DV, RR and VOF from Vegas

On my visit this time I want to see the sights around NV and Vegas. So how far of drive is it to Red Rock, the Valley of Fire and Death Valley. What can you see and do at each area and how much time should I alot for each?

DV, RR and VOF from Vegas

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DV, RR and VOF from Vegas

Since no one has answered I%26#39;ll try and help some! Red Rock is about 30 minutes from the strip. If I remember correctly you are staying at Orleans. So you just take Tropicana to 1 215, or Trop to Decatur to 215, (the valet gave us the Decatur Route and this is Tropicana West of the strip Take 215 north- Get off at Charleston Blvd and go left. You will enter Red Rock and turn into the gate, it is 5.00 per car. You can go into the center and look around and then drive the loop. Time is however long you wish to spend there. The loop is 13 miles with stops along the way. You can do this then hit Red Rock Casino, which you will see as you exit on to Charleston.

Valley of Fire is off 1 15, about 60 miles. You can simply drive through the park, stop as often as you like. You can leave the park on the east side and travel south along Lake Mead to Vegas or back track and take 15. You will need to take something to eat/drink with you if you plan on spending anytime there. Both places are beautiful.

I have not been to Death Valley. We did go to Mojave National Perserve taking 15 to Primm, then on to Baker CA home of the worlds largest thermometer! There was a visitor center and we followed a route around Mojave for a couple of hours. It was interesting to see the desert, volcano rocks, sand dunes ,joshua trees.

Google all 3 and you%26#39;ll get more info on routes and things to see and do. Hope this helps some !

See Red Rock when you%26#39;re hung over and you just want to get out of town for some fresh air. There are several Starbucks on or near Charleston Blvd on the way. It%26#39;s close enough that you can get there by 3:00 pm and still drive the loop comfortably with stops to see the views.

See Valley of Fire when you%26#39;re a little bit more together. Eat a leisurely breakfast in LV and hit the road. It%26#39;s about 1-1/2 hours drive to get into the park, where you can spend a few hours comfortably before you drive back in plenty of time for dinner.

Death Valley is a full-day trip. It%26#39;s about 2-1/2 hours to get to Badwater, the lowest point below sea level in the western hemisphere, and you could easily spend hours driving about and only see a fraction of the park. It%26#39;s huge. I%26#39;d recommend Badwater in the summer when you can enjoy the sensory experience of 120-degree heat. It%26#39;s awesome.

An absolutely fabulous day-trip from Vegas -- and it%26#39;s a full day -- is Zion Canyon National Park in southern Utah. It%26#39;s about 3-1/2 hours each way, but it is breathtakingly beautiful, and you can see the heart of the park in a few hours once you%26#39;re there.

I have been to both Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon. They are both great and worth visiting but I prefer VOF. The sandstone formations are absolutely breathtaking. You can spend as little or as much time as you want there. They do have maps that will allow you to drive to the most popular formations but you really should take the time to hike on some of the trails. At least hike to Petroglyph Canyon to see the Indian rock paintings- it is a very short trail(wear proper shoes). Be sure to take your own food and water- especially water if you are going when it is hot out. It is really beautiful there when the sun starts to set- the colors are fantastic. You can combine this trip with Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

Red Rock Canyon is about 30 minutes west of the strip. It is also very nice but once you have seen VOF it does not seem quite as spectacular. They do have the one way loop that you can drive with pull-out points that allow you to get out of the car. Again- it is really best to try some of the hiking trails. This is a favorite of rock climbers and you can usually watch them as they climb. Brave folks- or you can join them if so inclined.

http://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/

I%26#39;d second the Zion trip if possible. I have been to many national parks and I absolutely love this one. Zion Canyon and East Zion are like being in 2 different parks.

VOF is about 60 miles away but on route 15 north you can do 75 mph so it won%26#39;t take two hours.