7 Stunning National Parks Near Las Vegas

las vegas road tripssouthwest national parks
Written By Amy Falcione

While Las Vegas is known for entertainment, it’s less well-known as the easiest and most convenient destination to visit SEVEN national parks, including Utah’s famed Mighty 5.

Close to California, Utah and Arizona, it’s the ideal launching point for an RV road trip to nearby, bucket list-worthy national parks. 

Take in the rugged beauty of these parks with hiking, biking, horseback riding, beautiful scenic drives, breathtaking photography, and more!

Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is one of America’s greatest national treasures, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a serious bucket list destination for many travelers.

Its 277 miles span four states—Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Utah—and it attracts 4.7 million visitors a year (making it the second most visited National Park in the U.S.). 

The park’s breathtaking size and beauty can't be fully appreciated until you see it with your own eyes. Its massive size, stunning colors and dizzying depths make it a sight to behold. You'll find unparalleled scenic views of its vast, rugged landscape as you marvel at the billions of years of geological history etched across its walls in these water-carved canyons. 

From hiking along its rocky terrain, walking on a glass skywalk protruding over the edge, rafting trips on the Colorado River, biking, taking in the view from one of its many overlooks, to ATVing, there's no shortage of ways to explore the Grand Canyon's spectacular wonders. 

The Grand Canyon’s Three Main Entrances: 

  1. The most popular South Rim entrance near Tusayan, AZ (274 miles from Las Vegas) is open year-round; 

  2. The West Rim in Peach Springs, AZ, (125 miles from Las Vegas) which is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe (in conjunction with the National Park Service), has opportunities to learn about and experience Native American culture. It’s open year-round; 

  3. The rugged North Rim in Jacob Lake, AZ (264 miles from Las Vegas). The South Rim features slightly more dramatic vistas, an impressive visitor center, ranger programs, a wide array of activities, amenities, and many campgrounds. The West Rim is the closest to Las Vegas for those short on time, while the North Rim is for more rugged travelers and is closed October-May. 

Top Attractions and Activities

South Rim

There are plenty of opportunities for private guided hikes, rafting, mule-rides, and more.

West Rim

The Hualapai Tribe has created a multi-dimensional experience (called Grand Canyon West) which combines the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon with cultural immersion, history and education about the tribe. 

Grand Canyon West has a famous glass Skywalk suspended 4,000 feet above the canyon floor, a zipline, helicopter-pontoon tours, Colorado River rafting, shopping, dining, and the Hualapai Village for an immersive tribal experience. 

North Rim

At a much higher elevation than the other rims, the quieter and more remote North Rim offers milder summer temperatures but is closed for the winter months to cars and RVs due to winter conditions. 

Hiking and Backpacking

Hiking and backpacking opportunities abound at all rims of the Grand Canyon. Check out Travel & Leisure’s Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon and the National Park Service’s Guide to Day Hikes.

On hot days, the National Park Service recommends not hiking between 10am and 4pm. Some trails close during extreme heat in the summer and fall months. Check the Grand Canyon Trail Closures page before you depart.

RV-Friendly Campgrounds and Facilities

All three rims have campgrounds suitable for RVs. To stay in the park you will need to book well in advance through recreation.gov (the National Park Service’s online booking platform). 

The South Rim offers Mather and Trailer Village Campgrounds. 

At the West Rim, the Hualapai tribe offers one RV-friendly campground on the reservation. 

The North Rim offers the North Rim Campground. Check Recreation.gov for back-country camping options. Check out Travel & Leisure’s Guide to Camping at the Grand Canyon. 

 

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Zion National Park

Located in southwestern Utah (and one of the state’s Mighty 5 National Parks), Zion National Park is stunning with its towering red rock cliffs, narrow canyons and cool, winding rivers. Hikers will be thrilled with trails of all skill levels.

Canyoneering, photography, rock climbing, and horseback riding opportunities are plentiful. Zion’s 147,000 acres see more than four million visitors annually.

Top Attractions and Activities

Visitors to the park will be awed by the stunning views from Angels Landing, a massive sandstone rock formation that rises 1,500 feet above the valley floor. 

