12 Epic National Parks Near Las Vegas (Nevada)

Las Vegas is normally associated with the high-energy experience that only Sin City can provide. But in truth, Vegas is actually perfectly positioned for some of the best excursions into the top national parks in the entire country.

Seriously, think about it. Within a drive from Vegas, you can get to the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Zion, and even Yosemite. These are major bucket list items, and they’re all realistic trips from the city.

This way, you can have the best of both worlds—the glitz and glam of Vegas and the magical escape into mother nature.

Okay, let’s get into it and start planning your next trip. Check out these national parks near Las Vegas.

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Death Valley

Vegas is the perfect home base for trips to Death Valley. Within a two-hour drive, it’s one of the best national parks near Las Vegas.

You can see a lot on a day trip to Death Valley, but if you want to make more than one trip to this fabulous park, your pass is valid for up to 7 days, so that’s super convenient.

For even more ease, there are also guided tours of Death Valley from Vegas.

Death Valley is a popular trip from Vegas

Zion

Of course, Zion with its Angel’s Way and The Narrows is possibly at the top of your bucket list. If you’re new to hiking, not to worry; there are lots of easier hikes at Zion too!

That’s why it’s one of the best national parks close to Vegas.

It’s hard to believe, but this spectacular place is only 2.5 hours from downtown Vegas.

That’s right, it’s only 160 miles away, which means that if you wanted to, you could make a day trip to Zion while visiting Sin City.

Check out my full list of the best day trips from Las Vegas.

Don’t feel like driving? No worries, you can book this tour bus to Zion from Vegas and still have 6 hours to explore Zion and leave the driving (and parking hassle) to someone else.

Hike the Narrows at Zion!

Joshua Tree

The drive to Joshua Tree is about 3.5 hours from Vegas, making it one of the best national parks near Vegas.

Once in Joshua Tree, you’ll see why this national park is one of the best in the nation.

The desert landscape and vegetation are absolutely breathtaking. Make sure to see Lost Horse Mine and Carey Castles.

Definitely plan to stop during the drive at places like the Seven Magic Mountains and the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert.

Make it a long weekend and enjoy the gorgeous California sunrises and sunsets.

Stay a few days at Joshua to take in the spectacular sunrises and sunsets

Bryce

In only four hours from Vegas, you’ll reach the magnificent Bryce National Park.

This spectacular place delights visitors with its incredible views by day and night. With the sun shining, you’ll see the largest concentration of hoodoos in the world.

And at night, Bryce is just about the best place to stargaze.

During sunrise and sunset, the landscape comes alive with brilliant colors, making Bryce one of the best national parks close to Vegas.

Don’t have time to spend a few days? This one-day tour of Bryce and Zion from Vegas may be the perfect answer!

Hike among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon

Everyone must experience the Grand Canyon at least once in their life. So the fact that it’s one of the national parks close to Las Vegas is ideal.

Seriously, the drive takes less than 5 hours from Vegas to South Rim Grand Canyon.

To get there and back in one day, there are a bunch of tours from Vegas. For something unique, check out this Grand Canyon helicopter tour!

If you want to go on your own, there are plenty of places to spend the night to break up the driving. Make it an awesome weekend trip from Vegas!

Another option is the West Rim Grand Canyon from Vegas; it’s only 2.5 hours’ drive and super spectacular as well. You can book a tour and leave the driving to someone else while you enjoy the journey.

Grand Canyon South Rim is an unforgettable place

Great Basin

Interested in seeing the oldest living creatures on earth? The Bristlecone Pines are said to have been around for nearly 5,000 years.

And they’re known to be in the Great Basin National Park, which is only a 4.5 hour drive from Vegas.

Great Basin is also known for awesome hikes, stargazing, Wheeler Peak scenic drive, and tours of the Lehman Caves.

With so many cool things to explore, Great Basin is totally one of the best national parks close to Vegas.

Stella Lake and snow dusted mountains at Great Basin National Park Nevada.

Vegas to Great Basin National Park is around 4.5 hours’ drive

Capitol Reef

Nothing can quite prepare you for your first view of the Waterpocket Fold of Capitol Reef.

