in a remote part of the park known for its rigged terrain, wilderness experiences, and challenging yet rewarding hikes.
- Riverside District is known as the Green and encompasses the Colorado River. This is the best place in the park to experience water sports and activities.
Capitol Reef National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 337 miles (5-hour, 18 min drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Capitol Reef National Park is located in southern Utah, just 200 miles from Zion National Park. It is a hidden gem in that it’s not as popular or crowded as other Utah National Parks, making exploring it much more enjoyable.
This National Park is known for stunning red rock formations, colorful cliffs, and rugged canyons. There is much to explore in preserved Native American history, from Petroglyphs to early settlement sites.
The park’s most iconic feature is the Waterpocket Fold. It stretches nearly 100 miles. This formation creates towering cliffs, narrow canyons, and hidden arches to explore.
Capitol Reef National Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering numerous hiking trails with stunning views like Capitol Gorge, Grand Wash, and Hickman Bridge. The park’s unique red rock domes, like Capitol Dome and Chimney Rock, provide stunning backdrops for outdoor photography.
This park truly captures the spirit of the American Southwest.
California National Parks near Las Vegas
Death Valley National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 120 miles (2-hour drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Death Valley National Park is located in Southern California. This desert landscape is known for its stunning massive dunes and colorful sandstone formations.
The park offers a variety of unique landscapes to explore, and the short 2-hour drive makes for a great National Park to mark off your list while visiting Las Vegas. Visitors can hike through narrow canyons, take a scenic drive through the park, or even go stargazing at night.
Death Valley is also home to several historic sites, including the ruins of ghost towns and mining camps from the area’s past. If you’re a landmark small-town lover, this National Park should be on your itinerary.
Joshua Tree National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 120 miles (3-hour drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Joshua Tree National Park is also located in Southern California. It is just a few hours’ drive from Las Vegas near Palm Springs. Joshua Tree is a unique desert park that is immersed in rock formations and iconic southwest Joshua Trees.
Fun fact, it combines two deserts, the Mohave Desert and the Colorado Desert.
Visitors can hike through the park’s iconic rock formations, enjoy the park’s incredible stargazing opportunities, or simply soak in the beauty of the desert. This National Park is an excellent spot if you are looking to split your time between Las Vegas and the Palm Springs area.
Mojave National Preserve
Distance from Las Vegas: 63 Miles (1-hour drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
The Mojave National Preserve is located west of Las Vegas in Southern California. This National Park is a vast landscape home to some of the most spectacular desert views in the country.
Visitors can explore anything from rock formations, caves, and caverns to lava tubes and the Joshua Tree forest.
This National Preserve is another stop between Las Vegas and Palm Springs. Suppose you are looking to cross multiple destinations off your bucket list. I recommend combining your trip to Mojave National Preserve with your journey to Joshua Tree National Park, as they are just a few miles away.
Yosemite National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 450 miles (7-hour, 21 min drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle.
Yosemite National Park is located in central California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
This National Park is known for its breathtaking beauty, from pristine waterfalls to giant sequoia groves and striking mountain views. Outdoor enthusiasts and photographers marvel over this stunning landscape. In fact, if you are an Apple product user, you may recognize it as one of the chosen nature backgrounds.
The park’s most iconic feature is the magnificent Yosemite Valley, carved by glaciers and encompassed by towering granite walls like El Capitan and Half Dome. The valley has a variety of hiking trails, rivers, and stunning views that could do it justice once seeing this park in person.
For adventurers seeking a thrilling experience, Yosemite offers rock climbing opportunities on its iconic granite formations and opportunities for backpacking, camping, fishing, and winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing.
Yosemite National Park’s beauty and diversity have inspired generations of artists, writers, and nature enthusiasts. Its stunning landscapes and abundant natural wonders provide endless opportunities for exploration, adventure, and a deep connection with the natural world.
Sequoia National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 361 miles (6-hour, 12 min drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Sequoia National Park is located in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This massive National Park spans over 400,000 acres and is known for its massive groves of giant sequoia trees. These trees are some of the largest and oldest on earth.
The park’s most iconic attraction is the General Sherman Tree. It is the largest known living tree standing at a staggering height of 275 feet and estimated to be around 2,200 years old. Visitors love taking pictures in this unbelievably massive forrest.
Aside from the remarkable trees, guests also marvel over the deep canyons and stunning waterfalls. Mount Whitney is also located within Sequoia and it is the highest peak in the contiguous United States.
Sequoia National Park is truly a nature lovers sanctuary that offers one of the world’s most remarkable experiences.
Kings Canyon National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 421 miles (6-hour, 47 min drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Kings Canyon National Park is also located in California in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. It’s located just 80 miles from Sequoia National Park and within decent driving distance of other parks like Yosimite. This massive National Park encompasses over 460,000 acres deep canyons, towering mountains, roaring rivers, and ancient forests.
The most popular attraction of Kings Canyon is its name sake, the Kings Canyon which is a gorge that is one of the deepest canyons in North America. Within the canyon is Kings River. The rushing waters make it a great opportunity for whitewater rafting, fishing and other recreational water activities.
This is an amazing place to explore Nature in an adventurous way with stunning natural beauty and exhilarating outdoor adventures.
Nevada National Parks Near Las Vegas
Great Basin National Park
Distance from Las Vegas: 200 miles (4-hour, 38 min drive)
Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle
Great Basin National Park is located in central Nevada. While neighboring Arizona and Utah parks often overlook Nevada National Parks, this truly is a hidden gem.
Great Basin is great for adventure lovers and outdoor enthusiasts who want to explore its unique and captivating landscapes, from high mountain ranges to caves and stunning pine forests, especially during the fall season when foliage is at its peak.
The park is most known for Wheeler Peak, which stands at 13,000 feet and offers sweeping views of the surrounding Great Basin Desert.
Hikers who love a challenge can hike to the summit for stunning views of the Basin.
Great Basin National Park is also known for its ancient groves. These are some of the oldest living trees on Earth.
While there are guided and self-guided tours of the park, many people visit at night because it is an ideal location for stargazing.
Great Basin National Park offers a sense of tranquility and solitude. Not being flooded with over-tourism, trails are uncrowded, making for an enjoyable experience.
National Parks near Las Vegas Conclusion
In conclusion, taking advantage of the western hub that Las Vegas is; is your best opportunity to explore all the nature and natural wonders of the west coast.
While the Las Vegas glittering lights are attractive and worth exploring especially for first time visitors, planning time in your Las Vegas trip to branch out and visit these exquisite National Parks will maximize your itinerary and provide you with a trip of a lifetime.
Looking to expand your Las Vegas trip beyond National Parks? If so, it is a good time to check out our guide on the Best Road Trips from Las Vegas ( 6 Hours or less).
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