Other popular sites include:

RV-Friendly Campgrounds and Facilities

Zion National Park has two campgrounds that can accommodate RVs: Watchman (with nearly 200 spaces) and the primitive Lava Point (with only six spaces). 

There are plenty of private RV campgrounds outside the park. One of the nicest full-service campgrounds in Utah is the Zion River Resort. Also consider the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. 

The charming and bustling town of St. George, Utah, is nearby and offers camping, dining, shopping and other amenities.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park, one of Utah’s Mighty 5, is in southwest Utah and known for having the largest collection of hoodoos in the world. Hoodoos are tall, thin rock formations found in large clusters that resemble a forest. 

Natural amphitheaters, dramatic vistas, great hiking trails, spectacular star-gazing, and scenic overlooks punctuate this vibrant pink and orange-colored canyon park. 

This 35,000 acre park sees almost six million visitors a year so plan ahead if you are going in the busy season (May–September) – which means high temperatures, so hydrate!

Top Attractions and Activities

Bryce Canyon’s natural beauty and activities make this park incredibly attractive. 

Some of the best Bryce Canyon hiking trails: 

Don’t miss the 38-mile Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive, Inspiration Point, and (the most famous spot in the park) Sunset Point.

RV-Friendly Campgrounds and Facilities

Bryce Canyon has two in-park campgrounds – Sunset and North Campgrounds. Reserve well in advance for the busy summer season. 

Nearby Bryce City, Utah, has plenty of RV friendly campgrounds as well as other amenities. Check out Ruby’s Inn RV Park and Campground, Bryce Valley Ranch RV & Horse Park, and Bryce Canyon Resort. 

For off-grid camping, consider nearby U.S. Forest Service campgrounds: Kings Creek, Tom’s Best Dispersed Camping, and Red Canyon Campgrounds.

Capitol Reef National Park

Sometimes overlooked, Capitol Reef National Park (also one of Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks) in southwest Utah is small but mighty. Capitol Reef’s name comes from one of its most prominent white rock formations resembling the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. 

The park has rugged, rocky beauty in its 37,000 acres and sees fewer than two million visitors a year. The famed Waterpocket Fold is an ancient 100-mile long fold in the earth’s crust that caused a 7,000 foot elevation difference between the two sides of the fold, resulting in dramatic and beautiful vistas and wonderful hikes. Geology lovers will delight in the many unique rock formations.

Top Attractions Include: 

  • Scenic Highway 24 

  • Panorama Point 

  • Sunset Point 

  • Cathedral Valley 

  • Ancient petroglyph, 

  • Fruita Historic District, with preserved buildings from early Mormon settlers. 

Grab a piece of fresh pie and ice cream in the Fruita District at the historic Gifford Homestead.

RV Friendly Campgrounds and Facilities

Capitol Reef has only one developed campground: Fruita Campground. It has two primitive campgrounds which may require high clearance vehicles. 

Learn more from the National Park Service guide to camping in Capitol Reef. There are many private campgrounds in nearby towns such as Wonderland RV Park and Thousand Lakes RV Park. 

There are several other camping options on BLM and USFS such as Sunglow Campground, Beas Lewis Flat, Sunglow and Singletree.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park’s name may sound ominous but the peaceful beauty of this dramatic desert landscape will enchant! Imagine miles of tall sand dunes, salt flats, mountains, and the lowest point in the continental U.S. 

The elevation in Death Valley ranges from 300 feet below sea level to 11,000 feet above sea level. Biking, hiking, scenic drives and photography are popular, as is “sand-boarding” down tall sand dunes. 

The Furnace Creek area is a great starting point with a visitor center, campground, hotel, dining and other amenities. The park enjoys more than a million visitors a year in its three million acres (the largest National Park in the lower 48 states).

Top Attractions and Activities

Artists Drive is a 9-mile long scenic drive that showcases the diversity of Death Valley. Other top attractions include Badwater Basin (the lowest point in the U.S.), Zabriskie Point (the best panoramic views in the park), and Dante’s View (the most famous overlook in the park and magical for sunrise and sunset).

RV-Friendly Campgrounds and Facilities

Death Valley has a lot of campgrounds inside its boundaries – seven operated by NPS and three privately owned and operated. There are also several primitive campgrounds.

