Heading to Las Vegas this weekend for the Super Bowl?!? If you are looking to spend just a few hours off the glitzy Vegas Strip? Just seventeen miles from the Las Vegas strip is a gorgeous, desert wonder: Red Rock Canyon! Here we go: Easy Road Trip from Las Vegas: Red Rock Canyon

Easy Road Trip from Las Vegas: Red Rock Canyon

To say this is a day trip is an understatement – it is SO close to the strip and doable in just a few hours for the average tourist. Let me be clear: we landed in Vegas at 8:30am, grabbed our rental car, visited Red Rock Canyon, lunch AND the toured the Mob Museum all by 4:00 p.m. Y’all know that 4:00 o’clock is standard hotel check in time….so yes, we had a goal in mind! The timing was PERFECT.

Check out our 1 minute video tour of Red Rock Canyon!

We spent about one hour at Red Rock and were completely satisfied. This hour included the visitors center, a short hike (’cause it was 109 degrees!) and the scenic drive.

Done. Done. And Done!

If you are curious about how we spent our time on The Strip, you can get a peak right here. Now, back to the canyon:

The scenic drive is a must do! You can literally pull your car over just for a few photos. Or, pull over and take a short hike. Or a long one. Or whatever suits your fancy when you are in the Mohave desert!

You’ll start at the Visitor’s Center. It is equipped with restrooms, a gift shop, and helpers if you have questions. Here is Copa…the Leader of Our Wolfack…entering the center.

Take It To The Tailgate Tip

The visitor’s center provides guests who are challenged with mobility constraints a FULL experience. We were impressed with the low level glass wall which provides sweeping vistas of the canyon to wheelchair bound guests.The visitors center has one key thing: AIR CONDITIONING! Then, outside the center are multiple learning stations. Whoever decided to add creative shading should get a standing ovation! 

The visitor’s center truly accommodates tourist with mobility issues…and the young and the old….and everyone in between! 

We loved the center, but we were on a schedule! True tidbit: Our last name should be Griswold!:) We hit the scenic drive and gave ourselves plenty of time to pull over and walk around. This Florida family loved the dry heat of the desert! We pulled over frequently to capture the canyon’s beauty.We honestly felt like we had stepped into a Wild Wild West movie set! When you are ready to leave, there is a small restroom facility just steps away from the main Visitor’s Center. Lots of other tourist took the opportunity to refill water jugs. (Yes, I said water jugs, not bottles!) It is the desert, after all!And that was our Easy Road Trip from Las Vegas: Red Rock Canyon experience! We would do it again the next time we visit Las Vegas! Here is the official website for Red Rock Canyon. Have fun!

Getting to Red Rock Canyon FAQ

My friends, these are the questions WE asked (and couldn’t find the answers) before our trip. 

1. Is it close enough to Las Vegas that we can take an Uber?

Yes & no. It’s only 17 miles from the strip, and Las Vegas has grown outwardly, so you are only driving for about 10 minutes outside of the city. BUT….we discovered that wifi reception was REALLY spotty in the conservation area. You might be able to get there in an Uber, but getting service to request a driver at the end of the visit could be dicey.

2. Can the Red Rock Canyon be enjoyed by families and/or by those who are not outdoorsy?

For sure. You will receive a map at the visitor’s center with popular photo opportunity stops. We found these stops to be VERY easy to navigate and saw toddlers and grannies enjoying it with ease.

Personal confession: Our family is athletic, but we are by no means “outdoorsy”! This Orlando family is outdoorsy in the sense that we golf, play tennis, and visit the ocean. That’s it! We don’t hike around Central Florida because of the bugs. That’s right! Mosquitoes are large and vicious here…they are out and about in the daytime in areas of dense underbrush. And, we have spiders as big as the palm of your hand. They will construct glorious webs between trees, and wait and wait for that wayward hiker to walk right thru them. We refuse to be that hiker.

We found the canyon to have multiple areas available for guests of all skill levels; those who really want to challenge themselves have dedicated climbs and hikes just for them. That said, families of all ages can thoroughly enjoy the part!

Just make sure you have plenty of water and sunscreen!

3. So, Red Rock Canyon can be done in an hour or two…not a whole day?

Oh my heavens, YES! It is the perfect way to break away from The Strip for an hour or two. You will feel satisfied that you have “done” RRC just be completing the scenic drive! We got out & hiked only for a short amount of time due to the heat. And, living in Florida, we are used to hot temps but not DESERT hot temps!

4. Should we pack a lunch and have a picnic?

Sounds so charming, right? But no. Don’t do this. Pack snacks for the car ride but table the picnic! The heat makes the picnic table benches unbearable. As a matter of fact, we didn’t see too many picnic tables!

If you have questions, send me an email here or leave a comment below! 

Once we were back on the strip, we ducked into Elton John’s champagne bar called FIZZ. Reservations are recommended! You can read all about our visit & celebrity sighting right here.

Happy travels!

Heather

Totally Tailgates is a participant in Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.