This incredible geological formation is a great demonstration of how powerful the earth truly is.

As one of Utah’s Mighty 5, this national park is a definite must-do, and it’s just over five hours from Las Vegas.

You can explore Capitol Reef by driving Highway 24. But hiking will likely be tops on your agenda, especially since you just drove 330 miles from Vegas to get here.

Check out the Hickman Bridge trail in the morning, pick some apples in the orchard, and view the petroglyphs. For a longer hike try Cassidy Arch Trail and Grand Wash, and be sure to watch the day’s end at Sunset Point.

Since Capitol Reef National Park is not nearly as popular as the other national parks in Utah, you likely won’t have the crowds like at Zion or Bryce. That’s one of the reasons I enjoyed Capitol Reef so much!

Hikers at Grand Wash Trail Capitol Reef in Utah.

Hikers look tiny next to the immense canyon walls of Grand Wash Trail

Petrified Forest

Visit the land of long ago at the Petrified Forest in Arizona.

There are so many amazing things to see at Petrified Forest; it’s incredible that this national park is so close to Las Vegas.

In about 5.5 hours from downtown, you’ll be able to see petrified trees that are said to be 225 million years old.

There’s also the Puerco Pueblo and amazing Petroglyphs dating back to the 1300s.

Great hikes in the park include Blue Mesa Trail and the Giant Logs. Those were two of my favorite places, along with Crystal Forest and the Painted Desert Rim Trail.

Petrified tree trunk at Petrified Forest National Park Arizona.

Explore the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest for a remarkable trip from Vegas

Sequoia and Kings Canyon

At Sequoia and Kings Canyon, you’ll check off some of the “greats” on your coolest things to see list.

These two awesome national parks in California are where you can see General Sherman, the largest tree in the world, and Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous US.

These national parks are close to Las Vegas. But as it will take about 7 hours to get there, it’s a good idea to make it a long weekend getaway or spend a week or more and explore to your heart’s content.

Plan to spend a few days in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park for outstanding landscapes

Yosemite

Yosemite is yet another bucket-list item. Lucky for us, it’s one of the national parks near Las Vegas.

The drive is totally doable, but clocking about 7 hours, plan to spend a few nights.

With so much to see and do, it’s easy to understand why Yosemite is a national favorite.

Be sure to put Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, Vernal Falls, and the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls Trails on the itinerary.

From Vegas head to Yosemite for scenic drives, hiking, and amazing waterfalls like Vernal Falls

Arches

See first-hand the power of mother nature at Arches National Park in Utah, one of the most unique national parks near Las Vegas.

This incredible national park gets its name from the over 2,000 naturally formed arches throughout the landscape.

You’ll be in awe of ones like Delicate Arch and rock formations like Balanced Rock.

Read my list of five easy hikes at Arches.

Although it takes almost 7 hours to drive to Arches, there’s so much to see that you’ll agree the 450 mile drive is totally worth it.

Also, it’s easy to combine a road trip to Arches with the next national park on this list…

Arches Scenic Drive at Arches National Park in Utah.

Driving Arches Scenic Drive provides non-stop scenic views

Canyonlands

Canyonlands is yet another one of Utah’s Mighty 5 and yep, you guessed, it’s one of the greatest national parks near Las Vegas.

The drive takes about 7 hours to cover the 465 miles between Vegas and Canyonlands.

Although it’s far, it’s seriously worth the drive. And you can easily combine Canyonlands with Arches road trip from Vegas.

Canyonlands has over 330,000 acres of beautiful landscape to discover.

Around every bend are jaw-dropping views like Island in the Sky Overlook, Grand View Point, Mesa Arch, Shafer Canyon Overlook, and The Needles.

Shafer Trail backcountry dirt road and red rock canyon.

Shafer Trail is a rugged but scenic dirt road in Canyonlands

Final Thoughts

Who would have thought that Sin City is the perfect home base for adventures into the great outdoors? But as you can see, there are so many national parks near Las Vegas. Within just a few hours’ drive, you’ll be trekking through the wondrous landscape that mother nature has provided us.

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