Great Basin National Park

Often forgotten, Great Basin National Park is the only national park near Las Vegas that lies entirely in Nevada. The rugged mountain landscape can be misleading until you discover the rich variety of plant and animal life, the historic Native American presence, and the magnificent underground caverns. You may even spot a pronghorn sheep, bobcat, elk, bighorn sheep or a mountain lion! 

This alpine landscape (with alpine lakes even) is a wonderful surprise in the desert that covers most of Nevada.

The elevation gain inside the park is 6,200 feet, with the lowest point being at 6,800 feet and the highest mountain peak at well over 14,000 feet. This elevation also means that summer months are quite pleasant with warm days and cool nights – but snow in the winter can lead to road closures. The park’s 71,000 acres see only 90,000 visitors a year, likely due to its more remote location.

Top Attractions and Activities

  • Lehman Caves: This is the most popular activity at the park and for good reason – these vast limestone caves are dramatic and beautiful. The park offers guided tours year-round.

  • Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive: Named after the highest summit in the park, this 12-mile scenic drive highlights the diversity in the park. Be sure to stop at the Mather Overlook just below the summit The drive starts at the Lehman Caves and ends at Wheeler Peak (with 5,000 feet of elevation difference).. Consider this a “must”!

  • Bristlecone Pine Forest: This magnificent grove is referred to as the “Magic Grove,” because of its majestic trees. Great Basin is home to some of the oldest trees in the world, with some more than 4,000 years old. These statuesque trees speak to nature’s ability to survive and thrive in harsh conditions.

  • Hiking trails: Include Island Forest Trail (AADA), Shoshone Trail (ADA), Mountain View Nature Trail (ADA), Bristlecone Pine Trail, and the Alpine Lakes Trail.

  • Other fun activities: Star-gazing and ranger-led astronomy tours at this Dark Sky park, fishing, and Native American pictographs (in Pictograph Cave).

RV-Friendly Campgrounds and Facilities

Due to its remote location camping inside the park is your best option although there are several private options outside the park. Great Basin has five front-country campgrounds. Wheeler Creek and the Upper Lehman Creek campgrounds are popular. 

Joshua Tree National Park

The mountain and desert landscape at Joshua Tree National Park can seem surreal with rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. The slow-growing Joshua trees are only found in the Mojave Desert and speak to the rugged survival required in this dry but beautiful landscape. 

Expect great hiking, top-notch stargazing, rock climbing, wildlife and jaw-dropping sunrises and sunsets.

Joshua Tree’s 800,000 acres see almost three million visitors annually and has become a popular weekend destination for outdoor lovers, artists and hipsters in Southern California. Its proximity to Palm Springs and Twentynine Palms, California provide many amenities closeby.

Top Attractions and Activities

Many of the best Joshua Tree activities can be found along Park Boulevard which runs through the heart of the park. 

Popular hikes include: 

  • Barker Dam Nature Trail 

  • Arch Rock Trail 

  • Skull Rock Trail 

  • Hidden Valley (one of the most picturesque areas of the park) 

Keys View is one of the most popular viewpoints in the park with panoramic views of the Santa Rosa Mountains, San Jacinto Mountain, Coachella Valley, and the Palm Springs area.

RV-Friendly Campgrounds and Facilities

Joshua Tree has five RV-friendly campgrounds that accept reservations and three campgrounds that are first-come/first served. There are also BLM and private campgrounds nearby. The NPS website lists nearby private campgrounds outside the park. 

Popular private campgrounds outside the park include:

  • Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground 

  • Palm Springs/Joshua Tree KOA 

  • Catalina Spa RV Resort 

  • Outdoor Resorts - Palm Springs

Explore Our National Treasures With Blacksford

Imagine flying into Las Vegas, renting a brand-spanking-new RV, and heading to one or more of these bucket-list national parks (after playing a few slot machines at McCarran Airport, of course).

Check out Grand Canyon National Park, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, and Great Basin National Parks — all within a few hours of Las Vegas.

Let your RV fantasy become a reality with Blacksford RV Rental (with locations in Las Vegas, NV, Bozeman/Yellowstone, and Phoenix, AZ).

Amy Falcione https://www.bigpicturemarketing.co
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